With the 19th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft the Washington Wizards select Justin Anderson, Shooting Guard/Small Forward from University of Virginia.

Timing:

I’ve decided to go for the need instead of the Best Player Available here (at this point of the Draft, there’s no real BPA).

The Wizards are a team looking to take it to next level. With Randy Wittman admitting a desire to follow the direction most NBA teams already took these last years (running), what the Wizards will be looking for coming to this Draft became pretty clear to me. The Wizards will draft an athlete; and with Rasual Butler getting old and Martell Webster disappearing, I think they’ll go for an SG/SF.

Justin Anderson has good size (6’6’’), a long wingspan (6’12’’) and more importantly, his body is NBA ready. In addition to that he has quick feet that will allow him to defend wings on the perimeter and enough strength to stay put in the post against any player of his size. His lateral mobility helps him change direction very well and his great closeout speed helps him to recover and contest any shots even when he gets beat.

Besides that, he’s been part of the Tony Bennett’s elite defensive team (ranked 1st in defensive efficiency this year) and while that doesn’t really transcribe into his numbers in steals and blocks, he was clearly a main piece in that system.

While his defensive fundamentals remain very raw, his amazing physical tools and his high energy suggest that, even if he can help on defense right now, he can become a great defender getting use to the NBA.

Offensively, Anderson needs to stay off the ball because he’s really good without it and that he can’t handle it. In addition, he has an amazing ability to catch-and-shoot which should translate over to the next level so he will add spacing as well. I think that is perfect both for the Wizards and for Anderson as they don’t need an additional ball handler with guys like John Wall, Bradley Beal or Paul Pierce (if he remains with the team) on the floor and Anderson’s outstanding ability to move off the ball will be well rewarded by a guy like Wall.

However, while I don’t think drafting Justin Anderson will be enough to make the Wizards that greater, I think drafting him will add much needed depth off then bench behind Beal and Pierce.

*At the ripe age of 53 perhaps it is time for Paul Pierce to retire…this move gives them depth if Pierce leaves to pursue a career in acting*

Here is a breakdown of the draft so far:

Selection Team GM Player Taken
1 T-wolves Russscot Karl Anthony Town
2 Lakers Rocky Mountain Way D’Angelo Russel
3 76ers Fishbowlin Emmanuel Mudiay
4 Knicks CombatChuk Justise Winslow
5 Magic moondoggie12 Kristaps Porzingis
6 Kings Mr_RyMo Jahlil Okafor
7 Nuggets Agaliarept Mario Hezonja
8 Pistons TheMozgovCocktail Stanley Johnson
9 Hornets It’s the LAW SON Devin Booker
10 Heat teenasty Willie Cauley Stien
11 Pacers cubobafett56 Myles Turner
12 Jazz Zachm19 Frank Kaminsky
13 Suns LuckyStiff Kelly Oubre
14 Thunder Salticus Tyus Jones
15 Hawks George Karl Marx Sam Dekker
16 Celtics rps23 Montrezl Harrel
17 Bucks okan.idug Bobby Portis
18 Rockets dynamoe.joe Delon Wright
19 Wizards Timing Justin Anderson

Pozz303 and the Toronto Raptors are on the clock.

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