The Washington Wizards signed four undrafted free agents shortly after the conclusion of Thursday’s NBA draft in which the team did not make a selection on draft night for the first time in franchise history.
The Wizards, according to people familiar with the situation, added center Daniel Ochefu from national champion Villanova; Miami guard Sheldon McClellan; Texas A&M forward Danuel House; and Arizona center Kaleb Tarczewski.
All four worked out for the Wizards in June and are expected to play for Washington’s summer league team next month in Las Vegas.
McClellan averaged 16.3 points as a senior this past season and, according to reports, signed a partially guaranteed contract after turning down offers to be drafted in the second round. House, another wing player, averaged 15.6 points as a senior.
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Ochefu, at 6 feet 11, averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds to help the Wildcats win the second national championship in school history. The native of Baltimore was honorable mention all-Big East this past season as a senior.
Tarczewski averaged 9.4 points and 9.3 rebounds as a senior and was named to the Pac-12 second team. The 7-footer also made the Pac-12 all-defensive team.
Washington’s roster remains a work in progress, with only John Wall, Marcin Gortat, Otto Porter Jr., Markieff Morris and Kelly Oubre Jr. under contract for next season. Bradley Beal becomes a restricted free agent on July 1 but is expected to re-sign.
Morris essentially served as the Wizards’ draft pick this year, President Ernie Grunfeld has said repeatedly. The Wizards traded their protected first-round pick in 2016, in addition to DeJuan Blair and Kris Humphries, to the Phoenix Suns for Morris.
The Suns used that pick, No. 13 overall, to select Greek center Georgios Papagiannis and subsequently traded his rights to the Sacramento Kings.
Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.
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