"The second phase of the Wizards' rebuilding process hasn't unfolded as fortuitously as the first. As a result, the next step is much less certain.

With the Nos. 6 and 18 picks in the first round, the Wizards face some potentially tough choices at the 2011 NBA Draft. Washington has multiple needs even if it can't fill the most important one: adding a frontcourt franchise cornerstone to put alongside John Wall. The point guard was an easy choice with the No. 1 overall pick a year ago.

"I liked the draft better last year, when we could just pick whoever we wanted. This year, it's a little bit different," Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said Tuesday. "Right now, in all likelihood, we're going to be picking from where we are right now. We're comfortable with that. But if the right opportunity presents itself and we think it can help us short term and long term, that's something we'll look at."

Status quo -- barring a late trade -- feels like a consolation prize after last season, when the Wizards defied the odds to win the draft lottery. This year, they fell to sixth. That was just far enough to remove any certainty of which players will be available in what is expected to be a fluid draft."