Washington Wizards: 3 directions the Wizards can go from here
By Ethan Smith
Direction #2: Get Some Help
While the Eastern Conference is getting better with James Harden joining Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Washington Wizards are getting worse. No Thomas Bryant. A banged-up Russell Westbrook. A laundry list of players yet to return from COVID-19 health and safety protocol. This team can’t compete with the top dogs. Not as presently constructed.
If the Wizards want to change that, they can’t keep operating as though it’s business as usual. No matter how many 30+ point games Bradley Beal has this season, losing Bryant is a devastating blow that sets this team back for the 2020-21 season.
Since losing Bryant, the Wizards have applied for the Disabled Player Exception (DPE). If granted, this would give the Wizards $4.2 million to use in either a trade or to sign a free agent. The Wizards have recently signed Alex Len and Jordan Bell to help them through this current rough stretch, but neither of those acquisitions are shining pillars that raise the Wizards’ ceiling. More like rotten beams barely keeping things from bottoming out.
The Wizards could create a somewhat enticing offer by packaging the DPE with some of their young wings. Bundling that $4.2 million with Troy Brown Jr, Isaac Bonga, and/or Jerome Robinson may net the Wizards an interesting piece in the trade market. The Houston Rockets, after parting way with James Harden, may be willing to move PJ Tucker. And the Cleveland Cavaliers have far too many bigs than any one team needs after acquiring Jarrett Allen. If the Wizards want to salvage this season, both of those teams should be receiving calls from Tommy Sheppard.