The Washington Wizards should look to trade for Patrick Beverley

With recent rumors and reports that Patrick Beverley is available in trade talks, this is the opportunity for the Washington Wizards to take the next step into becoming a contending team. He is exactly what the Wizards need.

The Wizards have had an issue staying aggressive at times this season and often times almost seem like they don’t want to be a great team, despite having more than enough talent to do so. Beverley is a player who patches this exact problem.

He would also help bring the Wizards subpar defensive rating of 112.8 down as he is one of the best defensive players in the league. His mere presence in the locker room also helps teams gain energy and confidence as he is also an elite leader.

A trade featuring Beverley would lead to a team featuring numerous elite defenders both in the starting lineup and coming off the bench. The offense could also improve as Beverley is an incredibly underrated shooter and playmaker. He would fit perfectly next to Bradley Beal.

What would a Patrick Beverley trade look like for the Washington Wizards?

Patrick Beverley currently makes $13 million per year and is on an expiring deal, so the Washington Wizards would have to either offer numerous young pieces, or one bigger contract with some picks attached.

The first name that comes to mind is Will Barton, a player who has had some great seasons and can thrive in the right system. Washington, unfortunately, is not the right system for him to succeed as an individual player.

The Los Angeles Lakers are in desperate need of any player who can shoot from beyond the arc. Barton is just that. He has been at or above 37% from beyond the arc in nearly every season since 2016. This would make him one of the better floor spacers for the Lakers.

The Wizards would likely also have to include some draft capital, a couple second round picks or a protected first seems like it may do the trick as the Lakers have traded nearly all of their draft picks for the foreseeable future.

Another possibility would include Corey Kispert, Rui Hachimura, and Johnny Davis. These are three young players who get pretty consistent minutes for the Wizards that may thrive in a different situation.

These players all have high potential but have not yet figured it out on the NBA level. Often times players like these who have potential to be good and have struggled on a team with other stars just need a new environment to be great.

Another trade scenario could be hopping into a different trade to offer youth to a rebuilding team to help incentivize them to take on Russell Westbrooks contract. Another player who has been included in plenty of trade talks.

A trade with the Indiana Pacers giving up Rui Hachimura and a second seems very likely to help gain Patrick Beverley while the Lakers get rid of Westbrooks hefty contract.

If the Washington Wizards want to move out of the pit of mediocrity and into the realm of contention, they need to make some big moves. Trading for Patrick Beverley would be one of those moves that would be possible yet would complement the Wizards already existent core.