Thanks to a series of trades, the Wizards started the 2023 NBA Draft with three second-round picks, none of which were actually their own (which was dealt to New Orleans in 2019).
Take a look at the players the Wizards selected in Round 2…even if only one of them are coming to DC?
TRADED to Chicago: No. 35: F Julian Phillips, Tennessee
This pick has been a hot potato: it was originally Portland’s, and came to DC via the Cavs, Clippers, Pistons, Hawks, and Celtics, the latter sending it to the Wizards in the Kristaps Porzingis trade – but per Shams Charania, Chicago is acquiring the pick from Washington for “a couple of second-rounders.”
No. 42: F/C Tristan Vukcevic, Serbia
This selection is also one of the most traveled you’ll find: the Wizards got it from Chicago in February 2019 as a protected pick in the Otto Porter trade, then got the conditions removed when they sent Tomas Satoransky to the Bulls that July; it then went to the Lakers in the five-team August 2021 deal that sent Russell Westbrook to the Lakers and brought back Kyle Kuzma among others; and finally, the Wizards got it back from L.A. in the Rui Hachimura trade in January.
And, after all that, the Wizards ended up with a likely draft-and-stash in the 7-foot Vukcevic, who has played professionally in Spain and Serbia since 2020. The 20-year-old, who is the son of former European pro and Serbian national team member Dusan Vukcevic, averaged 5.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game for KK Partizan in the Serbian ABA League last year, and is likely to stay there due to a buyout clause above the usual $825,000 in price.
TRADED to Golden State: No. 57: F Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
And finally, this pick is also reportedly being traded, sent to Golden State – perhaps as part of the Chris Paul trade, which also now reportedly includes Patrick Baldwin Jr. coming to DC from the Warriors, according to Shams Charania.
What the Wizards lose and Warriors gain in Jackson-Davis is the 2022-23 Karl Malone Award winner for best power forward in Division I and someone with an NBA pedigree: he is the biological son of former Pacers forward Dale Davis.
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
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