To say that the Washington Wizards have struggled over the previous seven seasons could also be an understatement. Washington has solely made the playoffs as soon as within the final seven years, throughout the 2020-21 marketing campaign.
Their final profitable season was 2017-18 and they’re coming off a season during which they posted the worst document in franchise historical past, 15-67. Not a lot has modified this season because the Wizards maintain a 2-11 document, second worst within the Jap Convention behind the Philadelphia 76ers.
Throughout their lengthy rebuild, the Wizards have discovered younger expertise that shall be key gamers as soon as their rebuild is full and the Wizards are contenders once more. A few of these gamers embody Bilal Coulibaly, who’s having a torrid begin to the season, Carlton Carrington and Alexandre Sarr.
Additionally they personal tradeable property resembling Jonas Valančiūnas, Kyle Kuzma and Malcolm Brogdon, all of whom could possibly be traded earlier than the February commerce deadline. Though these gamers will doubtless be used to signal extra property and younger expertise, the Wizards might shock the NBA by signing a star participant to assist lead their rebuild.
One star they might commerce for is Atlanta Hawks level guard Trae Younger. After deciding on Zacharie Risacher first total within the 2024 draft and buying and selling Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Hawks have formally begun a rebuild. For that reason, they might select to commerce Younger in some unspecified time in the future this season to assist add draft picks and extra gamers to enrich their youth.
In a potential commerce, the Wizards might ship Kyle Kuzma, Malcolm Brogdon and a number of other draft picks to Atlanta for Younger.
For the Hawks, including a star in Kuzma in addition to a veteran level guard in Brogdon might assist pace up their rebuild. They’d additionally obtain picks within the deal to compensate for these they despatched to the San Antonio Spurs in change for Murray. They’d additionally enable Dyson Daniels to develop into their new level guard after having an distinctive season.
By buying Younger, the Wizards would lastly have a star participant to proceed constructing round. The All-Star level guard is just 26 years outdated and would slot in nicely with the Wizards’ new roster.
Whereas this commerce would not make the Wizards quick contenders, it could enable the franchise to develop into aggressive once more.
Extra NBA: Nuggets might add one other All-Star in blockbuster commerce for Hawks’ $215 million guard
