Frichuela wrote:So, according to the Athletic we are not allowed to trade with NY to get our 2026 1st fully back, unless we surrender our PHO pick swap. Therefore, it is a 100% fact that we will aim hard for a bottom 4 record as this fully guarantees we are at 8 or better after the lottery.
“ Long story short: If the Wizards reacquire their 2026 conditional first-round pick from the Knicks, the Wizards would upset the original terms of their pick swap with the Suns. Therefore, to strike a deal with the Knicks, league sources said the Wizards first would have to proactively decline their 2026 first-round pick swap with the Suns.”
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6526077/2025/07/31/wizards-2026-first-round-pick-knicks-suns/?source=user_shared_article
Ha!
I was right about that one!
doclinkin wrote:nate33 wrote:What's an interesting question is what happens with the Suns swap if we made a deal with NY to increase the protections on the pick or remove the pick obligation altogether?
In theory, the Suns made the swap with us knowing that the swap could only conceivably have mattered if we finished in the bottom 8. So, if they assumed they were a sure bet to finish with the 9th pick or worse, they were in no danger of having to give up the swap. However, if we now make a trade that changes the protections on that pick, does Phoenix have to honor them?
Unless they got it in writing on the deal PHX is SOL. The deal is the deal. They made the deal thinking it wouldn’t convey because they were going to be winning multiple championships. What they thought or hoped makes no difference. The Wiz have a right to swap the pick if they have a pick to swap. Period.
GoneShammGone wrote:nate33 wrote:bsilver wrote:Why was it impossible for the Suns to pick below 8, if both teams were below 8?
It was always possible we could get total control of the pick. Is there some detail in the trade that says the pick swap is only valid for a 1-8 protected pick? The only language I see is “2026 first round pick swap” .
It was impossible for Phoenix to be swapped to a position below 8 because if our pick was below 8, we wouldn't own it. Phoenix understood that concept going into the trade and presumably valued the cost-benefits of incorporating the pick swap accordingly. Then, we retroactively altered the downside risk of the swap. Should they be responsible to honor the deal if we changed it retroactively? (Again, this is all under the assumption that make a deal with New York right now to regain full control of the pick. That probably won't happen, so this is just a hypothetical discussion.)
But the protections on the pick could always be changed, no? They must have understood that was a possibility (in this hypothetical scenario.). Unless the pick swap somehow prevents the pick from being used in a subsequent transaction (like a lien on a home...)?
For example, are we allowed to trade next years pick (along with its protections)? I don't see why not... so if we can trade it away, it seems reasonable to think that we could "bring it back" by making a deal to expand the protections, or get the pick outright. One way helps Phx, the other way hurts Phx. Doesn't seem fair that they would only be able to benefit from a transaction involving the pick.
