The 2010s Washington Wizards stands as one of their most memorable teams.
Under the leadership of franchise cornerstone John Wall, the Wizards enjoyed a significant stretch of competitive success as a prime contender in the East. They made it to the NBA Playoffs four times, including back-to-back trips to the East Semis in 2014 and 2015.
Yet like any other team, the Wall-led Washington Wizards have endured plenty of heartbreaks, shortcoming, and disappointments.
With LeBron James at his peak while ruling the Association, especially the East, Paul George and the Indiana Pacers taking a rise, and the Toronto Raptors as well as the Boston Celtics emerging as a solid contender, they couldn’t get over the hump and claim what they deserve.
Looking back at the Wizards near misses, Wall can only think about his team’s title chances to compete if they drafted Klay Thompson in the first place.
In the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis, Wall recounted his special memories of being the main man in Washington and disclosing a huge ‘What-If’ of Klay Thompson being a Wizard.
The former NBA superstar laments the missed opportunity for the Wizards to select the star hotshot during the 2011 Draft.
Upon compiling a lowly 23-win season, the Wizards landed in the lottery and claimed the right to pick the No. 6 overall pick of the 2011 Draft. They used it to land young Czech sensation Jan Vesely.
“I think we missed out on some pieces, you know what I’m saying? We could have drafted Klay,” Wall candidly stated.
“We took Jan Vesely. I mean, we took him as we thought he was the overseas Blake Griffin at the time.
“That’s what they said when they drafted him. They called him the ‘Overseas Blake Griffin.’ For sure, because he was athletic.
“I’m like, We need a two-guard, you know what I mean?’ With me, I needed a two-guard, a knockdown shooter. The way I get into the paint? A shooter would have been perfect for us.”
The Wizards’ lofty vision towards Vesely didn’t pan out to reality. The big man only lasted 2 and a half seasons in Washington and eventually left the NBA after the 2014-15 season for Europe.
As for Thompson, the Golden State Warriors struck gold when they chose him for the No. 11 pick of the 2011 Draft.
From being a lanky two-guard out of Washington State, he ultimately became an all-time great shooter and future Hall of Famer who cemented his case as a cornerstone of the Dubs dynasty alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
Wall acknowledges the fact that drafting talents in the NBA requires sheer luck, but he can’t help but wonder what would have been for his Wizards group if they had Thompson at their side.
“Those guys that we drafted, you try to hit on the right ones. But at the same time, it’s hit or miss. I feel like we missed out on a couple of pieces that could have helped us,” Wall added.
“Imagine if we drafted Klay, then next year we got Brad [Beal]? All right, we cool. I’m straight. I got a two and a three shooting the piss out the ball.”
