NBA Mock Draft 9.0: LaMelo Ball falls out of the top 3; Knicks snag Obi Toppin

9. Washington Wizards: Devin Vassell, F, Florida State

Selection and commentary: Matt Modderno 

Three-and-D wings have become the most valuable position in the NBA over the last half-decade. The star power of these players is often limited but it’s a position where you need a lot of depth. Three-point shooting is key as it provides the space for star creators and scorers to operate. And in turn, perimeter defense becomes even more critical.

The Wizards don’t really have anyone on their roster who you could truly classify as a 3-and-D wing. Of the small forward options in this draft, Vassell provides the best combination of the two. Aaron Nesmith might be a better shooter but not by much and Vassell is the superior defender. Isaac Okoro might be the better defender but not by much and Vassell is the drastically superior shooter.

Ignoring the obvious fit, a strong argument could be made that Vassell is also the best player available at this point in the draft. From his freshman to sophomore year, he made considerable strides as a shot-creator. If he fills out enough to finish more around the rim and his ball-handling continues to improve enough for him to beat defenders off of the dribble, his ceiling goes up in a big way. Granted, those are fairly big “ifs” but just given how hard he works and how far he’s already come in such a short time, I would be willing to bet on him adding to those aspects of his game.