Wizards cash in on Grizzlies win, securing another first-round 2025 draft pick

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now) – While the Washington Wizards were far removed from the 2025 Play-In Tournament, they kept a close eye on one particular Western Conference matchup: the Dallas Mavericks vs. the Memphis Grizzlies.

With a win over the Mavericks Friday night, the Grizzlies secured the 8th seed and a spot in the NBA playoffs, and the Wizards got their first-round 2025 draft pick.

When the Wizards acquired Marcus Smart from the Grizzlies at the trade deadline midway through the 2024-25 season, they also got a protected first-round 2025 draft pick. If the Grizzlies had lost to Dallas and missed the playoffs, they would have kept their 2025 draft pick.

Now, Washington has two 2025 first-round draft picks. The Wizards are currently tied for the best odds to land the No. 1 overall pick, pending the results of next month’s NBA Draft Lottery.

That second first-round pick from Memphis could fall anywhere from mid-to-late in the first round. The exact position will be determined after a tiebreaker coin flip, as the Grizzlies finished the regular season with the same record as the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors.

Additionally, the Wizards hold a second-round pick from the Phoenix Suns, acquired in the blockbuster trade that sent Bradley Beal to the desert.

In total, the Wizards are now positioned to walk away from the 2025 NBA Draft with:

• A top-6 pick (with a strong shot at No. 1),
• A mid-to-late first-rounder via Memphis,
• An early second-round pick from Phoenix.

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