2018 NBA Mock Draft: Trae Young could reset the Kings backcourt

When there are rumors your team might be interested in Derrick Rose in 2018, it’s a good indication that you need point guard help immediately.

While Washington has quietly developed some useful rotation pieces around their star backcourt tandem, Tim Frazier and Tomas Satoransky have not been all that useful for the Wizards this year. Now with John Wall out with an injury, Satoransky is over-exposed as the starter and has no true backup.

That leads us to a change of heart for the Wizards in their spot for this week’s mock draft. No longer are they drafting a big man to replace Marcin Gortat, who has declared loudly in recent weeks that he is perhaps discontented in Washington. There is a need there, but a bigger one at the backup guard position.

Gilgeous-Alexander is probably going to be best as a third guard, someone who can put up shots whenever he’s in the game and play in well-spaced lineups. He is a good but not elite passer, with length to defend the better guard if he plays with offensive powerhouses like Wall or Bradley Beal. At the very least, he would be a better gamble than someone like Frazier or last year’s backups, Trey Burke and Brandon Jennings.