The Washington Wizards head into an offseason that may be one to remember for a number of reasons.
For starters, the team is locked in a three-way tie with the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets for the highest odds to earn the No. 1 overall pick in this upcoming NBA Draft.
With names like Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper and even Ace Bailey expected to be the top available players in this draft class, Washington has put themselves in a solid position to find a cornerstone player for their long-awaited rebuild.
In addition to the numerous draft picks Washington has at their disposal, they also have a roster full of veterans who don't exactly fit the timeline of the team's rebuilding movement.
That said, the team is expected to be active in the trade market in the coming months, whether that be ahead of draft day, on draft night or as the offseason unfolds beyond that point.
Regardless of when it comes, Washington will do their due diligence to scan the trade market as well as field calls for possible moves that could make sense.
And in this most recent mock trade that Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus came up with, the Wizards could pull off in my opinion a very underrated move.
Wizards land a pair of Pelicans for Poole
Before I break down the trade, here's a visual of what the hypothetical trade would be:
In the deal, the Wizards would land a seasoned veteran guard in CJ McCollum as well as a young sharpshooter in former first-round pick Jordan Hawkins in exchange for an explosive guard of their own in Jordan Poole.
Without further ado, let's break down why this deal WOULD make sense for the Wizards.
Poole is coming off a career-year as a full-time starter for Brian Keefe's squad, averaging 20.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3 rebounds. Not only has the Michigan product done a tremendous job at being more of a team player, but he's also done the Wizards a favor with his improved play by altering the noise around his current contract from worst in the league to adequately paid.
As a result, teams have become more interested in making a deal for Poole which is a much different tune than the rumors of last offseason.
On the flip side, Washington brings in a 33-year-old veteran to help lead the team with the opportunity to move on from his contract at a later date. And while fans may not be on board with bringing in another veteran on a steep contract, for McCollum the risk is a little different.
McCollum is still playing at an extremely high level, averaging 21.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds on the season. The former lottery pick would not only be an immediate impact player for the Wizards, but he's also the type of player who could immediately be re-routed due to how well he's still playing.
However, the real prize in this deal would be the Wizards ability to bring in another young prospect in Jordan Hawkins.
At 22, Hawkins still has plenty of potential for any team to be excited about. The former UConn standout came into the league with a high-ceiling and a fresh start could be exactly what he needs to get the opportunity to develop into the player the Pelicans hoped he could become when they selected him with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
At this point in the team's rebuild, they should be more than comfortable taking a risk and making bold moves like this.