Expectations surrounding Alex Sarr’s long-term ceiling are cautious, according to five NBA talent evaluators who spoke with Josh Robbins of The Athletic.
While the Wizards selected him second overall with hopes of building a strong young core, none of the evaluators projected Sarr to eventually emerge as the best – or even second-best – player on a true title contender.
Concerns about his skill set were raised from multiple angles. One scout questioned whether Sarr will develop into a dependable perimeter shooter, casting doubt on his ability to become a true stretch big.
Another evaluator focused on his physical profile, noting, “He weighs less than some of the bigger wings and forwards that are starting in the NBA,” suggesting that adding muscle will be crucial if he wants to become an elite rim protector.
Despite those reservations, there’s a shared belief that Sarr is far from a finished product and has the tools to grow into a reliable starting center. His flashes during his rookie season left a positive impression, with evaluators anticipating a meaningful jump in his impact this year.
“I would be surprised if he doesn’t take a big leap this year, and that big leap will be being effective on the floor and trying to impact the team outcome as opposed to impacting his individual outcome,” one evaluator said.
They went on to acknowledge the early growing pains.
“There’s still a lot (of untapped potential) as to what he could be. It was probably a slower start than maybe the general fan would hope for. But I think by the end of (last) season, he had been put in a position to succeed, and we’re going to see more of that built on this season. We’re going to see it start to pay dividends this season.”
There are mixed opinions about Alex Sarr’s future, plus more on the Wizards. https://t.co/kSv6Y4HGkW
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) October 12, 2025
