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  4. title => " Ja Morant turning into a 'hell, yeah' NBA Draft option if Wizards get lottery lucky"
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  6. article_body => "<p>The Washington Wizards selected John Wall first overall in the 2010 NBA Draft. Other lottery picks followed in subsequent years. None were point guards. Nobody bothered contemplating such a scenario.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s no longer the case.<\/p>\n<p>There is Wall\u2019s uncertain physical status for next season and beyond because of a ruptured Achilles.<\/p>\n<p>Thursday\u2019s mind-blowing performance from Murray State point guard Ja Morant put such contemplation into overdrive.<\/p>\n<p>For many NBA-only fans, the 12th seeded Racers' 83-64 thrashing over no. 5 Marquette in its West Region first-round game marked the initial opportunity to watch the buzz-worthy Morant. He did not disappoint.<\/p>\n<p>Morant, who only trailed Duke phenom Zion Williamson for jaw-dropping highlights this season, dazzled with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists for the first triple-double in the NCAA Tournament since 2012. His next chance to wow comes Saturday against fourth-seeded Florida State.<\/p>\n<p>Imagine the Wizards receive some lottery luck ahead of June\u2019s NBA Draft. Not the overflowing pot of gold kind that means grabbing Williamson first overall, but jumping up above the average options to the second or third selection. Washington (30-43) has a 26.3 percent chance of landing a top 4 selection, according to the draft website Tankathon.<\/p>\n<p>Williamson might be the only player selected ahead of Morant in June in what one NBA executive deems a two-player draft. \u201cZion makes it feel better than it is. After Zion and Ja, just an average draft,\u201d the executive said.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re on the clock. Duke\u2019s RJ Barrett is another top 3 candidate, but Morant gained ground on the wing guard and others all season by averaging 24.0 points, 10.0 assists and multiple viral video moments a game. By June, Morant might be the clear-cut second-best player.<\/p>\n<p>Wall\u2019s recovery timeline keeps the five-time All-Star sideline for the majority if not all of the 2019-20 season. He will eventually return, however. That factor cannot be ignored especially with his 4-year, $170 million supermax contract starting next season. Ideally, the selection compliments Bradley Beal and Wall in the starting lineup.<\/p>\n<p>Wall also turns 29 in July and recovery from such a devastating injury presents significant unknowns.<\/p>\n<p>Tomas Satoransky, Wall's primary backup and the current starter, is a restricted free agent this summer. The Wizards would like him back, but the marketplace might have other ideas.<\/p>\n<p>Time\u2019s up. Turn the selection card in. Take Morant or not?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHell, yes!\u201d multiple college basketball sources responded via text.<\/p>\n<p>Others went with a standard roster-building approach.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI take the best player available and figure it out,\u201d an NBA scout texted.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, hell yeah on Morant.<\/p>\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">MORANT MADNESS!<br><br>Ja Morant put on a SHOW! <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MarchMadness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#MarchMadness<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MorantMadness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#MorantMadness<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ImrmOqqrGa\">pic.twitter.com\/ImrmOqqrGa<\/a><\/p>&mdash; NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/marchmadness\/status\/1108865390329937924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 21, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n<p>Another NBA scout received his first extended look at wispy yet athletically super-charged Morant last summer at Chris Paul\u2019s basketball camp. \u201cI thought he was ordinary because he played more off the ball,\u201d the scout said of the 6-foot-3, 174-pound Morant. \u201cBut now he\u2019s really, really good. Can pass with either hand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The scout offered an NBA comparison: John Wall. \u201cNot as fast as John, but he\u2019s got the same explosive athleticism at the rim.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The counter-argument, a mild one at that, looks beyond next season.<\/p>\n<p>Playing time ranked high among the reasons why the Wizards sought low-cost backup point guards over the years for Wall. Combo guards aside, if Wall goes 35-38 minutes nightly, why invest significant assets into a 10-13 minute-a-game player.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s some debate over whether Morant could play off the ball next to Wall. The sophomore is shooting 33.6 percent on 4.8 three-point attempts per game this season.<\/p>\n<p>Based on the initial reaction from the various sources, nobody cares. Take the talent and figure out the rest. It's unclear what the Wizards have in Wall going forward. Maybe trade one of them down the line. The Wizards only have three healthy players under contract for next season. The 2019 first-round pick could immediately become a high-rotation player.<\/p>\n<p>Such expectations rise if the Wizards jump up in the lottery. Historically there\u2019s no chance they consider a point guard in the lottery with Wall on the roster. Times are different especially if there\u2019s a chance to grab a hell yeah talent like Morant.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>MORE WIZARDS NEWS:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Agent Zero is Back:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/rejoice-gilbert-arenas-bringing-agent-zero-big3\">Gilbert Arenas to captain BIG3's Enemies<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Early Returns:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/wizards-and-bulls-squaring-what-are-early-returns-otto-porter-jr-trade\">How does Otto Porter trade look six weeks later<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Roster Turnover:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/franchise-record-25-players-wizards-has-made-interesting-year-scott-brooks\">Franchise-record 25 players have suited up for Wiz&nbsp;in 2018-19<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><div class=\"video-filter art19-player-iframe\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/699721b3-e735-466d-ba23-f02d0d6b6893\/episodes\/29da44a3-187d-49c4-a1f8-23b36d1d654e\/embed?theme=light-blue\" width=\"100%\" height=\"250px\" class=\"video-filter video-art19 vf-699721b3e735466dba23f02d0d6b6893 vf-29da44a3187d49c4a1f823b36d1d654eembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"Art19 Player\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/p>\n"
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Wizards

Wizards

The Washington Wizards selected John Wall first overall in the 2010 NBA Draft. Other lottery picks followed in subsequent years. None were point guards. Nobody bothered contemplating such a scenario.

That’s no longer the case.

There is Wall’s uncertain physical status for next season and beyond because of a ruptured Achilles.

Thursday’s mind-blowing performance from Murray State point guard Ja Morant put such contemplation into overdrive.

For many NBA-only fans, the 12th seeded Racers' 83-64 thrashing over no. 5 Marquette in its West Region first-round game marked the initial opportunity to watch the buzz-worthy Morant. He did not disappoint.

Morant, who only trailed Duke phenom Zion Williamson for jaw-dropping highlights this season, dazzled with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists for the first triple-double in the NCAA Tournament since 2012. His next chance to wow comes Saturday against fourth-seeded Florida State.

Imagine the Wizards receive some lottery luck ahead of June’s NBA Draft. Not the overflowing pot of gold kind that means grabbing Williamson first overall, but jumping up above the average options to the second or third selection. Washington (30-43) has a 26.3 percent chance of landing a top 4 selection, according to the draft website Tankathon.

Williamson might be the only player selected ahead of Morant in June in what one NBA executive deems a two-player draft. “Zion makes it feel better than it is. After Zion and Ja, just an average draft,” the executive said.

You’re on the clock. Duke’s RJ Barrett is another top 3 candidate, but Morant gained ground on the wing guard and others all season by averaging 24.0 points, 10.0 assists and multiple viral video moments a game. By June, Morant might be the clear-cut second-best player.

 

Wall’s recovery timeline keeps the five-time All-Star sideline for the majority if not all of the 2019-20 season. He will eventually return, however. That factor cannot be ignored especially with his 4-year, $170 million supermax contract starting next season. Ideally, the selection compliments Bradley Beal and Wall in the starting lineup.

Wall also turns 29 in July and recovery from such a devastating injury presents significant unknowns.

Tomas Satoransky, Wall's primary backup and the current starter, is a restricted free agent this summer. The Wizards would like him back, but the marketplace might have other ideas.

Time’s up. Turn the selection card in. Take Morant or not?

“Hell, yes!” multiple college basketball sources responded via text.

Others went with a standard roster-building approach.

“I take the best player available and figure it out,” an NBA scout texted.

In other words, hell yeah on Morant.

Another NBA scout received his first extended look at wispy yet athletically super-charged Morant last summer at Chris Paul’s basketball camp. “I thought he was ordinary because he played more off the ball,” the scout said of the 6-foot-3, 174-pound Morant. “But now he’s really, really good. Can pass with either hand.”

The scout offered an NBA comparison: John Wall. “Not as fast as John, but he’s got the same explosive athleticism at the rim.”

The counter-argument, a mild one at that, looks beyond next season.

Playing time ranked high among the reasons why the Wizards sought low-cost backup point guards over the years for Wall. Combo guards aside, if Wall goes 35-38 minutes nightly, why invest significant assets into a 10-13 minute-a-game player.

There’s some debate over whether Morant could play off the ball next to Wall. The sophomore is shooting 33.6 percent on 4.8 three-point attempts per game this season.

Based on the initial reaction from the various sources, nobody cares. Take the talent and figure out the rest. It's unclear what the Wizards have in Wall going forward. Maybe trade one of them down the line. The Wizards only have three healthy players under contract for next season. The 2019 first-round pick could immediately become a high-rotation player.

Such expectations rise if the Wizards jump up in the lottery. Historically there’s no chance they consider a point guard in the lottery with Wall on the roster. Times are different especially if there’s a chance to grab a hell yeah talent like Morant.

MORE WIZARDS NEWS: