3 Projected Landing Spots for Johnny Furphy in the 2024 NBA Draft

2. Washington Wizards - No. 26

For as promising as Orlando's future is, the Washington Wizards are on the exact opposite of that spectrum. Deni Avdija emerged as an exciting player, but Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole are the leaders of this team and neither seem overly capable of fulfulling those roles.

Krysteen Peek of Yahoo Sports has the Wizards taking Johnny Furphy at No. 26 overall. They have the second pick too, so Furphy could theoretically be a cornerstone alongside whoever Washington drafts at the top of the first round. While he'd have time to develop in Orlando, Furphy would likely be thrown to the fire right away if he goes to a team like the Wizards.

That'd give him immediate reps against NBA competition but could hamper his long-term development. As Peek explains, "If the Wizards take [Alexandre] Sarr or [Donovan] Clingan with the No. 2 pick, Furphy is an excellent option here with how well he shoots the ball and his added size on the perimeter."

If you want to accelerate your rebuild, there are worse strategies than taking a dominant defensive big man and a rangy wing with shooting chops. The team still needs a bonafide playmaker, though Furphy would fit with a variety of roster constructions and could help lead in a new era of winning Wizards basketball.

I root for the Jayhawks and would prefer to see Furphy go to a more stable organization. He's a raw prospect and think his ceiling is higher if given proper patience.