Yannick Nzosa will be draft and stash prospect for Wizards
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Washington Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard confirmed that draft pick Yannick Nzosa will spend at least the next season in Spain with Unicaja Malaga.
Nzosa, a 6-foot-10 center from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was the 54th overall pick on Thursday. He has played the past two seasons with Unicaja Malaga, averaging 3.5 points and 2.4 rebounds on 53.4% shooting from the field in 68 total games.
The 18-year-old had an inconsistent showing last season in the Liga ACB and is viewed as a project player. However, Nzosa has the potential to develop into a solid rim protector given his 7-foot-4 wingspan and athleticism.
“He has potential down the road,” Sheppard said. “His age gives us a lot of time. He has got some years and his buyout is manageable. I don’t mind letting him (develop). We’ve had some good experiences in the past letting players (develop) in Spain.”
Nzosa was reportedly set to participate in the draft combine last month but was prevented from doing so by his team. He wanted to leave Spain early to have time to prepare for the event but they denied his request with one game left to play in the season at the time.
He will now have the opportunity to play at least one more season and continue his development in the top league in Spain. He could be a candidate to join the team next year.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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