Wiz/Bucks/Suns: Beal back to DC, Poole to the Bucks, Suns save money

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mhd
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Wiz/Bucks/Suns: Beal back to DC, Poole to the Bucks, Suns save money 

Post#1 » by mhd » Tue Jun 24, 2025 12:02 am

Simple trade:

Wiz trade: Poole+18+Smart (expiring)+2026 rights to lowest of LAC/Hou/OKC 1st (will be explained below) for Beal+Connaughton (expiring)+10+swap rights (will be explained below)

Suns trade: Beal+10 for Kuzma+Smart (expiring)+18

Bucks trade: Kuzma+Connaughton+lowest of 2026 NO/MIL 1st for Poole+lowest of 2026 LAC/Hou/OKC 1st

Why for the Wizards?
1). They move up 8 spots in the upcoming draft while maintaining salary floor commitments in 2026 with Beal's contract. Rumors are they, along with the Hawks, were the only teams considering trading for Beal at the past deadline. Beal might actually waive the NTC to go back home.
2). They gain 2026 swap rights (after the Pels exercise their swap rights with the Bucks 2026 1st). With a likely very low 2026 1st (lowest of LAC/OKC/Hou), they move up most likely for sure in that draft.

Why for the Suns?
1). Save money. They immediately save 9 million in this year's salary, while shaving 37 million in next year's salary. That's worth it considering the apron payments for moving down 8 spots in this draft.
2). Considering they don't have any bigs on the roster, Kuzma actually will play on his declining salary. Smart also was good after the trade to the Wizards and will provide a vert versatile defender who can play multiple positions.

Why for the Bucks?
1). With the East wide open and Giannis staying, they get Poole (who was good last year) as a secondary scorer in for the useless expiring Connaughton and Kuzma who did not fit after the trade. They will assuredly be better than the Pels next year, so that swap won't trigger in all likelihood. The cost of getting the upgrade is going from their pick to the worst of the LAC/OKC/Houston 2026 1st. That's worth it when you're trying to win now.
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Re: Wiz/Bucks/Suns: Beal back to DC, Poole to the Bucks, Suns save money 

Post#2 » by GatherStepGuru » Tue Jun 24, 2025 2:25 am

Can you explain the swap possibilites better?

Either way, hard pass for Wash. Feels like both the Suns and Bucks would be getting upgrades and getting off undesirable deals for cheap.
Wash would need a lot more incentive to give up the best value player (I value Poole over Kuzma and Beal based on production and contract) and take on the most immovable contract than to move up 8 spots to late lottery
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Re: Wiz/Bucks/Suns: Beal back to DC, Poole to the Bucks, Suns save money 

Post#3 » by m1chal » Tue Jun 24, 2025 8:11 am

I'd do it for the Suns, not sure about the Wiz.

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