The Washington Wizards traded their 2016 first round pick to the Phoenix Suns right before the NBA trade deadline this past season. Given the team’s need for a young forward, Ernie Grunfeld decided that acquiring Markieff Morris would be more beneficial than drafting late in the NBA Lottery.
The pick that Washington shipped to Phoenix is top-9 protected, meaning if the Wizards move up during the Draft Lottery, they will keep the pick. Washington has less than a three percent chance at keeping the pick.
But, what if the Wizards somehow moved up and kept the pick in a top-heavy draft led by LSU forward Ben Simmons and Duke forward Brandon Ingram?