Why This Trade Benefits the Washington Wizards
After undergoing major change in the NBA offseason, the Washington Wizards now have Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal as the foundation of their team. Now, the focus must be on surrounding both players with the necessary pieces to win.
When looking at the Wizards’ season performance last season, it’s clear their greatest weaknesses consisted of not having rim protection and the lack for a secondary playmaker alongside Beal. Adding Westbrook addresses the playmaker box, but the lack of a rim protector remains.
The offensive production the Wizards put together by using stretch-bigs to completely space the floor last season was impressive. However, the lack of impact on defense was troubling and that’s where Myles Turner would come into play.
Turner protects the rim at an elite level and can convert from beyond the arc as both a pick-and-pop and spot-up threat. He has also shown a real ability to put the ball on the floor from out in space to get to the rim. With a point guard like Westbrook, that skill-set at the five spot is intriguing.
