The Wizards will soon have to make a decision on the fate of head coach Scott Brooks, and if the team opts not to sign him to a new contract, a head coaching search will be the top priority to begin the offseason. However, there are plenty of other items on Washington’s summer checklist, as Ava Wallace of The Washington Post and Fred Katz of The Athletic detail in a pair of stories.
As Wallace writes, general manager Tommy Sheppard has said he’s not looking to make “wholesale changes” to the Wizards’ roster, but he’ll face decisions on several free-agents-to-be, including Robin Lopez, Ish Smith, Raul Neto, and Garrison Mathews. Additionally, upgrading the team’s defense and depth will be a key goal.
While the mid-level exception could net the Wizards a solid rotation player in free agency, Sheppard may need to return to the trade market to meaningfully upgrade the roster, says Katz. Making a clever trade to improve the team is easier said than done, Katz acknowledges, but Sheppard has a decent track record in that area over the last couple years, as trades for Davis Bertans, Russell Westbrook, and Daniel Gafford have turned out relatively well.
Here’s more on the Wizards:
- Bradley Beal has been a frequent subject of trade speculation over the last year or two, but the Wizards still have no plans to move him, and Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington wonders if the team could actually go in the opposite direction, pursuing an impact player on the trade market to complement Beal. As Hughes observes, Washington isn’t exactly loaded with valuable trade assets, but does have some young players and moveable contracts. The Wizards could also theoretically make draft picks available, though the multiyear protections on their traded 2023 first-rounder would complicate matters.
- Beal said at season’s end that he plans to be involved in recruiting free agents this offseason. In a separate story for NBC Sports Washington, Hughes explores what Beal’s pitch to those players might look like.
- In a mailbag for The Athletic, Fred Katz answers questions about the Wizards’ possible draft targets, Beal’s contract situation, and whether Kristaps Porzingis makes sense as a trade target.
Other teams have better assets to get KP
Porzingis for Bertans and Thomas Bryant, Mavs would say no
I don’t get why people are still interested in KP. He was horrible in the playoffs when it looked like he was actually trying hard. The ship has sailed. He is what he is, average at best.
Other teams should be worried if he doesn’t fit Dallas and they want to trade him away just like NY did. There will be some GM that feels he can turn him around.
They can still compete with KP, but if you look at how LBJ won those titles, and that should be the model BC he’s a dribble to 5 seconds on the clock and dish guy… KP has to be at least as competent as Bosh and Love. Getting that true 2nd fiddle to Luka will be hard, they don’t have the pieces unless they get into some creative deals where they acquire picks. If they pulled the Kemba trade, they need that 3rd guy that can get 15-19ppg nightly and if one is down get 25ppg and do so from the front court. And shoot +37% from 3. Just my uneducated assessment.
So this unicorn is just a plain old horse?
Wiz are far more likely to pursue a “star” (or the closest thing available) than trade the one they have. That the assets aren’t there to do it just means they have a reason to borrow against future assets, which they appear to relish. I’ve never thought tanking to be a sound multi-year strategy to rebuild, but if the Wiz’ model is the alternative, even it shouldn’t be dismissed.
The Wiz trading for KP would just be sad.
They should get in on the bidding for Wood this offseason.
Wood’s not going anywhere, unless they get a ton in return for him.
Like, more than the four draft picks you got for Harden?
Don’t be so fatuous. Considering the fact Houston was forced into trading Harden they got a very good return for him (especially since they ended up with Kevin Porter because of that trade).
Obviously the Rockets aren’t getting 4 first round picks for Wood, but they’re not actively shopping him either. It would simply take an offer they couldn’t refuse for them to even consider trading him.
Pot, meet kettle.
The Rockets were “forced” to trade Harden because Tillman Fertitta is a tone-deaf liar who needed to cut costs in the face of the pandemic that showed just how soft his wealth is.
The Cavaliers got a better return on James Harden than the Rockets did, and Porter Jr had nothing to do with that at all.
You either trade Wood this offseason or at the deadline. His relative value will never be higher. Or you can wait til he’s an expiring and get next to nothing for him.
But that’s how Fertitta rolls, I guess.
Westbrook’s trade was phenomenal as he was the best player for the WAS…
Gafford’s is looking quite good & promising…
Bertans is an unmitigated disaster, I mean a guy who can only shoot is always the biggest risk asset you can trade for, if buckets don’t fall he can’t do anything else, right?
Shooting has to be always just a part of the skillset, many more important things for players to do than just shoot!
Lol Betrans is okay haha.