Wizards Executives Remaining Reluctant to Reveal Next Move

That's as much as he, let alone Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins, was willing to reveal. This boon means so much more than the obvious luxury of controlling everyone else's draft board; the asset represents leverage, and the strategic, big picture-driven front office is as open for business as ever.

The Wizards' Options

Winger, who technically outranks Dawkins in Washington's executive pecking order, was careful with his words in addressing the media scrum waiting for him outside of the limited-access selection room. "This is not a savior moment," he told The Stein Line's Jake Fischer in implying that the Wizards aren't married to any decision yet, claiming that he'll always keep an ear out for outside offers.

The Utah Jazz immediately sprang up as a likely trade candidate, given their years-long ties to favored top prospect AJ Dybantsa and the likelihood that he'll remain just outside of their reach. But when we combine last year's odd Ace Bailey storyline with Washington's previous track record as a leak-proof operation, there's little reason to think that such a deal will come together anytime soon.

As close as he's characteristically kept his cards to the chest, Dawkins has provided even less rumor possibilities to the media.

He played the Winger role last year when the Wizards infamously plummeted to their worst-case scenario at No. 6, but completely sat out of the drama this year. Per his own account, he and his scouts passed up the drama of the ceremony completely by playing some pickup hoops through the news drop, waiting for an aid to interrupt him during his workout with the necessary update. Once he got his news fix, his game resumed with newfound excitement.

As aggravating as the last few drafts were to D.C. sports fans desperate to locate that rebuilding centerpiece, the Wizards' decision-makers now have the luxury of choosing who'll receive top-billing among their expansive young corps.

Prospects like Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson and Will Riley make for a promising bed of depth and talent for the next draftee to grow alongside and elevate, alleviating some of the pressure that the scouting team may be feeling if they find their guy lower down in the consensus draft order. If they spot value where no one else is looking, a trade into the depths of the lottery could realistically follow.

The fan base has been blindsided before, whether it be by an unfortunate lottery result or by the franchise's own volition in the form of a surprising trade. Now, everyone else is right back to waiting by their phones in anticipating their next move, while Dawkins and Winger may as well do their due diligence unbothered while waiting for calls to come pouring in.