Washington and Minnesota Swap Dysfunction ft. New Orleans

[Domejandro]

NOP: Ian Mahinmi and Kelly Oubre
OUT: Solomon Hill, Wesley Johnson, and New Orleans 2019 First Round Draft Pick*

Why for New Orleans? Upgrade their back-up center position marginally and get massively needed wing-depth (and bird-rights) through Kelly Oubre.

Why not for New Orleans? Take on three million dollars more in salary next season and potentially lose a first.

MIN: John Wall, Austin Rivers, Solomon Hill, Wesley Johnson, New Orleans 2019 First Round Draft Pick*, Washington's 2019 First Round Draft Pick**
OUT: Jimmy Butler, Jeff Teague, and Gorgui Dieng

Why for Minnesota? Gain an all-star player in John Wall, consolidating future salary into him, whilst gaining two firsts.

Why not for Minnesota?

The trade kicker is actually a deal-breaker. Minnesota is taking on so much long-term salary with this trade. Makes shoddy spacing in the starting line-up worse.

WAS: Jimmy Butler, Jeff Teague, and Gorgui Dieng
OUT: John Wall, Austin Rivers, Ian Mahinmi, Kelly Oubre, and Washington's 2019 First Round Draft Pick**

Why for Washington? Massively improve and balance the roster, whilst dumping a potential albatross. Amusingly enough, they barely take on salary, and actually save a substantial amount overall.

Jeff Teague / (Sign a scrub, can't be worse than Austin?)
Bradley Beal / Tomáš Satoranský / Jordan McRae
Jimmy Butler / Jeff Green / Troy Brown Jr.
Otto Porter / Markieff Morris / Jason Smith
Dwight Howard / Gorgui Dieng / Thomas Bryant

Why not for Washington? Salary-wise and roster-wise it works out well, but should the team fall apart, and not meet expectations, giving up John Wall and the pick would sting in the short-term.

*Lottery Protected for a few years, turns into two seconds.
**Top five protected for a few years, turns into two seconds.

[TBri1974]

Without the 1st round pick this makes some sense - Washington doesn't give up a FRP while taking on Dieng and giving up Wall, for a player who can leave in free agency no less. While the value is there, not sure Butler fills a position they need. Makes mores sense to root him elsewhere and bring in a young big (if you assume they feel Teague can be the PG this year). Maybe DC doesn't mind if he leaves and they start to rebuild, but then why include an aging Teague and the long contract of Dieng.

On the same note, not sure who wants to take on Wall. The talent is unquestionably there, but he looks like a team killer (like Marbury was). I am a Knicks fan and wouldn't want him on the Knicks despite his talent.

[pelifan]

A first for Oubre value is pretty fair. The Mahinmi/Hill swap is an unnecessary cost. Mahinmi is really not all that useful

[jbk1234]

I don't see Oubre, in the last year of his rookie contract, as valuable enough to return a first and dump Mahinmi. I'm not entirely sure that a capped out team like the Pelicans would up a first to rent him for a year as they'll be constrained in what offers they can match.

[Mamba4Goat]

I don't see Oubre, in the last year of his rookie contract, as valuable enough to return a first and dump Mahinmi. I'm not entirely sure that a capped out team like the Pelicans would up a first to rent him for a year as they'll be constrained in what offers they can match.

Yeah, this is where I'm at for this trade. It's hard to take on a future FA due for a bigger pay day for a bad contract. Especially if you're already on a tight budget.