Washington Wizards NBA Trade Deadline Primer 2016
Washington Wizards NBA Trade Deadline Primer 2016
As the trade deadline approaches (about 65 hours away as of the time of this writing), teams are shaping up to determine whether they’d like to buy or sell at the deadline. Unlike years past, that balance is quite uneven as this summer’s salary cap spike has left many teams with maximum space this summer and limited interest in sending off talented pieces just for the hope of an expiring contract.
The market’s uneven nature is not a detractor enough for rumors to get started and we’ve already heard several big names mentioned in possible deals including Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Love, and Dwight Howard.
Who ends up changing locations remains to be scenes but deals are out there that make sense for both sides. So the question becomes, what makes sense for the Washington Wizards?
No one can proclaim this season has gone anything according to plan in the Nation’s Capital. Once intended to be the final chapter of a three-year pitch to convince Kevin Durant to come home, the Wizards season has spiraled out of control and has them sitting 10th in a surprisingly competitive Eastern Conference.
Only 3 games separate Washington from the 8th seed and they are only 6 games out of the 4th seed so if the team picks up traction, it can definitely be a mover over the last 31 games.
The question becomes, does the Washington Wizards‘ brass want to sit back and allow the season to play out? Is it interested in shipping off role players like Jared Dudley or Gary Neal to contenders who need one more piece to become a viable threat to Golden State? Or does it believe Washington itself is a player away from becoming part of the conversation once again?
Since writing a trade article where the team either does nothing or trades for draft picks is quite boring and the reality is the Wizards don’t want to waste a season in the midst of John Wall’s prime, let’s assume Washington will be buyers at the trade deadline.
Who will they target? Who makes sense? Let’s take a look at 6 candidates who the Wizards could pursue.
I’ve broken them out into three sets of two, to represent the likelihood and the impact a trade might have.
Not World-Beaters, But Useful
The Candidate: P.J. Tucker
Basic Statistics: 7.0 ppg./5.7 rpg./1.9 apg./1.3 spg./0.3 bpg. on 41% FG/35% 3PT/75% FT
The Rationale: The Washington Wizards have been trying desperately to play small ball without the proper personnel to do so. Neither Gooden nor Blair have any business playing in an NBA game taking place in 2016 so swapping them out for Tucker would be a minor win for that reason alone.
Tucker is not a fantastic 3-point shooter (career 36%) but he’s a hard-nosed defender and can toggle between both forward spots, or lock in at small forward and allow Otto Porter to realize his destiny at the 4.
From Phoenix’s perspective, I could have entered almost any name from their roster into this slot (Markieff Morris, Mirza Teletovic) but went with Tucker since his name has popped up in rumors related to the Washington Wizards.
While the Suns have no use for either player they are receiving, both contracts expire at season’s end while Tucker is on the books for $5.3M next season when the team will next regain consciousness. Given the salary relief provided, I’d be inclined to add some protection on that pick or delay its arrival till 2017.
The Candidate: Terrence Jones
Basic Statistics: 9.3 ppg./4.5 rpg./0.9 apg./0.5 spg./0.8 bpg. on 45% FG/32% 3PT/67% FT
The Rationale: I’d be more in favor of Jones than Tucker since he’s a better defender and a more natural fit for power forward. He’d probably start ahead of Dudley and work well with Wall and Beal in transition.
At this point, anything to help the Swiss Cheese defense is highly in demand for Washington. While Jones’ lack of shooting certainly hurts floor spacing, he can hit mid-range jumpers and will be active on the offensive glass.
Since Jones is a restricted FA this summer coming off of a rookie scale deal, his cap hold will be relatively small and Washington can choose to keep him after dealing with higher priorities this summer.
Houston is currently in a state of flux right now. It’s been in rumored in deals involving Howard, Ty Lawson, Patrick Beverly, and anyone else you can think of not named James Harden (and don’t rule that out either).
For a team looking to make splashes in free agency, Houston will not want to tie up space with Jones’ cap hold especially with Donatas Motiejunas an RFA as well. Neal provides some off the bench scoring and can replace whatever it is Jason Terry isn’t doing for this team as they approach a very much futile playoff run.
This Could Definitely Get the Wheels Turning
The Candidate: Danilo Gallinari
Basic Statistics: 19.7 ppg./5.4 rpg./2.6 apg./0.8 spg./0.4 bpg. on 41% FG/37% 3PT/88% FT
The Rationale: Of all the moves I’ve listed here, this is the one I’d be most in favor of. Yes I know the salary ramifications of adding Gallo, who’s due $14M annually for the next 2 years after this one but if Durant truly decided to sign with the Washington Wizards, they could find another piece (probably Gortat) to move if need be.
But given that reality is unlikely, this move would give Washington another bonafide offensive star who could take some of the burden of Wall’s creation abilities on a night to night basis.
Denver would bring Nene home for possibly his swan song in the NBA and add a cheap young talent in Otto Porter who’s missing just a jumper from an otherwise really solid offensive repertoire. While he needs to continue a strength and conditioning program every day till he’s 35, his length disrupts jump shooters and he’ll continue to get better on that end.
Also, it seems that Denver wants to pull the plug on competitiveness, and rebuild around Mudiay and a collection of Euros. Adding Porter and a future 1st rounder would be a nice coup for a team that must hit the re-set button to get better.
The Candidate: Ryan Anderson
Basic Statistics: 16.7 ppg./5.9 rpg./1.1 apg./0.6 spg./0.4 bpg. on 43% FG/38% 3PT/86% FT
The Rationale: This one is probably the most common name floated around, whether it is with Washington or any other number of teams that can use the sharpshooter’s services. Anderson has had a fantastic offensive season but there are a couple key caveats to be considered.
Firstly, he is an unrestricted free agent this summer and could walk without anything to show for it so teams who trade for him must be wary of that fact.
Secondly, while he’s the prototypical offensive player in today’s NBA, he doesn’t add much value defensively and that would be problematic for the Wizards.
New Orleans is embarking on a lost season and after last season’s upstart playoff appearance, they have regressed in Year 4 of the Anthony Davis Era. They look to be sellers at the deadline but can’t demand too much for Anderson because of his upcoming free agency.
They’d love for someone to take on Omer Asik’s deal but the only person I can think of who would consider that just got fired as the Nets GM.
Talk About A Shake Up
The Candidate: Blake Griffin
Basic Statistics: 23.2 ppg./8.9 rpg./5.1 apg./0.7 spg./0.6 bpg. on 51% FG/35% 3PT/73% FT
The Rationale: Look, I don’t know why Griffin’s name is been besmirched as much as it has from a basketball standpoint but if he is on the table, every team in the league. must do whatever it can to make a move.
Griffin has been a top-10 player in the league for the last four years and although I don’t condone punching out a highly disadvantaged equipment manager, that doesn’t take away from his prodigious skill on the basketball court. For Washington, this is an incredible amount to give up but a player of Griffin’s caliber does not become available very often.
The Clippers seem to want to move on from Griffin, whether because of the off the court incidents or because of his lack of fit next to DeAndre Jordan. While they might be selling low, their asking price certainly won’t be.
This deal would give them everything they are looking for; future salary cap relief, young talent, and the chance to add a mid-tier draft pick to their aging core. If they prefer Jared Dudley instead of Otto Porter to help with title contention this season, that’s perfectly fine (and preferred).
The Candidate: Kevin Love
Basic Statistics: 15.7 ppg./10.3 rpg./2.4 apg./0.9 spg./0.6 bpg. on 42% FG/37% 3PT/80% FT
The Rationale: There was a time where even mentioning Kevin Love in a trade for anything less than a full dollar in return but here we are, about 18 months removed from a trade that was expected to send shockwaves through the rest of the NBA.
While the Cavaliers reign in the Eastern Conference has yet to be disrupted, Love has performed far worse than his prime days in Minnesota. An offense featuring LeBron James never really allows the other stars to explode and the third fiddle usually takes the biggest cut in touches (just ask Chris Bosh).
That being said, Love can still be a key piece on a great team and deserves an offense that’ll better utilize his skills.
Cleveland knows that each year that it doesn’t win a championship is one more off of the life of LeBron James’ illustrious career and the sad reality is that its run is taking place during the times of two historic teams out West. While trading Love might not be the best outcome, it’ll decrease the tax impact next year and provide Cleveland with a couple solid defenders to help counteract the buzz saws in Golden State and San Antonio.
Recap: Well there you have it, 6 trades for 6 key pieces that could help keep the Washington Wizards’ season afloat and in some cases build the future case for Durant or another top-tier free agent. As you can tell, all the players mentioned are forwards who can play multiple positions.
Next: 5 Trade Deadline Deals Involving the Wizards
The frontcourt is clearly Washington’s biggest weakness and if it makes a move, adding a player at the 4 is of primary importance. So with that in mind, have fun following the rumors, and let’s hope a deal brings this team back in the playoff mix!