Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

How Grizzlies' NBA Play-In Tournament Affects Wizards' 2025 Draft Plans

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Gerard Angelo Samillano | Last updated Apr 16, 2025 10:19 AM ET

The Washington Wizards' season might be over, but that doesn't mean that fans should stop watching basketball. In fact, the Wizards should be looking to the Western Conference and root for one particular team, as them making the playoffs affects them in the 2025 NBA Draft.

As part of the trade that sent Marcus Smart to the Wizards, the Grizzlies traded their 2025 first-round pick. However, that pick came with a caveat: a lottery protection. That means that if the Grizzlies do not make the playoffs (and earn a top-14 pick in the process), that first-round pick comes back to them. If they do make it to the first round, though, that first-round pick conveys to Washington.

This is important. The Grizzlies have two chances to make the playoffs: either beat Golden State, or bear SAC/DAL in the next game.

If they win one of their next two, their draft pick conveys to Washington. pic.twitter.com/4h5Bks9aUm
— Bijan Todd (@bijan_todd) April 14, 2025

Unfortunately for the Wizards, the Grizzlies are now at death's door in their playoff hunt. Memphis lost a heart-breaker to the Golden State Warriors, which sends them to the final game of the Play-In. There, they will play the winner of the series between the Sacramento Kings and the Dallas Mavericks. Should they win that game, they will lock in the eighth-seed and give the pick over to Washington.

Should the Grizzlies be eliminated (and fall to the lottery), they will instead give a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick.

Aside from that first round pick, the Wizards have their own first-round pick, which is projected to go in the top-three by most analysts. In the second round, Washington has one pick that they can use. Given the young nature of the team, most analysts expect the Wizards to use their draft picks to add some young talent to their roster.

Finishing at 18-64 this season, the Wizards could use some new talent on their roster. All eyes are on the NBA Draft lottery, where the Wizards have a 14% of landing the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. That first overall pick will presumably be used on Duke superstar Cooper Flagg.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: