Re-drafting the 2019 NBA Draft — 9. Brandon Clarke, Washington Wizards
Brandon Clarke’s second NBA season was a bumpy ride, full of failed expectations and inconsistency. That was a real shame considering he looked the part of a potential top-3 prospect as a rookie. Given the general oddity of the COVID-influenced 2020-21 season, however, it’s fair to expect a bounce-back campaign from the king of verticality.
For Washington, Clarke checks a lot of boxes. He can function as a small-ball five, or shoot enough to influence lineups next to Daniel Gafford in the frontcourt. On defense, he can switch the perimeter or protect the rim on the weak side, where he is as fundamentally sound and spatially aware as any 24-year-old in the league.
The reason Clarke thrived so much as a rookie — and before that at Gonzaga — was efficiency. He just didn’t miss many shots. Even at 6-foot-8, he profiles as an elite roll man and finisher, using his elite athleticism to slice right through defenders in the paint. He hit 56.5 percent of his 2-point field goals last season, compared to 65.8 percent as a rookie. If you’re confident that number will jump back up, he’s still worth top-10 consideration.