While many teams, such as Phoenix and San Antonio, had successful times at the draft and Summer League, the Washington Wizards arguably had the most success in the 2025 NBA Draft. In particular, they were able to find an elite scorer in Tre Johnson, an offensively talented wing in Will Riley, and an older, two-way wing in Jamir Watkins. In Johnson, the Wizards found someone who can fix their scoring problems. With Riley and Watkins, Washington has two wings with upside to fill out the ever-important wing depth. Let’s dive into the three reasons why the Washington Wizards won the 2025 NBA Draft.
3 Reasons Why The Washington Wizards Won The 2025 NBA Draft
#1: Adding More Wings
For the first reason why Washington won the draft, it’s due to their draft additions on the wings. Unquestionably, it’s no secret how important having wing depth has become in the NBA. In particular, multiple postseason contenders like the Knicks or the Celtics built their teams with a strong core of versatile wings. As such, the Wizards clearly prioritized adding more on the wings in this year’s draft. They bring in three players who all have the size to defend on the wings. Not only that, but they all know how to use their size to their advantage against smaller guards and wings. Considering the selections, the Wizards want to build a modern team solidified by a core of wings they can rely on.
#2: More Scoring, The Better
The second reason is their success in finding solutions to their overall scoring problems. In particular, the Wizards don’t truly have reliable perimeter scorers who can create their own shots. Both Johnson and Riley have what it takes to fix that, as they have high potential on the offensive end.
For Johnson specifically, he has already demonstrated himself as an elite shooter during his time at Texas and in the Summer League. Not only can Johnson shoot at an elite level, but he can also score on the other two levels. In Johnson, the Wizards finally get a true perimeter scorer that they’ve lacked for this core. As for Riley, he has impressive three-level scoring potential and playmaking skills for his size. Even Watkins is a skilled slasher and solid playmaker. Those two, plus Watkins, on the roster can go a long way in fixing Washington’s offensive issues, and the Wizards are the perfect place for them to fully develop. They will have plenty of opportunities to grow and experiment with their offensive games.
#3: Role Versatility Is The Key
The third overall reason why the Wizards won the draft is the role versatility each of their picks can provide. All three of Johnson, Riley, and Watkins can play on and off the ball while being able to play different roles. Johnson can play as an isolation scorer on the ball while being an excellent movement shooter off the ball. Riley has the skills to be a secondary creator like he was at Illinois, and he is a solid off-ball mover. Watkins is capable of playing on or off the ball offensively. He can also take a step back on offense and focus his efforts specifically on being an on-ball defender. Based on the past postseason, it’s clear that having players who can play multiple roles is important. With the addition of this crop of rookies, the Wizards are a more dynamic team going forward.
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