Marion powers Suns in preseason opener

Jett Howard will declare for the 2023 NBA draft, leaving Michigan after his freshman season.

Howard is the No. 16 prospect in ESPN’s draft rankings.

“This was a great learning year for me,” Howard told ESPN. “It’s what I needed. It taught me how to play within a pro-style offense and be effective, to get out of my comfort zone, and play with other good players.”

Howard says he relished playing for his father, Juwan Howard, a former NBA All-Star and two-time NBA champion who won Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2021 after taking Michigan to the Elite Eight.

“Playing for my dad was a beautiful experience,” Howard said. “It was a little rough at first, as he wants things done a certain way, but overall it was easy playing in his offense. He’s a fun person to be around on a day-to-day basis.”

The Washington Wizards kicked off a rebuild last offseason. Now, Wizards executives want to keep that rebuild moving as they approach the trade deadline.

On a recent episode of ESPN’s Hoop Collective, Brian Windhorst reported that Washington’s front office has a mandate from ownership to acquire first-round picks at the trade deadline.

“They have to do this. That’s a mandate,” Windhorst said about the Wizards plans to acquire picks for their veteran players.

Washington has been rumored to have Tyus Jones, Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford and Jordan Poole available via trade. Jones is on an expiring deal, while Kuzma, Gafford and Poole all have multiple years remaining on their contracts.