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Washington Wizards: Assessing Tommy Sheppard’s first season as general manager

ByJack Skolnik|
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 02: Washington Wizards players kneel during the national anthem before their NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 2, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 02: Washington Wizards players kneel during the national anthem before their NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 2, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
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Washington Wizards Bradley Beal (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
Washington Wizards Bradley Beal (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)

Extended Clip

The next few things that happened on Sheppard’s timeline all came as a bit of a surprise. A few weeks before the season began, Bradley Beal signed a 2 year/$72 million dollar extension that will keep him in DC until 2023 (the same year Wall’s contract will be up).

Many people expected Beal to wait and see how things would shake out in Washington before signing anything long term. But Sheppard was able to get him to sign a shorter extension and bought the Wizards time to prove to Beal that he can create a winner. This was a huge win. It gives Sheppard more time to develop a winner and while keeping a star in his prime. If the Wizards do decide to blow it up, though, having Beal under contract for a few years instead of on an expiring deal makes him a  more attractive trade piece. Another win for Sheppard.

Deadline Madness

During what most thought would be a quiet deadline for the Wizards, Sheppard was anything but. He first traded Isaiah Thomas to the LA Clippers for Jerome Robinson and then traded Jordan McRae to the Nuggets for Shabazz Napier.

The headliner here is the move that got IT out of DC. Sheppard gave up on a failed Isaiah Thomas experiment and was rewarded with Jerome Robinson, a 2018 first-round pick.

While still developing at just 23 years old, Robinson is another guys — like Bonga and Wagner — who the Wizards have decided to take a cheap flyer on. Taking a chance on a former first-round pick that is still on his rookie deal is always a win.

Moving McRae for Napier was necessary after IT left and the Wizards were down a ballhandler, even if it didn’t move the needle for the Wizards. McRae was shooting at a quality clip and some believed he could have fetched more at the deadline. With Ish Smith already commanding the backup spot, Napier may have just been a stopgap, but nonetheless played well enough.

Bringing Napier back will not be a major news story, but I think the Wizards definitely should consider it.

Without a lot of room to work with, the deadline again showed that Tommy Sheppard had a few tricks up his sleeve.

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