4 trades to take the Wizards from purgatory to rebuild

Trade No. 4: Monte Morris to the Rockets

Finally, the Wizards will have a pair of veterans that hold much more value to other teams than to Washington in Monte Morris and Gary Harris. While acknowledging that the team might need to structure things as a three or four-team deal to move Gary Harris, here’s what this portion of the transaction might look like:

The Houston Rockets, eager to take a step forward, add two veteran depth pieces to fill out their rotation. The Wizards take on the contract of Kevin Porter Jr., who could continue to develop into a long-term starter but can also be cut loose at any point along that journey. Josh Christopher and Usman Garuba are intriguing young prospects.

After making all four of these trades, the Wizards will have completely reset and reshaped their roster. Here’s what their asset pool would look like:

• Guard: Immanuel Quickley, Anfernee Simons, Jalen Suggs, Kevin Porter Jr., Josh Christopher
• Wing/Forward: Corey Kispert, Deni Avdija
• Big: Obi Toppin, Daniel Gafford, Jonathan Isaac, Usman Garuba, Isaiah Todd
• 2023 Draft Picks: No. 3, No. 11, No. 20

That’s not a bad starting place, although there is a possibility that the team would be too good again to fully bottom out next season. Still, having Pick No. 3 could allow this team to find their blue-chip star to build around, and players like Quickley and Simons could be perfect fits around such a star.

It’s a painful path to walk, but it’s one that offers hope instead of resigned dejection. That’s a future the Wizards and their fans deserve.