RealGM

General gist is:

WAS sends Middleton + 18th pick
Was receives John Collins + 21st pick

UTA sends John Collins + 21st pick
UTA receives Middleton + 18th pick

Why for Wash: Move back a bit to get an expiring decent veteran big to run next to Sarr.

Why for Utah: Get a veteran wing, still have Kessler at the 5, and slide Markannen to his natural 4 spot, and move up a bit to take a swing at
a late lottery calibur talent at 18

Both teams should be under the cap, so the contract differences should be allowable. If not, WAS can take on KJ Martin as well.

Why are Wizards downgrading a pick and player?

Collins was the slightly better player this season, but that's mostly immaterial for the Jazz here. He's likely a better fit for WAS than Middleton anymore. Whatever is left of Khris will be fine for Utah if they're continuing the tank.

If KJ Martin's expiring deal is included, I'm in.

If Utah really likes who is there at #18 when the clock starts, sure it makes sense.

The more likely trade is #21 + Future 2nds for #18. This is 100x more likely to happen than OP trade.

The Wizards wouldn’t do this. This draft is full of really good prospects at 18 and they shouldn’t trade down and get an inferior pick for a marginal player like Collins.

I mean this would all depend on who’s on the board at 18. But I can’t see Washington giving up even a small chance that they end up with a prospect they like less to swap Middleton for Collins in a year that doesn’t matter to them.

It doesn't matter a bit if Collins might be a more useful player than Middleton due to his health. In fact, if Collins contributes to more wins than Middleton, that would actually be BAD from the Wizards standpoint. The Wizards have to tank their way to a bottom 6 finish so they can avoid conveying their top 8 protected FRP to the Knicks.

The only thing that matters to the Wizards between Collins and Middleton is if one of them has positive trade value by the Trade Deadline. I suspect Middleton is actually more likely to be a positive asset if the Wizards can load manage him and keep him healthy. No playoff team is going to pay to take on Collins at the deadline, but Middleton is actually still good when he plays, so he could help a playoff team.

So this is actually a downgrade in asset value for the Wizards and it hurts their ability to tank. And they are losing 3 spots in the draft for the privilege. This is an obvious no from the Wizards standpoint.

ReggiesKnicks wrote:If Utah really likes who is there at #18 when the clock starts, sure it makes sense.

The more likely trade is #21 + Future 2nds for #18. This is 100x more likely to happen than OP trade.

The Wizards own 15 sound round picks between now and 2031. It seems more likely they would consolidate some of those 2nds to move up than drop back to amass more.

On top of that, as nate33 has explained, the Wizards aren't in a position to value balancing the roster with vets. They own a top 8 protected pick to NYK in 2026. Marginally improving the roster with a player that isn't part of the long term future is a negative.