Washington Wizards: Otto Era Over

The Washington Wizards will send Otto Porter Jr. to the Chicago Bulls for Bobby Portis, Jabari Parker, and a 2023 second-round draft pick.

And just like that, news of All-Star point guard John Wall’s ruptured left Achilles’ tendon initiated a new era for the Wizards as Thursday’s NBA trade deadline nears.

The Wizards will send Otto Porter to the Chicago Bulls for Bobby Portis, Jabari Parker, and a 2023 second-round draft pick, multiple sources report.

There was little doubt Wall’s most recent injury would change the calculus of D.C.’s future plans, despite owner Ted Leonsis’ message of not wanting to trade any of his core (Wall, Porter, and All-Star Bradley Beal).

Pivoting away from this message and making moves to improve the Wizards’ future was the only option once it was determined Wall would be sidelined for at least another calendar year as he rehabs from the devastating Achilles’ rupture.

By trading Porter, the Wizards cleanse themselves of two more expensive seasons of a max player that has never sniffed an All-Star team and now plays like he is perpetually in pain (Porter signed a 4-year/$106.5M contract in the summer of 2017). Beyond unloading Porter’s contract, the Wizards save about $4M this season (accounting for Parker’s and Portis’ contracts) and lower their luxury tax bill.

While Wall’s expensive contract is being ridiculed (4-year/$170M extension beginning next season), Porter’s weight on the books may have been worse.

Wall, the face of the franchise, will surely scratch, claw, fight, and relentlessly rehab in efforts to come back an effective player. Porter’s poor fit with the Wizards, however, was hard to disguise. If an expensive contract needed to disappear, Porter’s should have been the first to go.

Porter undoubtedly improved in his first five seasons in the league, but his sixth season has seen him plateau and struggle to stay healthy. The small forward’s bad hip(s) has certainly affected the rest of his body, often leading to fading jumpers, rusty running, slow lateral movement, and rickety alignment. Grimaces and shaking of limbs have become common foul line rituals for Porter.

Additionally, Porter’s lack of assertiveness, absence of joy, and passive-aggressive relationships with Wall and Beal all contribute to a rather underwhelming tenure.

Leonsis didn’t want to get worse this season. Portis and Parker don’t make the Wizards much worse and the Wizards now begin to realize some financial freedom. More movement is surely to come.