2018 NBA Mock Draft: If need were all that mattered

This one is simple: Washington needs a big. At this spot, they may have the last opportunity to draft a high-upside center for the rest of the draft. Williams could really change things for the Wizards by giving John Wall and Bradley Beal a true lob threat and rim protector.

Ian Mahinmi is owed $32 million over the next two seasons, and he provided almost nothing for the Wizards this year. That contract has only gotten worse as Mahinmi gets deeper into his 30s. It may be difficult to stomach keeping Williams, Mahimi, Markieff Morris and Marcin Gortat on the roster at once looking at the teams Washington will need to compete with in the East next year, but that frustration could end in just one season. Morris and Gortat will be free agents in 2019.

At that point, one would hope Williams was ready for a larger role, allowing the Wizards to count on inward gravity toward a diving roller and real rim protection like they have not had since they convinced themselves of JaVale McGee’s upside. Wall has basically never played like a player like Williams during his prime, in spite of how much a player like this could help Wall’s game.

The five-time All Star has never averaged more than 11 assists per game. In 2019-20, with Beal, Williams and Otto Porter around him, might we see Wall have the best season of his career? The Wizards have to hope his best days are still ahead, and an athletic talent like Williams would help that become a reality.