WOJ/SHAMS: Nuggets trade Barton and Morris for KCP and Ish Smith

[dckingsfan]

Hoping we can now move Barton as well... I like this addition by subtraction giving minutes to Kispert/Avidja vs. KCP.

Hopefully Johnny Davis gets Beal's backup minutes and not Barton - or better yet, Barton get's moved (don't see it though).

[nate33]

Well, this deal suggest the Wizards will continue with their current bifurcated strategy.

On one track, Sheppard is wheeling and dealing with veterans and cap room to try and win now around Beal. On the other track, Sheppard is building through the draft and will not sacrifice the future for now. This trade is part of the former.

It looks like they're keeping Beal. Let's hope it's for something less than the full max.

[AFM]

Someone wake up old man PIF. Need a 500 word essay on why this trade is terrible for us.

[TGW]

Memphis was 19-4 with Morant out. That says something. His numbers as a starter were pretty good.

Who are you talking about?

[Dark Faze]

The trade was fine from a value standpoint, but it really doesn't make sense in terms of the vision of the team. You lose a 3 and D wing, leaving Deni as the only wing defender on the roster, meanwhile we still didn't get a playmaking guard, and our defense and rebounding looks awful.

The roster just looks like a bunch of mediocre guys that can't defend well. Tommy is likely not done, but there's no vision with what we're looking to do here.

[nate33]

This probably puts an end to the Malcolm Brogdon idea.

[80sballboy]

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[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Is there something missing from this transaction, feels a bit like the Wizards are stealing value?

Barton and KCP seem like a push, unless the Nuggets were just desperate to shed salary.

They were desperate to shed salary. Also, I think KCP is a bit better than Barton, though the gap between them definitely isn't as large as the gap between Morris and Ish.

To me, unless we are packaging things that haven't been mentioned, this trade seems to be easily in our favor other than Morris's extra year.

Morris was fairly close to 50/40/90 guy last year and his career splits are 48/39/83, to me he is easily better than Ish. Barton and KCP are almost a wash other than KCP being a little younger.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

This probably puts an end to the Malcolm Brogdon idea.

That alone makes it worth it.

[Rafael122]

The trade was fine from a value standpoint, but it really doesn't make sense in terms of the vision of the team. You lose a 3 and D wing, leaving Deni as the only wing defender on the roster, meanwhile we still didn't get a playmaking guard, and our defense and rebounding looks awful.

The roster just looks like a bunch of mediocre guys that can't defend well. Tommy is likely not done, but there's no vision with what we're looking to do here.

I'll wait until I see what the finished product is. Free agency doesn't start until tomorrow at 6 PM. The Wizards still have the full MLE at their disposal, the bi-annual exception, two trade exceptions. They are roughly $18 million under the luxury tax, so Ted can afford another move or three and still get that GSW money.

[TGW]

KCP is much better than Barton. Barton is the definition of a ball stopper. He's a borderline bum, and Nuggets fans are happy to get rid of him. MM is just a mediocre backup point guard.

This doesn't move the needle at all.

[80sballboy]

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[Halcyon]

This looks like a steal for the Wizards. Good assist/TO ratio, can shoot the 3, is under contract for 2 years at a reasonable rate. I do think there needs to be a consolidation trade but Tommy might wait until the trade deadline.

[I_Like_Dirt]

Seems like a pretty solid move - under the absurd premise that we are trying to win now, that is.

KCP is a little better than Barton, and Morris is a little better than Ish, so it's pretty fair. We are taking back a pretty substantial amount of salary in this though. Hopefully Sheppard got a little extra compensation for this in a 2nd round pick.

It strikes me as a purely competitive move. I don't hate it from that angle and I don't even think the added salary is a big deal because free agency is a cesspool and almost always a bad idea.

KP/Gafford
Kuzma/Rui
Avdija/Kispert
Beal/Barton
Morris/Davis

Still a bit light on PGs but that doesn't concern me too much as the main 3 guards seem like they'll work just fine and puts Davis in a situation where he has to earn his time which makes sense. Not an amazing roster but a competitive one.

The bigger issue is why the team doesn't ever take a step back to take a step forward but I suspect that's on Ted.

[80sballboy]

Memphis was 19-4 with Morant out. That says something. His numbers as a starter were pretty good.

Who are you talking about?

Tyus Jones. I was responding to Nate.

[Rafael122]

I'll say this, Boston started Marcus Smart at the point. I think their lineup was Smart/Brown/Tatum/Horford/Williams. The team does not need a "traditional, walk the ball up the court" point guard. It's fluid. They have that in Morris, but they don't need to double down in free agency and get Delon Wright for the midlevel for example. My guess is that bit on Oladipo has some noise behind it. He can be a 1 or 2 depending on the situation, and I would assume he probably closes.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

KCP is much better than Barton. Barton is the definition of a ball stopper. He's a borderline bum, and Nuggets fans are happy to get rid of him. MM is just a mediocre backup point guard.

This doesn't move the needle at all.

You've obviously forgotten all the games were KCP did the same and just remember his hot and meaningless close to the reason. Much easier to make shots when it doesn't matter.

[Dark Faze]

I like Tyus, and I think he's an improving defender, but Tyus/Beal starting backcourt is going to get carved up.With the offensive depth added, I think this signals we'll be taking a strong look at Brogdon.

[nate33]

KCP is much better than Barton. Barton is the definition of a ball stopper. He's a borderline bum, and Nuggets fans are happy to get rid of him. MM is just a mediocre backup point guard.

This doesn't move the needle at all.

I think you are overstating it, but I don't really disagree much. This doesn't really move the needle much in total talent level. It is an improvement in fit though, since we lacked any credible PG and we have a glut at wing.

[nate33]

I'll say this, Boston started Marcus Smart at the point. I think their lineup was Smart/Brown/Tatum/Horford/Williams. The team does not need a "traditional, walk the ball up the court" point guard. It's fluid. They have that in Morris, but they don't need to double down in free agency and get Delon Wright for the midlevel for example. My guess is that bit on Oladipo has some noise behind it. He can be a 1 or 2 depending on the situation, and I would assume he probably closes.

Yeah, and their offense grounded to a halt in the playoffs. They survived by being one of the greatest defenses ever assembled.