The Washington Wizards traded picks No. 51 and 60 to move up five slots and obtain Felix Okpara, a defensive-minded big man who played most recently for the University of Tennessee. Okpara was originally drafted at No. 46 overall by the Orlando Magic.
Okpara has the physical tools to contribute in the NBA. He measured 6-10 at the Combine with a 7-2 wingspan. He’s a good athlete with solid agility and a strong vertical leap, and he was a productive and effective defender in the NCAA.
The Rookie Scale
Consensus Mock Draft had him 47th overall — right around where he was picked. Ye Olde Draft Analyzer (YODA for short) — my stat-based draft prospect evalaution tool — had him considerably lower (with a don’t draft grade).
Okpara will need to earn his place in the NBA on the defensive end. While he converted above 60% on twos, there were no flashes of stretch shooting potential, and he showed limited offensive skils in college. His overall production was not impressive as compared to other prospects — he averaged under 10 rebounds per 40 minutes, and posted less than one assist and steal per 40.
Despite the obvious athletic tools, he notched just 2.2 blocks per 40 minutes. Not bad, and perhaps diminished by opponents choosing not to challenge him, but also not a “wow” kind of number.
The Wizards likely see in Okpara and his tools the potential for a rim-running, paint-protecting reserve big man. Okpara, who was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team in 2026, will need to improve his overall production. But he does have the physical ability to earn a role on the Wizards roster.
This archetype of player has found success in the NBA — even coming from the second round — by focusing on running the floor, taking shots from inside the restricted area, setting physical screens, protecting the paint on defense, and crashing the boards.
