The Magic have reached an agreement to trade the rights to No. 46 overall pick Felix Okpara to the Wizards, reports Jeff Goodman of Field of 68 (Twitter link).
In exchange for Okpara, Orlando is acquiring the 51st and 60th picks from Washington, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Okpara emerged as a high-level rim protector and lob threat for Tennessee this year, averaging 1.5 blocks in 26.9 minutes per game and making the SEC All-Defense team. He measured in at 6’10” barefoot with a 7’2″ wingspan and a 9’4″ standing reach, giving him great size for a big man.
Okpara joins a defensive-minded Washington frontcourt alongside Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis, who will be ideal big men for him to learn from. The team is thin when it comes to frontcourt depth, with Tristan Vukcevic as the lone bench center on a guaranteed deal, which could allow Okpara to step into a role early on.
The Wizards may still add another depth big man in the offseason, but adding Okpara could allow them to focus their efforts elsewhere.
While the guard rotation of Trae Young, Tre Johnson, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Bub Carrington is light on defense, the Wizards are forming an intimidating defensive team between their big men and the forward group of Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, and Jamir Watkins, who has a team option for next season. No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa has good defensive tools as well, though he still has room to grow on that side of the ball.
The Magic subsequently agreed to flip the 60th pick to the Bucks for cash considerations.
