NBA Draft 2018: 5 targets for the Washington Wizards

3. Lonnie Walker IV, Ball-Handler, Miami

Walker is another player for whom the draw is upside — what can he become after a weird freshman season at Miami?

Early in the year, Walker was recovering from a preseason injury, behind more experienced players like Bruce Brown and Anthony Lawrence Jr. When he returned, coach Jim Larranaga brough Walker along slowly — the freshman didn’t play more than 30 minutes until January 15. Just two weeks after that, Brown was injured in a game against Florida State, leaving Walker as the team’s primary two-guard for the remainder of the season.

So we have about two months of evidence in college to show what Walker can do as a primary creator, as well as nearly his entire amateur career. The difference between January and February is disheartening. Walker was a significantly less efficient player after Brown went down, shooting just 39 percent in February, scoring less as well. He got to the line less frequently and turned the ball over more.

The idea of Walker in Washington would be that playing the role of a third or fourth guard on a good team would be mutually beneficial for the team and player. Another missing ingredient from the Wizards during the Wall-Beal era has been a bench creator. This year, that role alternately fell onto Oubre and Tim Frazier, two guys not efficient or dynamic enough to carry the offense in tight games when the starters sit.

Certainly, one could imagine Walker getting more comfortable in a limited role during the regular season to the point that he is ready to contribute by the 2019-20 season. That fits the Wizards’ timeline.