After winning seven of their last 10 games, the Wizards have improved their record from 13-23 to 20-26 and find themselves very much in the midst of the Eastern Conference playoff race — the eighth-seeded Hornets are just 22-24, while the No. 7 Heat are 22-23.
Wizards owner Ted Leonsis has said that the team absolutely won’t tank, and a spot in the postseason remains the goal. Still, without standout point guard John Wall available for the rest of the season, Washington’s upside is limited. Even if the club beats out the likes of Charlotte, Detroit, and Orlando for a playoff spot in the East, the odds of a first-round series win are slim.
As such, the Wizards find themselves in an interesting spot. They have a number of veterans on expiring contracts, including Trevor Ariza, Markieff Morris, and Jeff Green. All those players figure to draw trade interest from other contenders, but will probably need to remain in D.C. for the Wizards to maximize their postseason odds.
While sources have told Chase Hughes and Ben Standig of NBC Sports Washington that the Wizards plan to keep Ariza for the rest of the season, a former NBA front office executive believes the team should take its time before making any final decisions on Ariza — or any other trade candidates on expiring contracts who could potentially bring back a first-round pick.
“That’s really what the calculus is now. Is your guy on a one-year rental good enough to give you a first?” the former exec said. “Probably not – but the Wizards have one of them in Trevor Ariza that might have that much cache at the trade deadline. I would hold him until the very last minute and see which of the contenders got the most desperate.”
At this point, with a playoff spot within reach, the Wizards are unlikely to do anything drastic involving Bradley Beal or Otto Porter. But perhaps the team could make a move with one or two of its other veterans that would net a long-term asset without sacrificing the club’s short-term upside too significantly.
What do you think? What would you do at the deadline if you were running the Wizards? Does standing pat make sense? Could some smaller-scale selling be prudent? Or would you be ready to blow up this roster?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!
Move Morris, Green, and Ariza for players who will be under contract next year and can help for when Wall is back
Even if the Wizards get in, they won’t get past the first round. This would be the case – with or without Wall. So instead of tinkering, I would blow this thing up and cut my losses. Not easy with Wall’s contract, but at some point you have to face reality.
The reality is, Wall is unmovable. If a blow-up plan relies on that then that’s what blows up.
Poor gasoline on it. Set it a blaze. Trade everyone possible. Try to get young shooters/defenders and picks. Ingram or Hart plus Zubac or Wagner and a first for Beal. Then just move down the line and try to get guys that can line up with Wall and the 2 from that trade and go from there
The former NBA front office executive quoted might still be employed if he’d pay attention. Wiz don’t want to rebuild. Ariza is a UFA at the end of the year and no Bird rights are available, but the Wiz can sign him with NBRs up to 18 mm (way more per year than he’ll command from anyone); especially convenient for the Wiz, since they don’t have cap space or the full MLE. So, with a trade, they not only abandon their push for the playoffs this year, but pretty much forego any chance to bring back a piece that’s helped turn their season next year. All for a 1st round pick at the bottom of the round in a lousy draft.
As far as drafts go, the Wiz (based on their recent history) are overachieving, if they keep their own 1st.
I don’t think you understand the Wizards’ salary cap situation.
Or perhaps I’m completely missing something.
Because from what I’ve seen, they’ll have no room to sign Ariza for anything more than the MLE. I see a zero percent chance of him being with the Wizards next year.
You’re completely missing something.
At least the following: Every team has a cap exception to sign its own FAs, either Bird Rights, EBRs or Non-Bird rights. Wiz would have the latter in Ariza’s case, which gives them the right to offer a contract starting at no more than 120% of his current salary. He makes 15 mm.
They could move to Seattle.
If the team is better without Wall, then playoff plans are sound, because he’s out. Maybe he can use this time to reflect (like Dennis Shroder apparently did after being dumped by ATL)– why does his team do better without him, two years in a row? There is something to be solved, a big salary to be worthy of.
I don’t support blow-ups that never actually happen no matter the effort, but the Wall/Beal relationship looks toxic. One should go, and Beal is the one with trade value. Play out the year, get a result, take the best offer.
The East is top heavy, and the Wizards have looked really solid without Wall. I could easily see them as a playoff team.
I think their best bet would be to wait and let the next GM make the decisions.
Let the expiring contracts expire and save the $.
^^^sorry, didn’t mean to leave that as a reply!
I doubt a “next GM” will happen, esp if the comeback continues.
You mean let go of Ariza? Morris, Satoransky, Dekker, Green? They are worth re-signing.
Waiters, Olynyk, 2019, and 2023 1st round picks for Beal
Or
Dragic, Ellington, and 2019 1st round pick, and 2022 2nd round pick for Beal
Us Wizards fans are not too fond of Kelley Olynyk…
I know lol, but he does give them a different dynamic at the 5 than they’ve had, as a shooter