RealGM

I keep seeing comments about how people are worth a 2018 or 2019 1st but not worth a 2017. I know this is a good draft but we also have a good record and the later draft pick, even protected, gives us a lot more options in terms of trade . . . especially if we crash and burn with a Wall injury or the like.

What is worth more to the Wizards and to other teams:
our 2017 pick
2018 pick top lottery protected
2019 pick top 10 protected

2018/2019 is less likely to contribute to this Wall iteration of the team. If we get another Oubre raw prospect in 2019 that takes 2 years to develop, Wall will be 30 by the time that hypothetical player could contribute.

Gortat is also 32 so how long would we wait before drafting a potential future starting center?

Seems to me this should follow the opportunity cost model, the earliest pick is the most valuable.

If all 3 picks were potentially of equal value then yes, the 2017 would be worth more (not opportunity cost btw, but time value of money). However, with the potential for the 2018 or 2019 pick being a high pick given a potential injury or other disaster, there is also a loss of flexibility in grading even a protected version of those picks because then you don't have the ability to deal them when they are highest in value. The 2017 pick, this late in the year, is much less volatile in potential value.