NBA Draft 2013: Washington Wizards Select Otto Porter Jr.
By Josh Hill
The Washington Wizards were rumored to be involved in some trade scenarios but they elected to hang onto the third overall pick and ended up getting the exact guy they wanted all along. All the drama started at the top of the draft with the Cleveland Cavaliers but after they decided to shock the world and take Anthony Bennett with the first overall pick and Victor Oladipo ended up going second to the Orlando Magic, that left the door wide open for Washington to get their man.
With the third overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards select Otto Porter Jr.
The Wizards were apparently high on Otto Porter since well before the draft and their fears that the Cleveland Cavaliers would select him first overall tipped their hand to the rest of the NBA wondering what would happen atop the draft lottery. But while the Cavaliers may have also been high on Porter, a scenario the Wizards did not envision was Nerlens Noel slipping to them at third overall.
However that ended up being last minute drama that went nowhere as once the Wizards saw Porter was still on the board, they knew exactly who they wanted.
Washington is still in need of a true star as John Wall has let them down considerably since being draft himself first overall a few years ago. Since then he’s failed to lead the team the way Washington hoped he would and it’s really been a revolving door of supporting cast members to see who fits and who doesn’t. Last year though the Wizards took Florida’s Bradley Beals in the top 5 which means not only does Wall now have a partner in crime but the Wizards have a guy that can step in and be the leader and the new face of the franchise if Wall continues his downward spiral.
But if the pressure wasn’t on Wall to succeed before, it’s definitely on now after the Wizards selected … who can not only be a leader in the locker room but will also match that with amazing production on the court.