Mystics’ Aaliyah Edwards Sends 4-Word Message to Alex Sarr

When the Atlanta Hawks selected Zacharie Risacher with the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, it looked like Alex Sarr was going to be locked up to the Washington Wizards at No. 2. Sure enough, the Wizards selected Alex Sarr with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. After the Wizards’ selection, Washington Mystics rookie center Aaliyah Edwards took to social media to welcome Sarr to DC.

In a social media post, Edwards congratulated Sarr, saying, “Welcome to DC, tour!” Sarr going to the Wizards at No. 2 was gaining momentum because he reportedly refused to work out for the Hawks. Edwards was drafted just outside the lottery in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Mystics with the No. 5 overall pick. So far, she has been one of the league’s best rookies despite the Mystics’ poor record.

Sarr joins the Wizards after playing last season for the Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL. Prior to that, he played with Overtime Elite from 2021 to 2023. Judging by the current rosters of the Hawks and Wizards, there appears to be more of a path to immediate minutes and a role for Sarr with the Wizards.

Wizards offseason begins

Ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft, the Wizards kicked off their offseason by trading Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Malcolm Brodgdon, the No. 14 pick in the NBA Draft and future draft picks. The No. 14 pick became Carlton ‘Bub’ Carrington of Pittsburgh.

When it comes to NBA free agency, the Wizards don’t have much to worry about, with the exception of Tyus Jones’ pending unrestricted free agency. Jones may or may not be part of the Wizards’ future plans. His name had appeared in trade rumors during the NBA trade deadline.

With the departure of Avdija, a player thought to be part of the Wizards’ future core, it appears their team for the future now includes Alex Sarr and fellow Frenchman Bilal Coulibaly. Brogdon, who was acquired in the Avdija trade, is a likely candidate to be redirected in a trade to another team.

Last season, the Wizards missed the NBA playoffs for the third straight season. The last time they made the playoffs was in the 2020-21 season, when they lost in the first round to the Philadelphia 76ers in five games. The Wizards hired Brian Keefe as their new head coach after Keefe took over on an interim basis last season after the team fired Wes Unseld Jr.