NBA Mock Draft Roundup: Wizards connected to several guards originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
The lottery is over and the 2022 NBA Draft order is set. The Orlando Magic have won the first pick, while the Wizards are sitting at No. 10 overall with a chance to draft another core piece to their roster.
If Washington keeps the 10th pick, who could they target? They could use a point guard after the failed Spencer Dinwiddie experiment, but could also use a boost on defense whether at the guard spot or on the wing. In today's NBA, you can never have too many good wings.
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As new mock drafts go up at every outlet, let's take a look at what draft experts think the Wizards should do with the 10th pick.
Dyson Daniels: SG/PG, G-League Ignite (NBC Sports Washington)
"The way the board shook out in this scenario would be ideal for the Wizards, who could choose from a collection of enticing prospects. In this case, they address a need with a big two-way point guard. Daniels is 6-foot-6 with a great feel for the game as a play-maker, an excellent rebounder for his position and a tough defender.
His outside shooting needs some work, but that should arrive over time. Daniels is a point guard in the mold of Josh Giddey, who was able to make a strong impression as a rookie despite not being a threat from 3-point range. Daniels may not start right away for the Wizards, but he is exactly the type of player they could use in the long term." - Chase Hughes
Johnny Davis: PG/SG, Wisconsin (ESPN)
"The Wizards will certainly look to improve their backcourt, both in the draft and free agency, after cycling through a cascade of guards in an injury-plagued season. Enter Davis, who brings many of the winning intangibles the Wizards should be looking for with his defensive versatility, unselfishness and ability to score with or without the ball. Davis would fit well alongside the ball-dominant Bradley Beal and looks ready to contribute immediately coming off an All-America season, despite being relatively young at 20." - Jonathan Givony
Jeremy Sochan: PF/SF, Baylor (The Ringer)
"Sochan is safe because he’s versatile, intelligent, and has a motor. He’s a tone-setter. Washington needs more players with those qualities after posting the NBA’s 25th-ranked defensive rating this season. However, Sochan also is an upside player if he manages to blossom on offense. Right now he’s largely a playmaker with size but the flashes shooting off the dribble are intoxicating. There’s a baseline for long-term success, which makes him safe in certain ways while also retaining significant potential." - Kevin O'Connor
Dyson Daniels: SG/PG, G-League Ignite (The Athletic)
"Daniels is a terrific playmaker and defender for his size. Sources have told me he has grown throughout the past year — we’ll find that out officially at the combine this week — and if that’s the case, it’s easy to see him rising throughout the draft process. I don’t think there is a better perimeter defender in the class, as he’s switchable and disruptive with awesome instincts. He shared point guard duties for the Ignite and was their best option because of his unselfishness." - Same Vecenie
Johnny Davis: PG/SG, Wisconsin (Bleacher Report)
"Davis should give the Wizards another source of creation, shot-making and toughness. Even if he struggles with the three-ball early, he will still find ways to apply pressure with his aggressive scoring mentality as a driver and pull-up shooter." - Jonathan Wasserman
Bennedict Mathurin: SG/SF, Arizona (CBS Sports)
"Mathurin was the star of Arizona's team that won the Pac-12 and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The 6-6 wing is an impressive athlete and above-average shooter who could lighten the scoring load on Bradley Beal in Washington." - Gary Parrish
Johnny Davis: PG/SG, Wisconsin (SB Nation)
"Davis was a three-star recruit entering Wisconsin who went from a solid bench piece as a freshman to one of the biggest stars in college hoops as a sophomore. A strong 6’5, 195-pound combo guard, Davis combines tough and versatile shot-making with impressive point of attack defense to emerge one of the safest two-way bets in this class. While Davis lacks blow-by speed and top-end athleticism, he proved he needs little space to get off his shot. He torched defenders on midrange pull-ups, powering through contact at the rim, and dragging smaller defenders into the post." - Ricky O'Donnell
