The Washington Wizards walked away from the draft lottery with the top pick, which is nice. But if you’re running this front office, you don’t stop there. President Michael Winger and GM Will Dawkins have spent the last two summers hoarding first-round picks like they’re going out of style, and now they’ve got a chance to add another one on draft night. Winger told The Athletic’s David Aldridge it’s ‘not inconceivable’ they’d move for an extra first-rounder, and honestly, they should.
Here’s the thing: the Wizards have a real backup big man problem. Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr are your starters, sure. But Davis and Sarr combined for 68 games last season. Sarr is recovering from foot surgery after an offseason workout injury. Tristan Vukcevic allowed the fourth-highest defended field goal percentage among players 6-foot-10 or taller (minimum 40 games), per NBA Advanced Stats. Julian Reese just played his first 13 NBA games on a two-way deal. You can’t count on that crew for a full season.
So the Wizards need another frontcourt body, and this draft has options in that second tier. Michigan’s Aday Mara, Morez Johnson Jr., Washington’s Hannes Steinbach, Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance — all projected somewhere between pick 11 and the late first round. Quaintance might come cheapest, given his knee history (torn ACL and meniscus from his Arizona State days, then swelling in the same knee at Kentucky).
Here are three trade scenarios that actually make sense for Washington at the end of the lottery, plus a bonus deal for a later pick.
Going After Aday Mara at No. 11
Mara is the dream. The kid is 7-foot-3, won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and was a monster for Michigan’s national title run. He’s the first center likely off the board, so the Wizards would be fighting Atlanta (No. 8) and Dallas (No. 9) for him. But say he slips to Golden State at No. 11 — Washington could send Justin Champagnie, a pile of second-round picks, a 2028 first-round swap (Milwaukee or Portland), and a 2029 first-rounder (Boston, Milwaukee, or Portland) for the pick and guard Will Richard.
Losing Champagnie hurts. He led all players under 6-foot-7 with 2.1 offensive rebounds a game (minimum 45 games) and shot 50.2% from the field. He’s 24, cheap, and productive. But you’re swapping two years of Champagnie for four years of a potential franchise center on a rookie deal. That’s a trade you make.
Landing Morez Johnson Jr. via the Thunder
If Mara’s gone, call Sam Presti. Oklahoma City has picks No. 12 and No. 17, and they’re already a championship-level squad. Washington could offer basically the same package as above but swap Richard for Kenrich Williams to balance salaries. Johnson is 6-foot-9, so not Mara’s size, but he earned Big Ten All-Defensive honors and averaged 2.5 offensive boards in 25 minutes a night. He’s a banger, and Washington needs that.
Hannes Steinbach at No. 13
Miami holds the No. 13 pick, and there’s always a chance they package it for a star (Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors are loud). But if that doesn’t happen, Steinbach is worth a look. The 6-foot-11 German led the NCAA with 11.8 rebounds a game and shot 34% from three on low volume. He’s not a finished product, but the Wizards could get him with the same pick-and-picks offer and toss in Myron Gardner for salary matching.
Jayden Quaintance on the Cheap at No. 22
Quaintance played only four games last season because of his knee, but when he was healthy at Arizona State, he averaged three offensive rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 1.1 steals in nearly 30 minutes. That’s a flier worth taking. The Wizards could send Bub Carrington and Cam Whitmore to Philadelphia for the No. 22 pick, plus Dominick Barlow, Trendon Watford, and Johni Broome for salary matching. Cheaper than the other deals, and Quaintance has the highest ceiling of the group if his knee holds.
Washington doesn’t have to get greedy. But with one pick in a draft where they already have the top choice, adding another young big could turn a weakness into a strength pretty fast.
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