WASHINGTON — The Washington Wizards took Gonzaga sharp shooter Corey Kispert with the 15th pick in Thursday night’s draft, shortly after agreeing to trade All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Wizards are trading Westbrook and two future second-round picks to Los Angeles for three players and this year’s 22nd pick, according to two people with knowledge of the deal. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade hadn’t been announced. The deal can’t be officially announced until Aug. 6, when the salary cap becomes official and teams can begin making moves for the upcoming season.
That trade, which breaks up Washington’s dynamic backcourt pair of Westbrook and Bradley Beal, overshadowed anything the Wizards were going to do in the draft, but the 6-foot-7 Kispert could give Washington some more outside shooting. He played four years at Gonzaga and shot 44% from 3-point range in each of his final two seasons with the Bulldogs.
Kispert appeared in 137 games for Gonzaga and was an All-American as a senior, when the Bulldogs went undefeated until they lost to Baylor in the NCAA championship game.
The deal with Westbrook gave Washington another pick in the first round this year, and the Wizards are also receiving Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell from the Lakers.
Washington made the playoffs last season but lost to top-seeded Philadelphia. The Wizards allowed the most points in the NBA, but Beal (31.3 points per game) and Westbrook (22.2 points and a league-best 11.7 assists) were good enough to help them to the postseason.
Washington hired Wes Unseld Jr. earlier this month to replace Scott Brooks as coach.
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