NBA Draft

Luke Askew

Less than 48 hours after the 2023 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards held a press conference introducing the newest addition to their team, Bilal Coulibaly. The Wizards agreed in principle to a deal with the Indiana Pacers on draft night giving Washington the rights to Coulibaly, the seventh overall pick.

Saturday morning, members of the media, Coulibaly's family, and Wizards' staff joined together at The Anthem -- an event venue in the iconic Wharf neighborhood of D.C. to welcome Coulibaly to The District. The press conference was streamed live on the Wizards' social media channels and the Monumental Sports Network App so fans could get a glimpse at the new draftee.

"When Michael [Winger] and I took the job, we talked about how important it would be to be in the community," said Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins. "We had Bilal's family join us last night right in this area down the street with some of the staff, we took him to dinner. So we're excited to be here and be in this area."

Dawkins went on to discuss the excitement the front office has about the 18-year-old from France.

"Today, we're here to talk about Bilal, who we feel like talent-wise is just scratching the surface," said Dawkins. "He was someone that we targeted early on in the process for many reasons that we'll get into, but as we got closer to draft night, we realized that he was our guy. And when we got in the room, Mike [Winger] made sure we got our guy. There were a lot of people in the room that were excited when it happened, and a lot of people were excited in the walls when he came in yesterday and took the tour, and for good reason... He's a two-way player that we have a lot of confidence in."

As for the man himself, this process has been a whirlwind.

When asked what these last few days have been like for him, Coulibaly said, "That was so, so fast. Everything happened so fast. But I really enjoyed it. That was just like in my dreams, you know, as a kid. Just very excited to be in Washington."

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Washington Wizards introduce Bilal Coulibaly

wasatemperly

The Washington Wizards acquired Bilal Coulibaly in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft.

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2023 NBA Draft: Wizards acquire Bilal Coulibaly

After an eventful first round of the 2023 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards had to make another tough selection in the second round with the 42nd overall pick. The Wizards used that pick to select Tristan Vukcevic, a 20-year-old forward/center who currently plays for KK Partizan in Serbia.

In fact, Vukcevic won the ABA (Adriatic Basketball Association) championship on Thursday night shortly before being drafted by the Wizards.

"I gave him a call," said Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins. "They were still celebrating. And he was just filled with emotion, filled with joy, and happy to be selected and be a Washington Wizard."

At 6'11.25" without shoes and a 7'2.5" wingspan, Vukcevic has the size to play the five at the next level. But what makes him such an intriguing prospect is his skill set. He's a marksman off the catch from deep, but he's also flashed the ability to make plays off the dribble. Whether it's attacking closeouts or using dribble moves to free up space for his jumper, there's more to Vukcevic's offensive game than one might expect given his height and frame.

The stretch five has become an increasingly valuable role in the NBA. Teams are always looking for guys who can protect the rim on one end and stretch the floor on the other. While there are certainly question marks surrounding Vukcevic (and every rookie, for that matter), if he can find ways to adapt in the league, he'll carve out an important role.

"[Vukcevic] has played internationally. I feel like I've watched him for a long time now, since he was a youth as well," said Dawkins. "With him -- seven feet, skilled, can pass, can shoot. He's played in ACB. He's played in EuroLeague games. [Vukcevic and Bilal Coulibaly] are just high-level competitors and guys that know how to play basketball, and we're excited to be able to have them in the Wizards' program."

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NBA Draft Player Profile: Tristan Vukcevic

The NBA Draft is annually one of the most exciting days for basketball fans. You get to see the next wave of NBA players take their first steps into the league. And thankfully, today is that day: The 2023 NBA Draft is here. Here's all the information you need to keep up with the Washington Wizards on draft night.

The 2023 NBA Draft will be televised on ESPN, ESPN+, and ABC. However, if you're in the DMV area, you can head to Capital One Arena for the Wizards' draft party at 7:00 p.m. ET (doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET). The party is free and open to the public. If you're interested in attending the Wizards' draft party, you can RSVP here.

For more information on the Wizards' draft party, click here.

Currently, the Wizards have three draft picks in the 2023 NBA Draft: One in the first round and two in the second round.

WHO IS CURRENTLY DRAFTING AHEAD OF THE WIZARDS IN THE FIRST ROUND?

Here's a look at who some of the major media outlets predict the Wizards will draft with the eighth overall pick. (This list does not reflect the views of the Wizards organization.)

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Washington Wizards 2023 NBA Draft Essentials

On Saturday, June 17, the Wizards hosted six players for a pre-draft workout at Capital One Arena: Jacob Toppin, Bryce Griggs, Emmanuel Akot, Jayden Gardner, Brendan Medley-Bacon, and Malachi Smith. Here's a little more information on each prospect.

EMMANUEL AKOT- Position: Guard- Height: 6'8"- Weight: 215 lbs- College: Western Kentucky

Emmanuel Akot started his college hoops career at Arizona where he played for two seasons before transferring to Boise State. Due to the old transfer rules, Akot had to sit out a season at Boise State before suiting up for two seasons where he averaged 10 points per game.

After three total years with Boise State, Akot transferred to Western Kentucky for his final season. There, he averaged 10 points, 3.7 boards, and 2.3 assists per game.

JAYDEN GARDNER - Position: Forward- Height: 6'6"- Weight: 233 lbs- College: Virginia

Jayden Gardner spent three years at East Carolina where he established himself as a dominant scorer in the paint, averaging 16.3, 19.7, and 18.3 points per game in each respective season. He then built on that momentum and transferred to the ACC, joining a Virginia Cavaliers team with high postseason hopes.

His scoring averages dropped slightly, but Gardner remained an impact player on both ends of the floor while playing in one of the best conferences in college basketball. In two seasons with Virginia, he averaged 13.7 points per game on 50.5% shooting from the field to go along with 6.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists.

BRYCE GRIGGS - Position: Guard- Height: 6'2" - Weight: 183 lbs- Previous team: Overtime Elite

Bryce Griggs had a super productive 2022-23 season for Overtime Elite. The 6-foot-2 point guard showed he can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the court. In 11 games, he averaged 16.4 points, 7.9 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.2 steals. He's now looking to bring his steady ball handling and two-way impact to the NBA level.

BRENDAN MEDLEY-BACON - Position: Center - Height: 7'0" - Weight: 235 lbs- College: NC Central

Brendan Medley-Bacon has had a unique college journey. He played two seasons for Coppin State, then spent one season at VCU and one season at McNeese State before playing his final college season at NC Central. It was his last stop where he made his biggest impact.

In the 2022-23 season for NC Central, the 7-footer flashed potential on both ends of the court, finishing plays around the rim and protecting the cup on defense. He averaged 12 points per game on a crazy-efficient 68.4% shooting from the field to go along with 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks.

MALACHI SMITH - Position: Guard- Height: 6'4"- Weight: 205 lbs- College: Gonzaga

After a relatively quiet freshman season at Wright State, Malachi Smith transferred to Chattanooga where he broke into the scene. In his two seasons at Chattanooga, Smith poured in a whopping 18.6 points per game on 48% shooting from the field and 39.7% shooting from deep to go along with 7.6 boards and 3.1 assists.

Smith then transferred to Gonzaga for the 2022-23 season, where he was a key role player for the Zags. He played in 37 games and averaged 8.7 points on 53.6% shooting from the field and 50% shooting from deep.

JACOB TOPPIN - Position: Forward- Height: 6'9"- Weight: 205 lbs- College: Kentucky

Jacob Toppin played his freshman season for Rhode Island before transferring to Kentucky to play for John Calipari and the Wildcats. In his first two seasons with Kentucky, Toppin operated primarily in a bench role, averaging roughly 17 minutes per game.

Then, in the 2022-23 season, he broke out and turned into an everyday starter. Using his length, versatility, and springy athleticism, Toppin averaged 12.4 points per game on 46.3% shooting from the field to go along with 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

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Prospect Profiles: Wizards host Jacob Toppin, Bryce Griggs, and more for June 17 workout

Washington, D.C. –&nbsp;The Washington Wizards are inviting fans to join them for their 2023 NBA Draft party on Thursday, June 22, at Capital One Arena beginning at 7:00 p.m. Washington holds the 8th, 42nd&nbsp;and 57th&nbsp;overall selections in the NBA Draft.&nbsp;

The party is&nbsp;free&nbsp;and open to the public, with the first 500 fans in attendance taking home a Wizards branded cross-body bag and a Wizards NBA Draft party rally towel. The party will be hosted by Wizards in-game host Britt Waters and NBC Sports Washington host Jordan Giorgio. Wizards radio broadcasters Dave Johnson and Glenn Consor will also provide commentary and insight throughout the night. DJ Heat and DJ Jealousy, along with the Wizards Dancers, G-Wiz and 202 Crew, will entertain fans.&nbsp;

On the concourse, fans can stock up on all their Wizards merchandise and team gear needs, including jerseys, t-shirts, hats and bobbleheads with the Wizards garage sale located at sections 115 and 116. Proceeds will benefit the MSE Foundation.&nbsp;

Those in attendance will have the opportunity for a meet-and-greet with Wizards alumni&nbsp;Jason Smith, Christian Laettner, Phil Chenier, Michael Adams, Harvey Grant and Etan Thomas. Wizards Dancers will also be available for photos and autographs. Fans can enjoy balloon artists, face painters, pop-a-shot, a photobooth and&nbsp;gaming stations on the concourse prior to the event.&nbsp;

Wizards season ticket members will have exclusive access to a special VIP area, including complimentary food and drinks and visits from Laettner, Smith, Chenier, Thomas and more.

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Wizards to Host 2023 NBA Draft Party

On Monday, June 12, the Wizards continued their pre-draft workouts. They hosted five players, including Terquavion Smith and Tanner Groves. Here's a brief background on each prospect.

TERQUAVION SMITH - Position: Guard- Height: 6'4" - Weight: 165 lbs- College: NC State

Terquavion Smith is an electric scorer. He only played two collegiate seasons, but in those two seasons, he flashed loads of offensive potential. Last season for NC State, Smith averaged 17.9 points per game while dishing out 4.1 assists, grabbing 3.6 rebounds, and notching 1.4 steals.

DANIEL AKIN - Position: Forward- Height: 6'9"- Weight: 225 lbs- College: Utah State

Daniel Akin had a unique college basketball experience. He played four seasons at UMBC and was a part of the legendary team in 2018 that became the first-ever No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Then, he transferred to California Baptist where he played one season before transferring to Utah State where he played his final college season and averaged 12 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

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Draft Workout: June 12, 2023

TANNER GROVES- Position: Forward/Center- Height: 6'10" - Weight: 240 lbs- College: Oklahoma

After averaging just 2.8 and 5.1 points per game during his freshman and sophomore seasons at Eastern Washington, Groves broke out in a major way during his junior season. He jumped all the way up to 17.2 points per game on 56% shooting from the field to go along with eight rebounds and 1.3 assists.

Groves then transferred to Oklahoma where he played his last two seasons under head coach Porter Moser. At Oklahoma, he averaged 10.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

TEVIAN JONES - Position: Guard- Height: 6'7"- Weight: 197 lbs- College: Southern Utah

Tevian Jones spent his first two collegiate seasons at Illinois before transferring to Southern Utah where he took on a major scoring role. In his three seasons at Southern Utah, Jones averaged 16.5 points per game on .407/.342/.837 shooting splits to go along with 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists.

CRAIG PORTER JR. - Position: Guard- Height: 6'2"- Weight: 186 lbs- College: Wichita State

Craig Porter Jr. showed steady improvement during his three seasons at Wichita State. His improvement culminated during the 2022-23 season where he averaged 13.5 points per game on 47.8% shooting from the field and 36.3% shooting from deep to go along with 6.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and three STOCKS (steals + blocks).

- Position: Guard- Height: 6'7"- Weight: 200 lbs- College: Rutgers

Caleb McConnell played 5 seasons for Rutgers, with his best season coming in the 2022-23 season for the Scarlet Knights. McConnell was a thief on the defensive end of the floor, averaging 2.5 steals per game this past season after averaging 2.2 the season before.

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Draft Workout Media Availability: Terquavion Smith

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Prospect Profiles: Terquavion Smith, Tanner Groves among participants in Wizards' June 12 workout

On Saturday morning, the Wizards hosted a pre-draft workout featuring Kihei Clark, Tosan Evbuomwan, and four other prospects. Here's everything you need to know!

KIHEI CLARK - Position: Guard- Height: 5'10" - Weight: 167 lbs- College: Virginia

In the 2019 NCAA Tournament, freshman guard Kihei Clark made one of the biggest plays in March Madness history, chasing down a rebound and hitting Mamadi Diakite with a halfcourt pass. Diakite caught the ball and immediately sank a floater at the buzzer. That shot sent the game to overtime, where the Cavaliers would eventually win and move on to the Final Four. Two games later, they were cutting down the nets as National Champions.

Clark spent another four seasons at Virginia as the starting point guard. For his career, he averaged 8.9 points per game to go along with 4.5 assists and 2.8 rebounds. Clark holds a program-record 718 assists.

TOSAN EVBUOMWAN - Position: Forward- Height: 6'8" - Weight: 219 lbs- College: Princeton

In his last season with Princeton, Tosan Evbuomwan helped lead them to a miraculous Cinderella run in the NCAA Tournament. Princeton was a No. 15 seed but played outstandingly well in the first two rounds, beating the No. 2 seed Michigan State Spartans and the No. 7 seed Missouri Tigers.

In the Sweet 16, Princeton's storybook run came to a close against Creighton, but Evbuomwan went down swinging. He scored 24 points, dished out nine assists, and grabbed six rebounds.

D'MOI HODGE - Position: Guard- Height: 6'4"- Weight: 188 lbs- College: Missouri

A talented scorer, D'Moi Hodge averaged 14.7 points per game on uber-efficient .477/.400/.734 shooting splits in his final season with Missouri, where he helped lead the Tigers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

KEONDRE KENNEDY - Position: Guard/Forward- Height: 6'6"- Weight: 185 lbs- College: UNC Greensboro

Keondre Kennedy played three seasons of college hoops for UMBC before transferring to UNC Greensboro. There, he averaged 13.7 points per game on 44.2% shooting from the field and 40% shooting from deep to go along with 6.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

NOAH LOCKE - Position: Guard- Height: 6'3"- Weight: 210 lbs- College: Providence

Noah Locke has seen his fair share of hoops talent at the college level. He spent his first three seasons at Florida and then one season at Louisville before finally arriving at Providence. A consistent double-digit scorer, Locke totaled over 1,600 points during his college career.