While the Washington Wizards dropped a spot as the Hornets moved up to No. 1 in Wednesday's Lottery, Ernie Grunfeld will still have the opportunity to select an elite talent with the No. 3 pick. The 2012 Draft will be dominated by the uber-talented crop of Kentucky Wildcats. John Calipari has always prided himself on his program's ability to develop pros, and this year may be a high-point, eclipsing the five first rounders in 2010. Coming off an NCAA Championship, it's almost a certainty that six Wildcats will be selected.
And DraftExpress thinks two of the six will land in Washington with former UK standout John Wall. At No. 3 overall, DX thinks Grunfeld will select Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a rangy wing who lacks ideal shooting range but is super athletic and gives everything on every possession. Here's what DraftExpress has to say about MKG:
Kidd-Gilchrist has an excellent feel for the game, which shows up in the way he moves intelligently without the ball, as well as with his passing skills, which are very well developed considering his age.
Not someone who can be expected to shoulder an offense considering his somewhat limited skill-set, he is the type of player who needs good teammates around him to fully utilize all the different things he does well. He really understands the nuances of making others better with his ability to set screens, pass, and make hustle plays, which is likely a big reason why he's always been considered such a winner from very early on in his career.
In addition to the No. 3 pick, the Wizards also hold two second round selections. With their first pick in the second round, DraftExpress has an early prediction that Washington will pair MKG with his sophomore teammate Doron Lamb. He was one of two sophomores who played key roles for Calipari last season, and was often the go-to guy on the offensive end when UK needed a bucket. As a 6'4 solid shooter, it's likely he'll find a spot on an NBA roster and could be a good fit in Washington playing alongside some familiar faces from college.
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