NBA Eastern Conference: Most important need for each Southeast Division team heading into the NBA Draft

#4 Washington Wizards

Washington Wizards v Atlanta Hawks

2018-19 NBA regular season: 12th seed with a 32-50 record

The Washington Wizards who fell to the Toronto Raptors in the 2018 NBA Playoffs in a 6-game 1st round series failed to make the playoffs in 2019. Injuries also derailed any hopes the Wizards had for playoff aspirations such as Dwight Howard suffering back troubles requiring surgery and John Wall suffering a season-ending torn left Achilles injury.

The Wizards need a lot if they expect to return to the playoffs. It all starts with a center to rebound and protect the rim at the defensive end for this squad. The Wizards scored 114 ppg in 2019 but gave up 116 ppg. While they were 29th in opponents' scoring average they were also 27th in total and defensive rebounding. A strong rebounding center could clean up the single possession the Wizards lost games by with the ability to reduce their defensive slack of giving up 9.7 rpg.

The Wizard hold the 9th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and they may want to look at drafting either Bruno Fernando at 6’10 out of Maryland or Jaxson Hayes at 6’11 from Texas.