Brooklyn Nets Receive: F Gordon Hayward, F/C P.J. Washington
Charlotte Hornets Receive: G/F Ben Simmons
This deal has the potential to make both teams drastically better, without costing either team any key pieces. The Hornets closed the season with an injured Hayward on the bench, and only got 10.3 ppg from P.J. Washington.
Though Washington has shown promise in his young career, moving him would not be a huge blow to the Hornets’ rotations.
Meanwhile, as I mentioned, Ben Simmons has yet to suit up for Brooklyn for as much as a single minute. The 6’11” point guard is a visionary passer and a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber defender. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been those things for Brooklyn due to his inability to take the floor.
Shipping out Simmons in a deal could net a star-level return for a player who wasn’t even playing – a huge victory for Brooklyn.
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The Nets also showed a need for a versatile option at center, and Washington would be just that. Brooklyn got good minutes from Andre Drummond, but his versatility is not his strong suit.
Nic Claxton is a capable switching defender but is offensively limited. Washington is a player who can space the floor at the center position, a big need for Brooklyn.
Let’s take a closer look at how this deal would impact each team.
