Official Trade Thread Part XLV

[payitforward]

... We already pissed away Beal's value to less than nothing with four years of inaction followed by a total implosion of his value to the point where he became a literal negative asset. Kuzma's the last piece we have that we all know has no role whatsoever in a future Wizard team that isn't total ---. ...

This is pretty extreme, don't you think? For one thing, we actually got a ton of assets for Bradley Beal.

...Nobody with a brain in his skull thinks anything this FO has done in decades has been intelligent....

"...this FO"?? We have an entirely new Front Office. Nothing done by any GM in our past is relevant to what Winger & Dawkins do in the future.

...As such, Kuzma.... needs to be traded sometime between this deadline and next.... I simply don't think it's worth the risk to choose any other direction considering the paltry assets we are left with after totally and utterly bungling the handling of Beal.

I'm sure we'll be listening to offers for Kuz (...& anyone else), but -- once again -- the FO that failed to trade Brad when his value was at its highest point is no longer working for the franchise.

[The Consiglieri]

... We already pissed away Beal's value to less than nothing with four years of inaction followed by a total implosion of his value to the point where he became a literal negative asset. Kuzma's the last piece we have that we all know has no role whatsoever in a future Wizard team that isn't total ---. ...

This is pretty extreme, don't you think? For one thing, we actually got a ton of assets for Bradley Beal.

...Nobody with a brain in his skull thinks anything this FO has done in decades has been intelligent....

"...this FO"?? We have an entirely new Front Office. Nothing done by any GM in our past is relevant to what Winger & Dawkins do in the future.

...As such, Kuzma.... needs to be traded sometime between this deadline and next.... I simply don't think it's worth the risk to choose any other direction considering the paltry assets we are left with after totally and utterly bungling the handling of Beal.

I'm sure we'll be listening to offers for Kuz (...& anyone else), but -- once again -- the FO that failed to trade Brad when his value was at its highest point is no longer working for the franchise.

1. No, We did a salary dump with Beal, we got something we could turn into a tiny bit of something. It was cut from the same cloth as the Wall trade. It was selling for 1/10th what we could have gotten if we were sane in '19, '20, or '21 or the last deadline in '22.

2. I'm talking about the front offices, and the head big cheese in particular. These current guys are the first guys to actually attempt a legit rebuild in nearly 15 years, but my point about F.O. was about the stink on the organization and the hole we are in as a result of their performance.

3. My point on Kuz was more towards the members of the board that are comfortable waiting. I get the point, I'd like a better return too, but I do think people should weigh that upside vs the very genuine risk of an injury or generalized decline. There's a risk of getting 80 cents on the dollar trading too early, but there's also a risk of getting 2 dimes or a couple of nickels by waiting too long.

[tontoz]

We need to trade Tyus ASAP. He is screwing up the tank.

[TGW]

We need to trade Tyus ASAP. He is screwing up the tank.

He's not at all, but I agree they should trade him soon. Hopefully a FRP coming back.

[Frichuela]

We need to trade Tyus ASAP. He is screwing up the tank.

He's not at all, but I agree they should trade him soon. Hopefully a FRP coming back.

Let's hope so.

Teams that may need him and gift us a 1st rounder: Orlando, SAS?

[pcbothwel]

Consig... I think Point 3 needs to be clarified.
1) If Kuz's production/efficiency stays completely neutral, his value only increases as his salary/effective pay rate decreases and the cap increases. This will be further emphasized in 2 years when the cap spikes.

2) Kuz profiles as a notch below Siakam and Brandon Ingram, but what is the value difference when those guys resign for 40M/year and Kuz is paid 20M? With the new financial landscape, having your 3rd/4th piece on competitive salaries is huge.

I think risk of him declining or getting hurt is outweighed by the above.

[nate33]

We need to trade Tyus ASAP. He is screwing up the tank.

I'm not worried about the tank, but we should trade Tyus if any team will give us a FRP for him. I don't think I'd move him for 2RP's though. If we end up drafting Alexandre Sarr, I'd like to have a professional point guard to get him the ball. I don't want a replay of what's happing in San Antonio with Wemby.

The best case scenario would be to trade Tyus for a FRP in the 20's. Or even better, combine a Tyus trade with other trades (Gallo, Wright, etc.) to end up with a FRP in the teens.

In the offseason, we replace Tyus' production with a free agent signing of Immanuel Quickley.

[The Consiglieri]

Consig... I think Point 3 needs to be clarified.
1) If Kuz's production/efficiency stays completely neutral, his value only increases as his salary/effective pay rate decreases and the cap increases. This will be further emphasized in 2 years when the cap spikes.

2) Kuz profiles as a notch below Siakam and Brandon Ingram, but what is the value difference when those guys resign for 40M/year and Kuz is paid 20M? With the new financial landscape, having your 3rd/4th piece on competitive salaries is huge.

I think risk of him declining or getting hurt is outweighed by the above.

Point taken, on both, but I am more neurotic than you, and after 40 years of this, I assume the worst case scenario will happen because it usually does. I'll concede that isn't really rational, but I do want to emphasize the risk we entertain by playing chicken with injury risk. The question going forward will always be is it worth the risk of injury or decline to hold off on trading him until '25 (I think waiting till '26 or later is just nuts).

On the Tyus talk sandwiched around your post, I'd only add that I'd rather have a first from '25, '26 or '27, better chance the pick might be higher (depending upon the team) and from a better class. We don't need extra prospects from crappy drafts now so much as more ammo in better drafts and to potentially make trades. If I pick up a first(s) for Kuzma, Tyus or anyone else, I'd rather push them back into other years to give us more flexibility with better classes (or potentially better classes).

[nate33]

Consig... I think Point 3 needs to be clarified.
1) If Kuz's production/efficiency stays completely neutral, his value only increases as his salary/effective pay rate decreases and the cap increases. This will be further emphasized in 2 years when the cap spikes.

2) Kuz profiles as a notch below Siakam and Brandon Ingram, but what is the value difference when those guys resign for 40M/year and Kuz is paid 20M? With the new financial landscape, having your 3rd/4th piece on competitive salaries is huge.

I think risk of him declining or getting hurt is outweighed by the above.

Point taken, on both, but I am more neurotic than you, and after 40 years of this, I assume the worst case scenario will happen because it usually does. I'll concede that isn't really rational, but I do want to emphasize the risk we entertain by playing chicken with injury risk. The question going forward will always be is it worth the risk of injury or decline to hold off on trading him until '25 (I think waiting till '26 or later is just nuts).

On the Tyus talk sandwiched around your post, I'd only add that I'd rather have a first from '25, '26 or '27, better chance the pick might be higher (depending upon the team) and from a better class. We don't need extra prospects from crappy drafts now so much as more ammo in better drafts and to potentially make trades. If I pick up a first(s) for Kuzma, Tyus or anyone else, I'd rather push them back into other years to give us more flexibility with better classes (or potentially better classes).

You entire argument is dependent on what is currently available in a Kuzma trade. If someone throws two mid FRP's at us, then, sure, take the deal and run rather than be cute about it. But if all we could get right now was a pick in the late 20's, would you make the deal? Or would you wait for a better trade?

[9 and 20]

This team is starting to put together some wins. Time to reset the tank. Trade Gaff to the Knicks who just lost their center for the year. Another first round pick and ensure a top/bottom 3 finish.

Put Jake PicassoFace Stephens at center. We run the great white cerberus at 5 for the rest of the year with Gallo and Muscala. Maybe give Cherokee Parks a call, too.

[Benjammin]

It does seem with Gafford playing well and some teams needing a center, this may be a strike while the iron is hot situation.

[penbeast0]

This team is starting to put together some wins. Time to reset the tank. Trade Gaff to the Knicks who just lost their center for the year. Another first round pick and ensure a top/bottom 3 finish.

Put Jake PicassoFace Stephens at center. We run the great white cerberus at 5 for the rest of the year with Gallo and Muscala. Maybe give Cherokee Parks a call, too.

For a 1st sure, for the Knicks get our own 1st back even if it converts to second and still probably worth it to avoid the chance that it does convey.

Would you do it straight up for the injured Mitch Robinson? Better player, more tankiness. Not sure the Knicks would do it but it could work for us.

[Frichuela]

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[nate33]

It does seem with Gafford playing well and some teams needing a center, this may be a strike while the iron is hot situation.

I don't see it.

Despite his recent good play, Gafford isn't really a "playoff guy". Rim running centers with no offensive game are often the types who get played off the floor by a good smallball team. Also, Gafford is no match for the elite centers like Embiid, Robinson and Jokic that teams are likely to face in a deep playoff run. Gafford outplays other bad centers. He doesn't hold up against the league's best centers.

Gafford is a regular season guy. He can eat minutes and hold down the fort for a mediocre team, but he's not a difference maker. I just don't see a good team trading a late FRP for him to gear up for a playoff run, and I don't see a mediocre team sacrificing a higher FRP to acquire him. Ultimately, I don't think Gafford fetches much more than a high SRP. And if that's all we get, it's not really worth it because we'd just have to use that pick to replace the hole left in Gafford's absence.

[tontoz]

Our games are hard enough to watch already. Without Gafford they would really be unwatchable.

[WallToWall]

I do think Gafford fetches a 1st rnd pick. Serviceable Bigs, on good contracts, who also provide an above average defensive presence, and shoot 70%, are hard to come by.

[9 and 20]

Muscala and Gallo can be cut now. Nobody is going to trade anything for them, if that was the hope before the season started. They've pooped the sheets.

Also too bad Delon Wright hasn't been healthy enough to trade for anything.

Tyus Jones though should get something pretty good.

Johnny Davis better get healthy - about to be sink or swim time. If Jared Butler and Rollins get minutes over him, then it's time to cut bait with him too.

[nate33]

Muscala and Gallo can be cut now. Nobody is going to trade anything for them, if that was the hope before the season started. They've pooped the sheets.

Also too bad Delon Wright hasn't been healthy enough to trade for anything.

Tyus Jones though should get something pretty good.

Johnny Davis better get healthy - about to be sink or swim time. If Jared Butler and Rollins get minutes over him, then it's time to cut bait with him too.

I wouldn't cut Muscala because we need a warm body at backup center. And Wright could be worth something by the Trade Deadline. But, yes, Gallo is going to be a buy-out guy. He's not going to return us a SRP.

Regarding Davis, we've already exercised his 2024-25 option so I seriously doubt we will cut him and eat $5.3M. We will keep him one more year and see if he turns a corner. The interesting question is whether or not we opt in on his 4th season. We have to make the decision THIS summer on whether to keep him for the 2025-26 season.

[nate33]

I do think Gafford fetches a 1st rnd pick. Serviceable Bigs, on good contracts, who also provide an above average defensive presence, and shoot 70%, are hard to come by.

Name the team that would give up a FRP for him.

[TGW]

I also believe gafford would get a low frp. He’s signed to a relatively cheap deal and he’s young and decently productive. Ive seen his name thrown around on other boards so I believe he is in demand.