The Washington Wizards ended the season with hopes that Cooper Flagg could turn their franchise around with a little luck in the NBA Draft Lottery.
However, on Monday, those dreams came to a rest when the Wizards fell to the No. 6 overall pick ahead of next month's NBA Draft.
Although Washington is still guaranteed a chance at a top prospect in the upcoming draft class, the available wings to select won't nearly amount to the impact Flagg would've ideally brought to the team had he been the Wizards top pick.
Despite that, there's still a world where the Wizards can put together multiple big moves in the coming months to save what many hoped to be a big offseason.
One option the Wizards could pursue is a sign-and-trade scenario that would land former lottery pick Jonathan Kuminga in Washington, while also standing pat at No. 6 to select a premiere prospect.
That said, let's dive in.
Wizards land Kuminga in sign-and-trade, select at No. 6
The Golden State Warriors are expected to explore sign-and-trade deals this offseason for talented forward Jonathan Kuminga, who enters restricted free agency after failing to agree to an extension with the Dubs last offseason.
Kuminga reportedly declined a five-year, $150 million deal to stay in Golden State last offseason and entered this pivotal contract year betting on himself to earn his desire pay day. However, after seemingly falling out of Steve Kerr's rotation down the stretch following a mid-season move to the bench, the writing was on the wall for Kuminga and the Warriors to part ways.
In the Western Conference Semifinals, Kerr's hand was forced to play Kuminga due to injuries and the former G-League ignite star quickly proved that there's still plenty of potential for team's to bet on.
Kuminga averaged 20.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists, while shooting 54.3% from field goal range and 42.1% from beyond the arc in an expanded role against the Timberwolves in what was likely his final stretch of games in a Warriors jersey.
For Kuminga, he enters free agency not only looking to get paid what he feels he's worth, but also to find a sizable role on a team that allows him to showcase the talent he possesses. Obviously, many teams may be willing to take a swing on the 22-year-old forward, but a squad like the Wizards may make the most sense, for both sides.
Washington desperately needs to find a reliable wing to provide a scoring boost, not just for now, but for the future. After missing out on Cooper Flagg, the next-best realistic option to add that type of impact could be Kuminga, who offers versatility with his size and dynamic scoring ability that seemingly screams untapped potential.
The Wizards have multiple veterans that could be on the move and for a Warriors team who's championship window is closing with Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III only getting older, adding win-now veterans could be the ideal return, especially with Kuminga already on his way out. Especially if Washington is willing to add draft compensation.
Even then, if the Warriors have interest in bringing in one or two young players in a potential deal, the Wizards could without a doubt accomodate that ask if they felt Kuminga was worth the price.
As for Kuminga, Washington would offer him the opportunity to immediately step into a expanded role and if he can develop into the star that many scouts felt he had the potential to become when he was drafted, there may not be a situation better for him in the league if a bigger role is truly what he's seeking.