*Disclaimer: The Washington Wizards have won five of their last nine games*
The Washington Wizards are in an interesting spot right now. They are playing well enough to be considered a potential playoff team, but nothing really past that, a statement that has become the M.O. in D.C. over the past twenty years. So where do they go next?
Going into this season the Wizards were looked at as a solid playoff team, not a real contender, but a solid team. They signed big man Dwight Howard (a twitter favorite currently), traded for Austin Rivers and signed D.C.’s own Jeff Green. This looked to be the deepest team the Wizards would have since the John Wall era began in 2010. That last sentence should be taken with a grain of salt because in the grand scheme of things that is still pretty sad. The lack of efficient rosters over the years and the reason for all this dysfunction can only be attributed to one man, yes that’s right, the cornball himself, Ernie Grunfeld, the Wizards President of Basketball Operations (a fancy name for the shittiest of GMs).
With Grunfeld only one thing is certain: dysfunction is inevitable. This Wizards current construct was going to come. This team looked to be on the rise two seasons ago when they lost in seven games to the Boston Celtics in one of the most entertaining series of that season (fuck Marcus Smart). After that everything fell apart when John Wall (still the team’s best player if you forgot), got hurt last year. Then the team had the whole issue between Wall and Marcin Gortat as well as the “Everybody Eats” debacle. Fast forward to this season and we have a very weird situation.
This season’s issues have been on everyone’s radar as they continue to get weirder. In typical Wizards fashion, they have managed to become a train wreck for a while but turn things around just enough to keep everyone intrigued. Washington started the season 2-9 and John Wall’s party habits came into question which is interesting considering a few years ago there was a situation in which a Wizards player was hosting a, “Lapdance Tuesdays” event (shoutout Andray Blatche). We also had NBA oracle Woj tweet that everyone on the roster was available. Fast forward a few days and John Wall reportedly yelled “fuck you” at coach Scott Brooks, after getting into it with Jeff Green. Bradley Beal then preceded to take a stab at Ernie Grunfeld while he was at practice after Beal got into it with Austin Rivers. Things looked terrible and it looked like DC was finally ready to make some sweeping changes. Then they started winning again.
The team is currently in 10th place and a game out of the playoffs after starting as the worst team in the NBA outside of Cleveland. The Wizards are stuck in NBA purgatory where they are competitive enough to make the playoffs, but not good enoughA to win it all. At the same time they are too good to hit the lottery and stock pile draft picks for a full on rebuild. The NBA no man’s land.
So with that comes a few different options for the Wizards. They can stay the course and try to make the playoffs while remaining average for the next few years. They can move a few players and try to improve the team. Or they can take the most logical approach and go for a full-on rebuild and move everybody. With the way that their conference is improving this team is not going anywhere the way they are currently constructed. They might as well start over and get the taste of that toxic locker room out. So here are a few trades that are realistic for both sides and involve teams that have interest.
Note that these trades aren’t necessarily the #1 trade option for each player on the Wizards side of things, but they are realistic offers that the Wizards may receive.
*Another disclaimer: If the Wizards are smart Ernie Grunfeld will have nothing to do with making these trades, #FireGrunfeld.*
John Wall to the San Antonio Spurs for Pau Gasol, Dejounte Murray, and Lonnie Walker
This trade was first suggested by Marc Spears of ESPN. This is one of the few trades including John Wall that could heavily benefit both sides included. The San Antonio Spurs are in a difficult situation. Sitting at 14-14 they are a game and a half out of the Western Conference playoff picture. After trading star Kawhi Leonard for Demar DeRozan, DeRozan has been a good fit under future hall of fame coach, Gregg Popovich. Unfortunately, it is clear that down the stretch the load that DeRozan is carrying will continue to grow. The addition of John Wall takes some of that burden off of DeRozan and gives him a chance to play off the ball a little bit. Considering DeRozan and Wall are both ball dominant players the chemistry at first might need some work, however, I have faith in Gregg Popovich. Playing under Popovich might also be the solution to John Wall getting it together and once again playing like the two-way superstar he once was. With big money tied up to DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge over the next few years, adding Wall would continue to keep the Spurs relevant in the West for the next few years as Pop’s legendary career starts to come to a close. The bottom line is if one coach can bring the best out of Wall its Popovich, and with money already tied up to DeRozan and LMA adding a big contract like Wall’s to keep a solid nucleus out West could be interesting.
For the Wizards, this trade is all about youth. To start a rebuild you need good young players who have shown their abilities in stretches. Dejounte Murray is a guy who could 100% be the point guard of the future for any team, especially D.C. At 6’5 he showed last season that he can be a great point guard and flourish as a floor general. He is a good defender who can guard both guard positions and has also shown when needed he can attack the rim on the offensive end. He has good court vision and a high basketball IQ which have shown in his ability to set up teammates. His ACL injury leaves question marks but he may be worth a shot. To go along with Murray you get Lonnie Walker, a 2018 1st round pick who has not played yet this year also due to injury however he is due back soon. Walker is a 6’4 guard who plays off the ball. He can get to the rim with ease and showed at the University of Miami that he can be a lockdown perimeter defender. He is not a great shooter at the moment but has the mechanics to develop his jumper. Pau Gasol is a salary filler that could also provide some veteran leadership in a locker room that in this scenario is going young. Walker and Murray could make for a formidable start to a rebuild the Wizards may desperately need.
Bradley Beal to the Los Angeles Lakers for Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and a 2019 first round pick
Out of all of the trades proposed this one is the most intriguing. Bradley Beal is a solidified All-Star who can do a lot of different things. The Lakers signing Lebron James over the summer began a transition from a youth-oriented team playing for the future to potential Western conference contender. Acquiring Beal would definitely cut into the Lakers’ cap space and make it difficult to sign a big name this summer in a crazy free agent class, however, this may work in their favor. As of recently, there have been rumors that players don’t want to play with LeBron making any move through trade an intriguing concept. With Beal coming over via trade Lebron and the Lakers would have a second star whose scoring would fit perfectly next to their franchise player for the next few years. With these two along with Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and the rest of the gang you’d have a very tough team out west.
For the Wizards this is the guy you will get the most return for. With Brandon Ingram you get a slightly still unproven player who wasn’t playing that well with Lebron, yet has more potential than most young players in the league. BI can still become Durant lite (very lite). In Washington, he would have the chance to take a lot of shots which is necessary for a guy who needs to have high usage to be effective. Josh Hart is a solid player who is still young and can contribute now and in the future. More minutes without being behind Bron would give him more opportunities to shine. With this deal the Wizards can continue to stock draft picks as well.
Otto Porter to the New Orleans Pelicans for Julius Randle and Solomon Hill
Otto Porter was brought into this world to play for the Pelicans. The fit is perfect. The Pelicans have always lacked wing depth in the Anthony Davis era and Porter is the perfect guy to fix that. Porter is a deadly spot up shooter who is also a high-efficiency player. He can do a lot with less. Having him play the in and out game with Anthony Davis and allowing Jrue Holiday to look for him on the wing would be scary. Porter would be able to space to the floor to take some pressure off of Davis and give this team some much-needed shooting help. The addition of Porter would make for an interesting change for a team that has not started too hot and is still in the process of trying to get their superstar Anthony Davis to stay in New Orleans for the foreseeable future.
For the Wizards, they may receive the best player in the deal. Porter may be a better fit in New Orleans but Randle is the better player in this deal. The Wiz get back a good young player who is having a career year and can be a centerpiece in a rebuild if Washington is willing to pay him. Randle might not be the solution in New Orleans but he could be in DC. He is a bruiser inside who plays with a lot of energy on both sides of the floor, something the Wizards have been lacking. Randle could be the icing on the cake in an interesting rebuild.
Overall this could be an interesting team in DC if these deals were to go through. A young team comprised of Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, Dejounte Murray, Josh Hart, Lonnie Walker, 2018 first round pick Troy Brown and some picks (pray for Zion), could bring a nice breath of fresh air to D.C. which they have always lacked under Ernie Grunfeld. I’d like to leave you with one last thing, FIRE ERNIE!
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