NBA Draft 2019: Rui Hachimura has chance to turn Washington Wizards around

Rui Hachimura was a surprising selection in the NBA Draft. But could he be the guy to turn the Washington Wizards around as a franchise?

At pick No. 9 in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards have a bevy of options to take. Injuries from this past season along with the lack of a General Manager tied their hands in a way but the ultimately decided to take Rui Hachimura from Gonzaga University.

It was considered a surprising selection, as the forward has been projected to go anywhere near 12-24 in the first round. It might be a “reach” but if the Wizards were that high on him, why not make the pick? Hachimura came into the draft as one of the best scorers, averaging 19.7 ppg on 59% from the field. His mid-range game is already at a pro level and combine that with his athleticism, the WCC Player of the Year could make a real impact out the gate. He has his weaknesses such as defensive awareness, passing and a proven shot from three-point range but his ceiling is one of the highest after the top three picks.

Washington will hope Hachimura can be a legit scoring option as a rookie. Because outside of all-star shooting guard Bradley Beal, there’s no much going on when it comes to the offensive side of the game. John Wall is expected to be out all of next season after injuring his Achilles tendon in January. Dwight Howard has also been injured, while assets Kelly Oubre and Otto Porter were traded. And their next best options, Trevor Ariza and Jabari Parker are pending free agents.

Hachimura has the opportunity early on to get extended minutes with the Wizards. Neither Beal or Wall have worked with a high-scoring forward with the kind of potential as Hachimura and head coach Scott Brooks has a history of working with a quality scorer in Kevin Durant (not trying to compare the two) at Oklahoma City. In terms of ideal situations for the player, Hachimura couldn’t have really asked for a better spot in this range of options.

With essentially all of the country of Japan behind him, Hachimura will be one of the most media-covered rookies in the 2019 draft class not named Zion Williamson. He’s already landed endorsement deals and with his unique background, the franchise could have a marketing star on their hands.

But it only matters if a) he performs well on the court and b) the team wins. And barring highly unexpected circumstances, the franchise won’t be in a position to do the ladder. With Wall out, its projected to be another non-playoff season with a return trip to the lottery. It could be a blessing in disguise for the rookie, who has no expectations other to showcase his abilities and become a real asset for the future.

Will Hachimura be a Rookie of the Year candidate? Most not likely not as he’s still a fairly raw prospect overall. Expect him to have plenty of “rookie: moments and share of struggles. But the potential is definitely there and with a star on the sidelines for all of 2019-20, at least Washington fans will have something to look forward too for the future. They and Japanese Basketball fans are on the same page in terms of rooting for Hachimura.