Previewing Will Riley's Rookie Season in Washington: Will He Crack the Rotation?

Riley was drafted with the 21st pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards. What will his role be in Year 1?

Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Will Riley stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 21st pick by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

On Wednesday night, Illinois’ Will Riley made history as just the second player in program history to be drafted as a one-and-done prospect – a mere five minutes after fellow Illini Kasparas Jakucionis became the first.

Technically drafted by the Utah Jazz, Riley was immediately dealt to the Washington Wizards in a draft-night trade. The 6-foot-8 wing will join a Washington squad that finished with the league’s second-worst record last season at 18-64.

Will Riley is selected 21st overall by the @utahjazz in the 2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm!

Watch on ABC & ESPN. pic.twitter.com/KUJKQb3jrn

— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2025

The drawbacks of landing with an NBA bottom-feeder are obvious – notably, all the losing – but there can be advantages, too. For a young prospect in need of experience and opportunity, losing teams tend to provide more minutes, latitude and developmental attention. Here’s the expectation for Riley's rookie season in the nation’s capitol:

Simply put, Riley isn’t NBA-ready. The physicality he showed during his freshman season at Illinois was admirable, but no amount of grit can make up for a 186-pound frame (at 6-foot-8) against NBA competition. Toss in his subpar athleticism, and he’s physically unprepared for the next level – for the time being.

Nearly every other aspect of Rileys game is mature beyond his 19 years. An absurdly talented scorer and solid facilitator, Riley has the tools to be a valuable rotational player in the league – and the potential for more.

And although the Wizards struggled mightily last season, they already had a solid wing rotation, then bolstered it with the recent addition of CJ McCollum. Khris Middleton and McCollum will be the starters, while Kyshawn George, fellow rookie Tre Johnson and Justin Champagnie all figure to see minutes before Riley.

With that in mind, expect Riley’s rookie campaign to involve a healthy dose of time spent with the Wizards’ G-League affiliate: the Capital City Go-Go. (Yes, that’s the actual name.)

In time – likely a year or two – Riley should slowly but surely fill out his frame and improve his lateral and vertical athleticism while honing his already stellar offensive bag. If that all comes to pass, he should develop into an integral piece of Washington’s rotation. Just not right away.

More From Illinois on Sports Illustrated:

A Look at Each Illinois NBA Draft Pick Since the Turn of the Century

Ty Rodgers' Injury: How It Will Shake Up Illinois' Projected Rotation

Social Media Reacts to Illinois' Will Riley Being Drafted by Washington Wizards