Washington Wizards Receive: G/F Ben Simmons
Brooklyn Nets Receive: C/F Kristaps Porzingis
You were expecting another Wizard?
Bradley Beal is probably a longshot for the Brooklyn Nets. Ben Simmons’ trade value has depreciated considerably. His availability is a persisting problem. When he was last on an NBA floor, he was passing up wide-open dunks and refusing to score in the fourth quarter of a playoff series.
None of which is to say that Simmons can’t turn it around. At 25, he’s got every opportunity. At this moment, his trade value is probably not equal to Beal.
Remember, the Sixers had to attach two first-round picks to get him to Brooklyn in exchange for a much-older and openly disgruntled Harden. The Wizards would probably like a safer investment for their star off-guard.
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Porzingis, on the other hand, feels like fair value. Questions surrounding his own durability are equally troublesome. Meanwhile, he could be a better fit for the Nets as a floor-spacing rim protector.
With respect to the seriousness of mental health issues, he doesn’t seem to have the same blockages keeping him off the floor either.
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For the Wizards, this is a high-risk, high-reward proposition. Simmons, simply put, may not work out for them. On the other hand, if he does, they could field the most dangerous team they’ve been able to in the Bradley Beal era.
