Ernie Grunfeld was named the Wizards’ president of basketball operations in 2003. Since, he has selected a future starting point guard in the All-Star Game (John Wall) and epic busts (Jan Vesely) in the NBA draft. A look at the first-round picks since Grunfeld has been in charge:
2003
No. 10: Jarvis Hayes, small forward
Overview: Hayes spent four seasons in Washington, averaging 8.9 points and 3.4 rebounds. He was out of the league three years later.
2004
No. 5: Devin Harris, PG
Overview: Harris, who went on to be an all-star, was traded to the Mavericks on draft night with Jerry Stackhouse and Christian Laettner. The Wizards acquired Antawn Jamison, who had six very productive seasons, averaging 20.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
2006
No. 18: Oleksiy Pecherov, C
Overview: The Ukrainian big man played 67 games over two seasons for the Wizards and shot 36.7 percent. He played one more year for the Timberwolves after being traded with Etan Thomas and Darius Songaila for Randy Foye and Mike Miller. That was the end of his NBA career.
2007
No. 16: Nick Young, SG
Overview: Young was part of an assembling of “knuckleheads” that the Wizards tried to build a future around. He was sent to the Clippers in March 2012 as part of a three-team deal that brought Nene to Washington.
2008
No. 18: Javale McGee, C
Overview: Like Young, he was part of a doof movement. He was also sent out in that three-team trade.
SEE ALSO: Wizards’ desire to play smaller could lead them to ‘stretch four’ in draft
2010
No. 1: John Wall, PG
No. 30: Lazar Hayward, SF
Overview: Wall is the franchise cornerstone and continues to improve. Hayward was traded on draft night along with Nemanja Bjelica to the Timberwolves for Trevor Booker and Hamady N’Diaye.
2011
No. 6: Jan Vesely, PF
No. 18: Chris Singleton, SF
Overview: After 148 games, Singleton was out of the league. Vesely barely outlasted him. He played 162 games. Considering the Wizards had two shots at bolstering their team around Wall, this can be considered Grunfeld’s most disastrous draft.
2012
No. 3: Bradley Beal, SG
Overview: Beal has been an excellent sidekick for Wall. Just 21, he has time to expand his game. Beal had also been injured often. His shooting percentage has remained close to flat in three seasons — 41.0, 41.9 and 42.7 — despite the graceful mechanics of his jump shot.
2013
No. 3: Otto Porter, SF
Overview: Porter’s strong run in the 2015 playoffs and moderate improvement during the regular season have begun to alter perceptions of this pick. He is likely to have a larger role next season. How he responds will provide a more thorough view of what he can be in the NBA.
Note: Wizards did not have a first-round pick in 2005, 2009 or 2014.
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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