Players to watch for the Washington Wizards on draft night

WASHINGTON (7News) — The NBA Draft is just two weeks away, and the Wizards will be important to watch.

Washington owns three selections, two in the first round, and one in the second. Coming off an 18-win season and its fourth straight near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, pressure is mounting on the front office to get these picks right — especially the top one.

Here are some names to keep an eye on at No. 6, assuming Washington stays put.

Derik Queen

Could general manager Will Dawkins pick Baltimore kids in back-to-back years?

Queen is arguably the most skilled player in the draft relative to his size. The 6-foot-9 big man owns an array of advanced post moves and isn’t afraid to put the ball on the deck. In his one season at the University of Maryland, Queen averaged 16.5 points and nine rebounds and won Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

The baby-faced 20-year-old injected life into the Maryland fanbase and led the program’s best season in a decade. He could do the same for a Washington franchise desperately seeking a star player and personality.

It also helps that Queen grew up in Baltimore alongside guard Bub Carrington, the Wizards’ second lottery pick a year ago. Two childhood friends running pick-and-rolls in the NBA would be a full-circle moment.

Khaman Maluach

Maluach is almost the inverse of Queen as a prospect. The Duke product stands at a towering 7-foot-2 with a near-7-foot-7 wingspan and makes his money contesting shots around the rim.

He’s not nearly as skilled with the ball in his hands, but Maluach shot 71.2 percent at the rim for the Blue Devils and grabbed eight offensive rebounds per 100 possessions. That could be exactly what Washington needs next to Alex Sarr, another 7-footer who struggled as a rookie on the interior but displayed a burgeoning perimeter game.

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo listed Maluach as the Wizards’ best-value pick at No. 6 in its most recent mock draft. Givony wrote that it could create a frontcourt pairing akin to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

Kon Knueppel

Washington was the second-worst three-point shooting team in the NBA last season. Insert Kon Knueppel.

Another former Blue Devil, the 6-foot-7 wing is one of the best shooters in the draft. He shot 40.6 percent from deep on over five attempts per game in Durham, displaying comfortability off the dribble and off the catch.

But don’t pigeonhole Knueppel as a shooter. He took on substantial ball-handling duties for a Duke team that lacked a true point guard and ranked third on the team with 2.7 assists per game. The burly 219-pounder also competes on the defensive end despite giving up some ground as an athlete.

Knueppel would be a strong selection for a Washington team lacking floor spacing, toughness and reliable wing play.

Jeremiah Fears

If general manager Will Dawkins wants more of an upside play with this pick, he should look no further than Jeremiah Fears.

The Oklahoma guard was one of college basketball’s most electric players, leading the Sooners to a 13-0 start before they fizzled out in conference play. Fears led his team in points (17.1), assists (4.1) and steals (1.6), and averaged 25 points across three games in the SEC and NCAA tournaments.

He did all that at 18 years old.

Of those likely to be on the board at No. 6, Fears may possess the most star potential as a lead guard with advanced craft and elite speed. He could learn from Jordan Poole before taking the reins and leading the next iteration of Washington’s offense.

You can watch the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft June 25 at 8:00 PM on 7News.