Brooklyn Nets Receive: G Bradley Beal

Washington Wizards Receive: G/F Ben Simmons, 2022 First-Round Pick (PHI), 2027 First-Round Pick (PHI)

With this trade, the Washington Wizards trigger a rebuild. They may get their centerpiece player in the process.

Of course, people have understandably cooled on Simmons. His inability to take the floor, coupled with his inability to shoot, will turn off would-be suitors. That holds doubly true for making him your franchise player.

The Wizards happen to be in a perfect position to help him turn those perceptions around. Kristaps Porzingis is the floor-spacing 5 Simmons needs. Between Deni Avdija, Rui Hachimura, Kyle Kuzma, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, they also roster a platoon of complimentary 3-and-D wings. This team would be a terror in transition, and potentially one of the best defensive teams in the league as well.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets get their man. Beal is not James Harden. He’s probably comparable, in terms of pure on-court value, to Ben Simmons. The important thing is that, barring physical injury, he’s going to be on the floor.

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Of course, if the Nets are apprehensive to concede draft capital when they have so little left following the Harden trade, there may be another route.