Official Trade Thread -- Part XXXIX

[pcbothwel]

This weird hiatus in the middle of the season is getting people antsy.

One way to look at it is that the Wizards are the 3rd worst team in the league before losing their starting center and starting PG to injury. It's understandable why many are thinking that blowing it all up and rebuilding is the right option.

On the other hand, one could just as easily argue that the Wizards have been competitive in nearly every game, and have recently gotten their act together, winning 3 of their last 6 including two close losses to very good Philly and Boston teams. Their net rating places them as the 17th best team in the league. Furthermore, there's a possibility that Westbrook (a half-injured Westbrook, anyway) was detrimental to their performance. They're 2-1 without him and he'll be gone for another 3 weeks. We won't see any more 3 PG lineups or Westbrook at SG for a while.

So maybe we should stay the course and all these Beal trade ideas are just a waste of time.

Agreed Nate. Compare where we were to the beginning of the season in regards to Beal & the Market.
1) Beal has, somehow, managed to take his game to another level as the premier scorer and an All-NBA player despite playing with Brooks and Russ.

2) Players in their early prime who were compared to Beal recently and even valued higher are now CLEARLY below Beal.
This includes Simmons, Siakim, John Collins, Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker, Jamal Murray

3) Elite Players who were considered clearly better than Beal have also declined and appear to be worse than Beal. This includes Steph Curry & Lillard. Curry has two years left on his deal like Beal... No way I trade Beal for Curry right now.

Hell, you can look at some ELITE, Generational, top picks in recent years that we would of begged to get straight up for Beal and possibly added picks. Now?
Take a look at Ayton, Jaren Jackson, RJ Barrett, Bagley, Trae Young, DeAron Fox. I dont move Beal for any 1 of them...
Hell, even Zion.
I know that sounds blasphemous, because Zion is such an elite prospect, but he's a small ball Center that is just a 'good' rebounder, averages 50% more turnovers than assist, and a mediocre defender. Yes he's efficient, but 97% of his shots are within 10 feet of the basket Oh, and his weight/knee issues will always loom and we never know when that Bomb goes off. And I dont see the shooting, playmaking/vision, or defensive instincts to overcome any loss of athleticism/quickness.

Would you trade Beal for Zion right now? Think about it. 6 months, 15 months ago... you dont hesitate. Now?
Zion would be good enough to keep us from getting a top pick, but will he inevitably become a Simmons like prospect that never fully develops an all around game and ends up being an elite 3rd piece.

[payitforward]

His main issue is lack of elite skill. That makes him a rim runner. The athleticism/coordination is cool and all but from what I've seen, all aspects of his offensive skill seem to be a work in progress. He can step out and hit 3s but not consistently. He can face up and blow by but his handle isn't really tight nor can he see the floor. He can post up smaller players but doesn't have a bevy moves or countermoves to rely on. Maybe he puts in work, adds skill every offseason and eventually becomes a monster at all 3 levels. That is possible. Its also very unlikely.

Is it reasonable to expect Wiseman to have elite skills at 19 years old and in the first month of his NBA career? As you point out, he’s "a work in progress" but has already shown the ability to knock down the 3 ball, and face up and blow by defenders. A consistent 3 ball, a tighter handle and a bevy of low post moves are all things that can be developed with hard work, coaching and experience.

But Wiseman's elite size and athleticism are legit...and are things that can't be taught.

It’s going to be interesting to look back at this discussion 3-4 years from now. I'm betting that Wiseman will be an NBA all-star someday…maybe even All-NBA.

There's no point in going back and forth about James Wiseman. Everybody is right here! The question is all about the odds -- & we can't learn anything about the likelihood of a player reaching his potential by analyzing the potential itself.

James Wiseman has come into the league at 19 with, essentially, no experience at all of playing high-level organized basketball. There are simply so very very many ways for a kid like him *not* to reach his potential that you have to hesitate before you make him the center of a trade that costs you Bradley Beal.

Not saying it would be impossible, or even foolish, to decide to do it, but... it's an extremely high-risk move! & taking on that risk means that you have to give Wiseman less absolute value in the deal -- i.e. you have to get a whole lot back along with him. Even in that case, it's a high-risk, high-reward kind of deal.

So, that's the first question: given where the Wizards are as a franchise, does it make sense to deal your best player by far, your best trade chip by far, for a package with that much risk in it? To me, the answer is no: the cost of failure would be too high for a franchise in as much trouble as the Washington Wizards.

[DCZards]

PIF, I was thinking about responding to your post about Wiseman, which is full of contradictions. But I'm on a Biden-Harris high so I'll leave it alone.

[pcbothwel]

His main issue is lack of elite skill. That makes him a rim runner. The athleticism/coordination is cool and all but from what I've seen, all aspects of his offensive skill seem to be a work in progress. He can step out and hit 3s but not consistently. He can face up and blow by but his handle isn't really tight nor can he see the floor. He can post up smaller players but doesn't have a bevy moves or countermoves to rely on. Maybe he puts in work, adds skill every offseason and eventually becomes a monster at all 3 levels. That is possible. Its also very unlikely.

Is it reasonable to expect Wiseman to have elite skills at 19 years old and in the first month of his NBA career? As you point out, he’s "a work in progress" but has already shown the ability to knock down the 3 ball, and face up and blow by defenders. A consistent 3 ball, a tighter handle and a bevy of low post moves are all things that can be developed with hard work, coaching and experience.

But Wiseman's elite size and athleticism are legit...and are things that can't be taught.

It’s going to be interesting to look back at this discussion 3-4 years from now. I'm betting that Wiseman will be an NBA all-star someday…maybe even All-NBA.

There's no point in going back and forth about James Wiseman. Everybody is right here! The question is all about the odds -- & we can't learn anything about the likelihood of a player reaching his potential by analyzing the potential itself.

James Wiseman has come into the league at 19 with, essentially, no experience at all of playing high-level organized basketball. There are simply so very very many ways for a kid like him *not* to reach his potential that you have to hesitate before you make him the center of a trade that costs you Bradley Beal.

Not saying it would be impossible, or even foolish, to decide to do it, but... it's an extremely high-risk move! & taking on that risk means that you have to give Wiseman less absolute value in the deal -- i.e. you have to get a whole lot back along with him. Even in that case, it's a high-risk, high-reward kind of deal.

So, that's the first question: given where the Wizards are as a franchise, does it make sense to deal your best player by far, your best trade chip by far, for a package with that much risk in it? To me, the answer is no: the cost of failure would be too high for a franchise in as much trouble as the Washington Wizards.

PIF. My problem is not that Wiseman could be a bust and wash out. If that happens then its a TOTAL Failure. My argument is that even if Wiseman becomes a good Center and plays 12 year in the league, what does that really look like?
Again, Look at Deandre Ayton & Whiteside as an example and their effect on winning. If you are not a generational 2 way big (AD, Embiid & Bam) or All Time Elite offensive player (Jokic), how valuable are you as a Center to winning at a high level in the playoffs?

Wiseman is in year 1 of a 4/40M contract. Even subtle, but consistent improvements will never have him provide Surplus value over his salary, which along with RFA status is the purpose of cost controlled rookie contracts.

I pointed to multiple Centers that make equal or less on the open market that are far and away better than Wiseman and will be for the duration of his contract.
By the time Wiseman MIGHT reach the point where he is an average starting Center in the league he will be an RFA and then receive the rookie Max. Great. You now have Christian Wood / Myles Turner Caliber Center making ~35M/year.

[gambitx777]

I disagree. I think the nba you can find more gems late than other sports first are first when you have 2 firsts and seconds you can trade up so you either have an increased chance or you can go get your guy. So as far as picks go yes quantity does matter

Also I do not like simmons. I think he's injury prone and will never find a shot. I would never trade beal for him in my opinion. We definitely aren't better with simmons over beal and no assets.

I like payton pritchard alot and hayes and williams 3 are really solid bigs too that basically matches what miami could offer and we wouldn't get the picks or other players. Plus you dump westbrook and more or less use ish Smith and a couple seconds to do it. In this situation that's very very important. You can dump that contract with out giving up much that matters imo. Yes it requires work but I think there is more potential pay off down the road especially with cap room at the dead line to take back a contract for an asset.

Big ol 5 team block buster here.

Boston :
George hill and davis burtains

Magic :
ish Smith

Pelicans :
bradley beal, jerome robinson

Thunder:
Westbrook, mobamba, 2021 second from boston via okc and 2022 second from boston via hornets

Wizards :
Ariza, redick, darious miller, ball, justin jackson, robert williams 3 , hayes, alexander walker, pritchard,2021 first from pels via LA, 2021 second from pels via wizards, 2021 second boston, 2022 first pels, 2022 second boston, 2023 first pels via LA, 2024 first pels, 2025 first pels via bucks.

This is awful.

Quantity does not beat quality. All the picks you obtained are either from the Pelicans (with Beal) or from the Lakers, so they're all later than #23 or so. None of the players you get back project to be above average starters and only Alexander-Walker and Pritchard are under a cheap contract for any length of time.

A Philly deal of Beal straight up for Simmons is much better.

So is a Miami deal for Herro and Achiuwa and a distant 1st

So is a Golden State deal for the Minny lotto pick and GSW's 2021 and 2026 pick and 2025 and 2027 pick swaps.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

[payitforward]

...I don't like any of the packages that are being floated....

Same here!

...I'd expect a bidding war if (Beal) were the target... I'd rather wait and see the potentially ridiculous offers that popped up if the league thought they could acquire him and the auction was opened up.

Personally, I'd rather see how the team developed with Westbrook sitting out and new players given room to grow around him.....

Ditto.

Some of you will recall that when the Wall "problem" arose, my response was -- "do nothing." That would have been better by a mile than what we did.

Same situation with Bradley Beal right now. Do nothing.

[payitforward]

Is it reasonable to expect Wiseman to have elite skills at 19 years old and in the first month of his NBA career? As you point out, he’s "a work in progress" but has already shown the ability to knock down the 3 ball, and face up and blow by defenders. A consistent 3 ball, a tighter handle and a bevy of low post moves are all things that can be developed with hard work, coaching and experience.

But Wiseman's elite size and athleticism are legit...and are things that can't be taught.

It’s going to be interesting to look back at this discussion 3-4 years from now. I'm betting that Wiseman will be an NBA all-star someday…maybe even All-NBA.

There's no point in going back and forth about James Wiseman. Everybody is right here! The question is all about the odds -- & we can't learn anything about the likelihood of a player reaching his potential by analyzing the potential itself.

James Wiseman has come into the league at 19 with, essentially, no experience at all of playing high-level organized basketball. There are simply so very very many ways for a kid like him *not* to reach his potential that you have to hesitate before you make him the center of a trade that costs you Bradley Beal.

Not saying it would be impossible, or even foolish, to decide to do it, but... it's an extremely high-risk move! & taking on that risk means that you have to give Wiseman less absolute value in the deal -- i.e. you have to get a whole lot back along with him. Even in that case, it's a high-risk, high-reward kind of deal.

So, that's the first question: given where the Wizards are as a franchise, does it make sense to deal your best player by far, your best trade chip by far, for a package with that much risk in it? To me, the answer is no: the cost of failure would be too high for a franchise in as much trouble as the Washington Wizards.

PIF. My problem is not that Wiseman could be a bust and wash out. If that happens then its a TOTAL Failure. My argument is that even if Wiseman becomes a good Center and plays 12 year in the league, what does that really look like?
Again, Look at Deandre Ayton & Whiteside as an example and their effect on winning. If you are not a generational 2 way big (AD, Embiid & Bam) or All Time Elite offensive player (Jokic), how valuable are you as a Center to winning at a high level in the playoffs?

Wiseman is in year 1 of a 4/40M contract. Even subtle, but consistent improvements will never have him provide Surplus value over his salary, which along with RFA status is the purpose of cost controlled rookie contracts.

I pointed to multiple Centers that make equal or less on the open market that are far and away better than Wiseman and will be for the duration of his contract.
By the time Wiseman MIGHT reach the point where he is an average starting Center in the league he will be an RFA and then receive the rookie Max. Great. You now have Christian Wood / Myles Turner Caliber Center making ~35M/year.

I don't think what I'm saying is really very different from this, pcbothwei -- I just put it slightly differently. I.e. you can describe an outcome in which the trade turns out to have been a good one; you just can't say how much chance there is of that outcome.

In other words, objecting to the trade based on his having no skills right now gets an answer that we can't expect him to have skills right now. Both guys are correct. But, neither statement is a basis for saying yay or nay on a trade of Beal for a package based around the kid.

[payitforward]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/261255/Surge-Of-Traded-Picks-Pick-Swaps-Could-Inhibit-Market-For-Next-Superstar-Trade

Comments, please:

"Surge Of Traded Picks, Pick Swaps Could Inhibit Market For Next Superstar Trade
JAN 20, 2021 3:07 PM

"Currently, 15 NBA teams are either out multiple first round picks, prohibited from trading more, or have their picks "encumbered", which means they can't trade them for multiple years.

"In the fall of 2017, there was an item on the league's preseason board of governors meeting agenda that called for a vote on a rule that would ban trading pick swaps to teams that already owed future first-round picks to other teams. A vote was eventually taken off the agenda for the rule.

"In subsequent years, we have witnessed a surge of superstar trades including multiple first round picks and pick swaps.

"Seven teams are totally locked out of the draft-pick market this season at the trade deadline with the Washington Wizards effectively making a provisional eighth.

"Because so many teams have a limited ability to trade picks, it could inhibit the market for the next star who wants out."

[Dat2U]

But I do think Wiseman is a decent target. He'd be a good fit with Hachimura and Avdija

He'd be a terrible fit next to Hachimura. Neither of them knows how to play positional defense or has rebounding skills and instincts. both are undeveloped physical marvels who are lost when it comes to key principles of how the game is played.

I don't like any of the packages that are being floated. The NBA is in a decade long drought on skilled 2-guards, in a guard attack outside-in era. 29 teams in the league would immediately install Beal as their starter (the Nets only exception). Here we are looking at offers of table scraps. Losing Beal commits hard to a complete reset in all respects. And for the team who lands him they add the consummate good team mate and an ideal fit at the position: efficient and good at every basketball related skill, able to play next to alpha dog stars and also take over when it's his turn. The package for him may be something short of Unibrow level, but I'd expect a bidding war if he were the target, especially given the relatively bare free agent market coming up. Rather than bid against ourselves I'd rather wait and see the potentially ridiculous offers that popped up if the league thought they could acquire him and the auction was opened up.

Personally, I'd rather see how the team developed with Westbrook sitting out and new players given room to grow around him. So irritated about the Wall Russ swap. I feel like the chemistry would have been a positive here and the value of the former Wallstar would have been on the increase if we felt we did need to make a change at the end of the year.

Ideally Beal stays, somehow you land an elite prospect in the draft & a C in the offseason, we upgrade at coach and Westbrook gets healthy & becomes lower usage. That would be beautiful.

I do like the package Miami can put together because I'm really high on Tyler Herro. Obviously more than most. I see a future all-star. I love the idea of adding elite shooting in Duncan Robinson (who I'd want to resign) and a twitchy rim runner in Precious Achiuwa. I would need future picks as well but if Beal quietly asked out, this gets serious consideration from me.

Outside of that Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams + would be intriguing.

I've also mentioned in the past the idea of just being patient (as long Beal is willing to be) and holding out till at least the lottery results come out after the season. See where you stand, see what teams move up and try to make a deal if possible.

I remember suggesting deals to trade for Jaren Jackson Jr in '18 & Ja Morant (using Beal via a 3-way) in '19. Maybe you can do the same to land a Suggs, Mobley or Cunningham even if our own pick doesn't hit.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Big ol 5 team block buster here.

Boston :
George hill and davis burtains

Magic :
ish Smith

Pelicans :
bradley beal, jerome robinson

Thunder:
Westbrook, mobamba, 2021 second from boston via okc and 2022 second from boston via hornets

Wizards :
Ariza, redick, darious miller, ball, justin jackson, robert williams 3 , hayes, alexander walker, pritchard,2021 first from pels via LA, 2021 second from pels via wizards, 2021 second boston, 2022 first pels, 2022 second boston, 2023 first pels via LA, 2024 first pels, 2025 first pels via bucks.

Boston, it's an arms race in the east right now. Burtains gives them another weapon off the bench and hill gives them another piece of vet insurance for kemba. Williams 3 and PP are pretty expendable. Spending 4 seconds isn't much when they arnt giving up a first.

Magic need a stop gap PG and ish fits that role, bamba needs a change of location bad and they have a pretty bad log jam up front any way.

Pels obviously they wanna form a big 3 type situation and set up for a run in a rapidly declining west.

Thunder, they are aproching a tank situation. Picks may not be important to them. But they are lacking center options going forward. bamba out of the rotation is young option for them to look at going forward with horfords days numbered. Why take westbrook? Well what good is cap room in okc the next 2 seasons. ? It isn't they are rebuilding and high level free agents aren't gonna just flock there and it would do their young team good to bring in the home town heart for a farewell tour and let him teach the kids how it's done. They also get a young center and two seconds to take westbrook which is a pretty good deal for them considering their situation.

Wizards, well they blow it up all in one. They trade beal and burtains and get 5 firsts and 3 seconds for them not only that but they get 4 good young pieces and ball who isn't awful but might come cheap on his next deal due to underperforming. You cut ariza, reddick, miller, and probably justin jackson I assume unless you wanna cut gil and take a flyer on him I'd cut him. Then if you don't keep jackson you can bring up and promote matthews by cutting gill or lopz and bring in Jordan bell on a 2 way if you keep jackson you can still bring up matthews and cuz gill and lopez. You clear 20 mill in cap room too? What good is that you ask, well you can use that at the dead line to absorbed a contract for a bigger deal for an asset. Yes those picks are probably late but! Who cares, they are assets and if you do a good enough job in evaluating taller or trades they could net you something worth while all while dumping westbrook at a minimum coast.

The trade can't be done till 2/20/21 due to burtians but the money works. And I think it gets us value and opesn up lines for us to trade guys like bryant, mo, or brown down the line or at the dead line or next summer.

Ok rip me apart I'm ready!

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

This is a thermonuclear blow it up trade idea. I don’t have enough cognitive ability ATM to begin to wrap my mind around this.

Gambitx777, this is making my stretch my paradigm of thought... I’ll try...

On the surface of it I’d say the Magic get screwed on Ish for Bamba.

Beal would likely see New Orleans with a very young team and a crusty coach as a lateral move at best. He wants a winning situation.

Boston would love Bertans giving what they lost giving up Hayward and also having a real steady veteran PG to rotate with Smart and Walker. They love this.

OKC ? I dunno but Westbrook’s still got love there.

For Washington, as are 99% of most trade proposals I’m going to assume we reap more than we sow.

[Dark Faze]

I enjoy watching Beal but my desire to keep him is nearly zero. The team sucks, and I want to field a good team. So I have zero issues whatsoever in trading Brad for a great package.

I do agree with many that Wiseman is looking less and less like the ideal centerpiece of a trade and indeed would require significant assets to even make it worth it for a straight up deal for Brad with expiring's, much less taking on the Wiggins contract.

DeAndre Hunter has nearly 50/40/90 splits and is 17/6 on only 11 shots a game in his second year. Okongwu, Hawks 2021 first, Hunter, and Snell (to make the trade work) is something I'd agree to today and I think it benefits both teams. I would not want to play that Hawks team with Beal in the playoffs if healthy.

[payitforward]

PIF, I was thinking about responding to your post about Wiseman, which is full of contradictions. But I'm on a Biden-Harris high so I'll leave it alone.

Yesterday marked a wonderful day in US history, Zards. Talk about a good trade!

Do respond when you get there....

[NatP4]

I would take that Hawks deal right now. Avdija/Bonga/Hunter would give us high level production at the 3/4 spots for the next 8 years. Okongwu was basically everyone’s favorite prospect in the 2020 draft. The hawks pick would fall into the 15-20 range which will most likely feature so many good players like Kispert, Butler, Springer, Wagner, and more. Okongwu is still working back from injury and is a rookie, so he won’t hurt the tank at all. We probably end up with a top 5 pick and a shot at Suggs/Mobley/Cunningham

[nate33]

I would take that Hawks deal right now. Avdija/Bonga/Hunter would give us high level production at the 3/4 spots for the next 8 years. Okongwu was basically everyone’s favorite prospect in the 2020 draft. The hawks pick would fall into the 15-20 range which will most likely feature so many good players like Kispert, Butler, Springer, Wagner, and more. Okongwu is still working back from injury and is a rookie, so he won’t hurt the tank at all. We probably end up with a top 5 pick and a shot at Suggs/Mobley/Cunningham

You can't have it both ways. Either Hunter and Okongwu are good and will help us win, or they're not.

If they're good, then trading Beal for them won't hurt our record that much and we won't end up with a top 5 pick. So there goes your dream of Suggs/Mobley/Cunningham. If they're bad, then why do we want them?

[NatP4]

I would take that Hawks deal right now. Avdija/Bonga/Hunter would give us high level production at the 3/4 spots for the next 8 years. Okongwu was basically everyone’s favorite prospect in the 2020 draft. The hawks pick would fall into the 15-20 range which will most likely feature so many good players like Kispert, Butler, Springer, Wagner, and more. Okongwu is still working back from injury and is a rookie, so he won’t hurt the tank at all. We probably end up with a top 5 pick and a shot at Suggs/Mobley/Cunningham

You can't have it both ways. Either Hunter and Okongwu are good and will help us win, or they're not.

If they're good, then trading Beal for them won't hurt our record that much and we won't end up with a top 5 pick. So there goes your dream of Suggs/Mobley/Cunningham. If they're bad, then why do we want them?

That’s probably true, but we were the worst team in the NBA and just lost Bryant. You would be subtracting an All NBA player. Scott Brooks is still the coach, unfortunately. I have my doubts that Westbrook will play anymore meaningful minutes this year. Okongwu isn’t going to have much of a positive impact as a rookie, playing 12 minutes a night (just returned from foot injury). Hunter is a good player, but still just in his 2nd year. He would certainly help us, but he’s a role player. We want them because of the potential, not the current impact.

It’s not the end of the world if we made that trade and gave big minutes to Bonga, Mathews, Hunter, Avdija, Okongwu, Brown Jr, and Winston, ended up with 20 something wins and picks in the 5-10 range and 15-20 range. It’s not ideal, but developing talent on the roster is just as important. We could still possibly trade up using both picks+whatever else.

[doclinkin]

Ideally Beal stays, somehow you land an elite prospect in the draft & a C in the offseason, we upgrade at coach and Westbrook gets healthy & becomes lower usage. That would be beautiful.

I do like the package Miami can put together because I'm really high on Tyler Herro. Obviously more than most. I see a future all-star. I love the idea of adding elite shooting in Duncan Robinson (who I'd want to resign) and a twitchy rim runner in Precious Achiuwa. I would need future picks as well but if Beal quietly asked out, this gets serious consideration from me.

Outside of that Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams + would be intriguing.

I've also mentioned in the past the idea of just being patient (as long Beal is willing to be) and holding out till at least the lottery results come out after the season. See where you stand, see what teams move up and try to make a deal if possible.

This last is pretty much where I am. I don't mind either of those packages, but I think if the auction were open there would be offers and multi-team deals we haven't even looked at. As well after the lottery we would see where we as a team stand. If it looks like we are adding a generational super talent, and our young cats have developed nicely, then Beal may not push for a switch. If he has quietly asked to find a contender, then we can listen to teams outbid each other. Consider if the two packages you suggest above were openly being floated. Which of those 2 teams, in hearing about the other's offer, would choose to sweeten the pot a bit.

Right now we are at a low point, unable to even practice. Pissed about Russ. Feeling like Beal may de-commit. So whatever deal we think of feels like a panic move, trying to think of the minimum return on investment we would hope for in a deal. I'd rather listen to offers and match them against each other, from a position of strength ideally if it was even conceivable to keep Beal based on incoming talent and developing youth.

[pcbothwel]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/261255/Surge-Of-Traded-Picks-Pick-Swaps-Could-Inhibit-Market-For-Next-Superstar-Trade

Comments, please:

"Surge Of Traded Picks, Pick Swaps Could Inhibit Market For Next Superstar Trade
JAN 20, 2021 3:07 PM

"Currently, 15 NBA teams are either out multiple first round picks, prohibited from trading more, or have their picks "encumbered", which means they can't trade them for multiple years.

"In the fall of 2017, there was an item on the league's preseason board of governors meeting agenda that called for a vote on a rule that would ban trading pick swaps to teams that already owed future first-round picks to other teams. A vote was eventually taken off the agenda for the rule.

"In subsequent years, we have witnessed a surge of superstar trades including multiple first round picks and pick swaps.

"Seven teams are totally locked out of the draft-pick market this season at the trade deadline with the Washington Wizards effectively making a provisional eighth.

"Because so many teams have a limited ability to trade picks, it could inhibit the market for the next star who wants out."

Ehhh. Still plenty of flexibility, but I think the key to extracting value in a trade for a star like Beal is to "Double Dip", for lack of a better word, on value.
When you trade a player this good, its hard to imagine that a single team while have a combo of all three:
1) Need for the player, skill set, timeline
2) Highest level of valuation in the league for said player
3) Assets to get the player and still compete
4) Said assets fitting new teams in terms of skill set, timeline, etc.
5) Finances to make it all work

This is why a 3rd/4th team is interjected into trades.
I think finding the team (Team A) that wants to trade for Beal while giving up a really good/AS level player (Player X) along with assets is key. We then need to flip this Player X to a third team (Team B) that values Player X higher than (Team A).

In my assessment, it appears Philly (Simmons), Spurs (Derozan), Atlanta (Collins), etc. are the type of players to be used here.
See me aforementioned 3-Way trade with Simmons going to GSW as an example. Another team that would be a PERFECT fit for Simmons are the TWolves. An elite, versatile defender that moves the ball is ideal next to KAT and they NEED to make it work... especially without their 2021 pick.

Point is.... There are a few teams that need Beal and we can make the value work....IF WE CHOOSE

[Ruzious]

Waiting takes balls. Because of the Wiz' slow start, most people are thinking he wants out, and if we lose him for nothing, the organization is in trouble.

[NatP4]

Waiting takes balls. Because of the Wiz' slow start, most people are thinking he wants out, and if we lose him for nothing, the organization is in trouble.

If you fire Brooks and just make common sense lineup decisions, this team creeps back into .500 respectable territory. The optics change drastically, we look less desperate to move Beal, offers go up.

It’s funny, Dat pointed it out above, back in 2018, we were throwing out Beal for top 3 picks on draft night proposals left and right. That was before Beal took another leap to all NBA level. The conversations centered around Beal for Morant/Jaren Jackson Jr. I also remember some Beal for Doncic discussions around draft time. Of course, Beal is a couple years older now.

[nate33]

A big factor in this equation is the quantity and quality of potential Beal free agent suitors in 2022. How many teams will have max cap room available along with better prospects than the Wizards in 2022/23 season?

You can pretty much rule out Brooklyn, Philly, Utah, Golden State, Minnesota, Boston, Portland, the Clippers, the Lakers, and the Bucks. Those teams won't have cap room unless they make drastic changes that are likely to keep them out of contention.


As far as I can tell, the three teams in best position are:

- New Orleans with Ingram, Zion and Adams under contract, but no one else.

- Denver with Jokic, Murray, Morris, a cap hold for MPJ and no one else.

- Memphis will a lot of good players and a lot of cap room, unless they spend their cap room next summer


A couple of other teams might conceivably be options, but it would take some spending discipline from them in the meantime, and I don't think they would want to wait until 2022 on just the small chance they might acquire Beal. Beal isn't Anthony Davis or Giannis. He's a star, not a legit MVP candidate. Here are the teams:

- Miami will have to stay in a holding pattern by keeping their overpaid trade ballast (Iggy, Leonard, Bradley, Dragic) for another year rather than dumping them this summer and making a move in free agency. And by 2022, Butler will be 34. Is Herro, Robinson, Bam and an aging Butler really a contender?

- Atlanta is unlikely to have the cap room in 2022 unless they refrain from paying Collins (or another player Collins' money). And even if they did, would a guard like Beal make sense alongside Trae Young?

- Toronto will be paying Siakam, VanVleet and Anunoby a combined $71M. If they keep the rest of their balance sheet clean, they'll have a chance, but it will take a lot of discipline to forgo doing something in Summer 2021 when they'll have $22M or so in cap room. But is that team really any good? They don't look so good with Lowry. How will they be without him?


Most of the other teams with potential cap room are teams like us with lots of rookie contract guys that may or may not pan out. Or they're middling 45-win teams with no stars, like Orlando or San Antonio. As of now, I don't see them making a case to convince Beal to leave DC to join them. After all, the Wizards, with a high 2021 lotto pick and a new coach, might have had a pretty decent 2021-22 season before Beal has to make his decision.