2026 Pre-Draft Thread Part IV

[nate33]

Continued from here:

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Just to be a contrarian, I want Caleb Wilson.

Wilson is a great finisher. He will be a plus rebounder and a good defender. The Wizards should trade down for Wilson.

[Paris41]

My draft night prediction is AJ at #1 and trading Bilal and Champagnie to OKC for #12 and picking Yaxel/Morez.

[pcbothwel]

My draft night prediction is AJ at #1 and trading Bilal and Champagnie to OKC for #12 and picking Yaxel/Morez.

Good god that would awful. But why would OKC trade 1 roster spot for 2?
Any trade with OKC will net them -1 roster spot. So it would be something like JC + pick (2029?) for 12 + Filler (Wiggins/Williams?)

Personally, I would LOVE Jaylin Williams as our 3rd big. Good size, great shooting touch, passing & defensive instincts... He's basically a poor man's Horford at his point with a chance to be better.

[DCZards]

My draft night prediction is AJ at #1 and trading Bilal and Champagnie to OKC for #12 and picking Yaxel/Morez.

Not making that trade. Bilal is about to blowup...plus he's a great complement to AJ. And including Champagnie is also a no-no.

[nate33]

My draft night prediction is AJ at #1 and trading Bilal and Champagnie to OKC for #12 and picking Yaxel/Morez.

I don't think they'll move Bilal. I think they really love the guy. Whenever he is in uniform, he starts. This team is in dire need of defense, and Bilal and AD are really the ones who defend every night. Bilal's importance has actually grown now that they've acquired Trae. Also, the way they've invested in developing Bilal makes it clear that they think of him as more than just a 3&D specialist. They think he has more star potential. That's why they give him the ball so much rather than put him in the corner.

I agree that they will likely draft AJ and that they will trade for an OKC pick. I just think they will trade JC and a future first for #17. (Maybe that's enough to get #12, but I doubt it.) But I think they'd much rather have #17 and Bilal, than have to give up Bilal to get to #12.

And although I really want Morez, I see no reason to think the team is hell-bent on Morez or Yaxel alone. I think they'll acquire the #17 and be content with whomever among Morez, Yaxel or Steinbach falls there. They might even like Cenac.

[Frichuela]

My draft night prediction is AJ at #1 and trading Bilal and Champagnie to OKC for #12 and picking Yaxel/Morez.

Good god that would awful. But why would OKC trade 1 roster spot for 2?
Any trade with OKC will net them -1 roster spot. So it would be something like JC + pick (2029?) for 12 + Filler (Wiggins/Williams?)

Personally, I would LOVE Jaylin Williams as our 3rd big. Good size, great shooting touch, passing & defensive instincts... He's basically a poor man's Horford at his point with a chance to be better.

If I was Winger&Dawkins, this would be my framework for trades with OKC:

A) we trade Champs+POR 2029 1st for 12th,
or B) we trade Champs straight for #17. And if Morez is not available then, trade #17 to SAS for #20 and #35 and select Ejiofor (#20) and De Larrea or Jaden Bradley (#35).

[tontoz]

My draft night prediction is AJ at #1 and trading Bilal and Champagnie to OKC for #12 and picking Yaxel/Morez.

I don't think they'll move Bilal. I think they really love the guy. Whenever he is in uniform, he starts. This team is in dire need of defense, and Bilal and AD are really the ones who defend every night. Bilal's importance has actually grown now that they've acquired Trae.

I agree that they will likely draft AJ and that they will trade for an OKC pick. I just think they will trade JC and the 2029 Portland pick for #17. (Maybe that's enough to get #12, but I doubt it.) But I think they'd much rather have #17 and Bilal, than give up Bilal to get to #12.

And although I really want Morez, I see no reason to think the team is hell-bent on Morez or Yaxel alone. I think they'll acquire the #17 and be content with whomever among Morez, Yaxel or Steinbach falls there. They might even like Cenac.

Trading 12 for two players is not something they would even consider since they are in a crunch for roster spots. That is why they are looking to trade their picks in the first place, that and the 2nd apron.

It would make more sense for them to just draft the guy they like at 12.

[nate33]

My draft night prediction is AJ at #1 and trading Bilal and Champagnie to OKC for #12 and picking Yaxel/Morez.

Good god that would awful. But why would OKC trade 1 roster spot for 2?
Any trade with OKC will net them -1 roster spot. So it would be something like JC + pick (2029?) for 12 + Filler (Wiggins/Williams?)

Personally, I would LOVE Jaylin Williams as our 3rd big. Good size, great shooting touch, passing & defensive instincts... He's basically a poor man's Horford at his point with a chance to be better.

JWill has been pretty important for OKC to help them contend with Wemby. You have to have 5 shooters when you play Wemby or else he will just guard the non-shooter and play one-man zone defense. JWill's 3-ball helps them there.

I don't think they would give up JWill as the filler. The obvious guy to include is Isaiah Joe, who is no longer needed with the acquisition of Jared McCain.

[nate33]

My draft night prediction is AJ at #1 and trading Bilal and Champagnie to OKC for #12 and picking Yaxel/Morez.

Good god that would awful. But why would OKC trade 1 roster spot for 2?
Any trade with OKC will net them -1 roster spot. So it would be something like JC + pick (2029?) for 12 + Filler (Wiggins/Williams?)

Personally, I would LOVE Jaylin Williams as our 3rd big. Good size, great shooting touch, passing & defensive instincts... He's basically a poor man's Horford at his point with a chance to be better.

If I was Winger&Dawkins, this would be my framework for trades with OKC:

A) we trade Champs+POR 2029 1st for 12th,
or B) we trade Champs straight for #17. And if Morez is not available then, trade #17 to SAS for #20 and #35 and select Ejiofor (#20) and De Larrea or Jaden Bradley (#35).

If those first two trades, I would also include the option to absorb Isaiah Joe's salary off their books (using the Olynyk TPE).

If someone drafts Morez in the 14-16 range, I'd definitely call them and ask if we could trade #17 and a handful of SRP's for Morez.

[nate33]

My draft night prediction is AJ at #1 and trading Bilal and Champagnie to OKC for #12 and picking Yaxel/Morez.

Not making that trade. Bilal is about to blowup...plus he's a great complement to AJ. And including Champagnie is also a no-no.

Champagnie will be involved if we trade for OKC's pick. It makes too much sense.

It'll probably be JC + POR '29 pick for Isaiah Joe + #17. Maybe JC has the value to make that deal without including the 2029 pick, but I doubt it.

[DCZards]

If we do get #17 from OKC my sleeper get is Jayden Quaintance from Kentucky. Health is a concern tho. Had knee surgery last year.

[Paris41]

Trading 12 for two players is not something they would even consider since they are in a crunch for roster spots. That is why they are looking to trade their picks in the first place, that and the 2nd apron.

It would make more sense for them to just draft the guy they like at 12.

Obviously, they would send back filler.

If the Wiz take Dybantsa, they are moving out more than just Champagnie (who is most certainly gone). One of Tre/Riley/Bilal/Kyshawn will be moved.

[nate33]

If the Wiz take Dybantsa, they are moving out more than just Champagnie (who is most certainly gone). One of Tre/Riley/Bilal/Kyshawn will be moved.

I think this is true; I just don't think the move will happen this summer. I think they will wait one more year and see how those 4 guys develop before making the move. If nothing else, I think the trade value of some of those guys will be higher in another year. Role players on 40-win teams are worth more than role players on 17-win teams.

[lastemp3ror]

My draft night prediction is AJ at #1 and trading Bilal and Champagnie to OKC for #12 and picking Yaxel/Morez.

Not making that trade. Bilal is about to blowup...plus he's a great complement to AJ. And including Champagnie is also a no-no.

Champagnie will be involved if we trade for OKC's pick. It makes too much sense.

It'll probably be JC + POR '29 pick for Isaiah Joe + #17. Maybe JC has the value to make that deal without including the 2029 pick, but I doubt it.

On initial thought, that trade package doesn't entice me. That 2029 Portland pick could be very good. I think it comes down to who would be available at 17 after pick 16 is in.

[tontoz]

Trading 12 for two players is not something they would even consider since they are in a crunch for roster spots. That is why they are looking to trade their picks in the first place, that and the 2nd apron.

It would make more sense for them to just draft the guy they like at 12.

Obviously, they would send back filler.

If the Wiz take Dybantsa, they are moving out more than just Champagnie (who is most certainly gone). One of Tre/Riley/Bilal/Kyshawn will be moved.

I doubt it. I suspect they will let things play out awhile before trading one of their recent 1st round picks.

[Benjammin]

My preferred order at 17: Morez Johnson (I doubt he'll be available), Hannes Steinbach,Jayden
Quaintance. One of them should be there.

With the guys returning to school for NIL money, I don't see much of value at 51 and 60. If they can move up in the second round then perhaps a guy could stick as a two player.

[nate33]

Not making that trade. Bilal is about to blowup...plus he's a great complement to AJ. And including Champagnie is also a no-no.

Champagnie will be involved if we trade for OKC's pick. It makes too much sense.

It'll probably be JC + POR '29 pick for Isaiah Joe + #17. Maybe JC has the value to make that deal without including the 2029 pick, but I doubt it.

On initial thought, that trade package doesn't entice me. That 2029 Portland pick could be very good. I think it comes down to who would be available at 17 after pick 16 is in.

Fair point. It's entirely possible we only pull the trigger on this deal when OKC is on the clock at #17 and the guy we want is there.

I agree that this feels slightly lopsided in OKC's favor. Maybe we throw in our two late SRP's to get that OKC #37 to help balance it out.

[DukeLecker]

Just to be a contrarian, I want Caleb Wilson.

Wilson is a great finisher. He will be a plus rebounder and a good defender. The Wizards should trade down for Wilson.

Didn't you also push for Wesley Johnson last time they had the #1 pick?

[nate33]

My preferred order at 17: Morez Johnson (I doubt he'll be available), Hannes Steinbach,Jayden
Quaintance. One of them should be there.

It's hard to have an opinion on Quaintance. His value is so dependent on his medical evaluation. A healthy and durable Quaintance would be a very exciting prospect. But does that guy exist?