The Washington Wizards used a pair of 2028 second-round draft picks to trade up one spot in the 2023 NBA Draft to secure the rights to Bilal Coulibaly, a six-foot-eight forward out of France and teammate with No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama with Metropolitans 92. So what can Washington fans expect from the newest Wizard?
"I'm gonna call him the steal of the draft... I love that for the Wizards," The Athletic's Zach Harper said. "I am now all in on the Wizards, oh my god. If you thought they were fun last season, just wait til this season."
Harper added: "He's a project, but I'm telling you, he's so good. He has really good instincts for the game, super raw, he's got incredible wingspan, he's athletic. I think the shot will develop, I think the playmaking will develop, but I think he's gonna be, kinda in that [Toronto Raptors forward] Scottie Barnes mold in a certain point. I love his game so much."
And a potential nickname emerged: The Parisian Pippen.
Draft analyst Jonathan Givony added that the forward "might have the highest upside of any prospect in this draft" and added he has grown eight inches in the past two years.
The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor wrote that the Wizards pick has "Superb measurements, a long wingspan, and a wide frame give him elite defensive upside. But he also brings grit and a consistent approach, actively contesting hard on closeouts, jumping passing lanes, and flying in to help in the paint as a shot blocker."
Here are a few highlightss of Coulibaly from his time playing in France.
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