With the trade deadline just weeks away, the Washington Wizards are reportedly not interested in dealing Davis Bertans.
There have been very few bright spots to this 2019-2020 Washington Wizards season. John Wall isn’t likely to return until next season. Bradley Beal is in a career-worst shooting slump, and the team only has 11 wins under their belt.
But one silver lining can be found in an offseason trade most overlooked as a desperation move by both parties. That is the trade that sent Davis Bertans to the Wizards.
28 games into his career in Washington, the swingman has emerged as one of the best shooters in the NBA, and maybe one of the best shooters of all time. He’s averaging a career-high 15.4 points on a 43 percent clip from deep, also a career-high.
With the NBA’s February 6th trade deadline less than a month away, suitors are emerging left and right for Bertans. Per Chase Hughes of NBCS Washington, the sweepstakes now includes five teams showing serious interest in Bertans:
"“In addition to the Sixers, Hawks, and Lakers, the Celtics and Nuggets have emerged as suitors for Bertans services, NBCS Washington has learned.”"
The Wizards’ have found something in Bertans, and other teams are starting to take notice. But according to recent reports, the Wizards would like to hang on to him.
Tommy Sheppard has made it as clear as can be when asked about the Latvian Laser’s future in Washington. “We have every intention of retaining him,” Sheppard said in an appearance on the ‘Off the Bench’ podcast.
And that’s exactly what they should do.
Davis Bertans, From Three!
After trading away Kelly Oubre Jr last season for Trevor Ariza, it was nice to see the Washington front office pull off a quiet but incredible move to land Davis Bertans. Trading away the rights to Aaron White (an overseas player with no NBA experience) to take on Bertans’ for7 million was a no brainer.
And it’s all the sweeter considering San Antonio failed to sign Marcus Morris Sr, who they were creating space for by shipping Bertans out for next to nothing. Still, no one in San Antonio or Washington, or anywhere in between could have seen what was coming next.
Bertans, though, has been on fire since the minute he stepped on the floor in Washington. In his first four games, Bertans shot over 50 percent from behind the arc and made a total of 16 threes. His shooting was a bright spot amidst a 1-3 start.
What was once deemed a rare performance for the likes of the league’s best shooters has become the norm for Bertans. He’s recorded seven games this season with six or more made threes, including a career-high eight threes against the Charlotte Hornets.
Bertans is one of only 15 players this season to make eight or more three-pointers in a game. Kemba Walker, James Harden, Damian Lillard, and Trae Young join him. However, of the 15, only Walker and Bertans made 105+ threes in less than 30 games this season, per Basketball Reference.
So what happens when you add one of the NBA’s best shooters to the roster? Without John Wall, this Wizards offense ranks among the best in the NBA, and Bertans is largely to thank.
Since falling out of the lineup due to injury, the Wizards offense has fallen off. Bertans went down in December. Here’s the Wizards’ offensive rankings by month: October (2nd), November (5th), and December (9th, 111.5).
Bertans, along with Beal (and at times Hachimura) are keeping this team competitive.
Why wouldn’t Washington want to bring him back?
Diamond in the Rough
If anything is clear, it’s that this roster as it stands will need to be upgraded to contend.
Davis Bertans is entering restricted free agency this summer, but Washington does hold his Bird Rights. Meaning they can make him a larger offer than any other team in the league. But what that also means is they can be backed into overpaying him by another team as well.
Still, the Wizards will be first in line to what is already a barren free agency market. Names like DeMar DeRozan and Andre Drummond will top the list, and there aren’t many more after that. Given the available free agents, Bertans may be a diamond this summer.
With such limited options, but such a strong desire to contend as Wall and Beal’s primes fade, Washington should pounce at the idea of adding Bertans. Bertans will be expensive. but he’ll be worth it. But do the WIzards think he’s worth the payday he’s bound to get?
The expectation is that payday could reach as high as $15 million. Maybe higher. Coincidentally, that is the exact number the Wizards are paying Mahinmi during this final year of his expiring contract. Stars are aligning in Washington…