The Washington Wizards enter trade season being mentioned in nearly every blockbuster trade for numerous reasons.
First and foremost, the Wizards are in position to be sellers at the NBA trade deadline in February due to the veterans they have on the roster, and the interest from playoff teams continue to pile up. However, in addition to that, Washington is also in position to help navigate blockbuster moves for team's looking to dump salaries in any potential blockbuster moves.
As a result, Washington continues to be a team to monitor as the deadline approaches as both a seller and facilitator.
Wizards lands young player in this hypothetical 5 team trade
The NBA doesn't see many five team deals at the trade deadline, but in this league anything is possible. Especially as teams continue to do salary cap gymnastics and roster maneuvering. Nonetheless, here's a look at the hypothetical deal that lands Washington with a young player.
Suns get: Jimmy Butler, Delon Wright
Heat get: Ryan Dunn, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, 2019 less favorable first-round pick of Cleveland, Minnesota if No. 6 to No. 30 and Utah, 2031 swap rights with Milwaukee (if No. 8 to No. 30)
Bulls Get: Bradley Beal, 2027 less favorable first (Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah)
Bucks get: Zach LaVine
Wizards get: MarJon Beauchamp, 2031 second (from Milwaukee)
For an idea of what the trade would look like, view the visual below:
While the trade machine doesn't summarize eactly the correct locations from where each player would be getting dealt from, it does illustrate the return for each side.
The blockbuster deal itself is focused on 3 disgruntled stars in Jimmy Butler, Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine who havs been in headlines seemingly more and more over the last few weeks. However, the Wizards are a random team that is needed to help facilitate the deal.
And I'm sure many fans are curious as to why Washington would even help facilitate this trade, especially when two Eastern Conference teams arguably get the best end of the deal.
Why the Wizards would help facilitate this deal
Essentially this deal would land the Wizards a 24-year-old guard that has shown plenty of potential in the limited minutes he has gotten with the Bucks. In addition to the young forward, Washington would land a second-round pick from Milwaukee in the trade.
Ultimately, this deal works because of the Wizards ability to bring back an incoming salar. For them, it could be viewed as a free young prospect and a future draft pick.
Although this deal is likely not realistic outcome for any of these teams' sagas to end with, the Wizards could certainly be looking to insert themselves as the facilitator in similar deals to bring back similar returns.