Why the Trade Works for the Washington Wizards

There was initially hesitancy about the idea of trading John Wall from the Washington Wizards’ perspective due to how it may be perceived by Bradley Beal. Now, it sounds as though neither player wants to play with each other.

It won’t be easy for the Wizards to move on from Wall’s contract. In fact, the only pathway to getting it done would be to engage in a swap with a team like the Rockets— who also have Westbrook signed to an unfavorable contract.

While Westbrook is a poor jump shooter, the overall value he brings to the game has become genuinely under appreciated. His ability to get into the paint, create shots for role players, and embrace for hustle plays goes a long way in leading a team.

By pairing up Westbrook with Beal, the Wizards would have a high powered primary ball handed to run the offense— while Beal can focus on scoring. Beal can play more within the flow of the offense without needing to shoulder such a heavy playmaking burden.