Why Washington Wizards Make This Trade
The Washington Wizards may be due for an overhaul. This group seems to have reached its ceiling, and troublingly, it’s not all that high. If the organization decides to rebuild, this could be a good place to start.
The 2023 first-round pick is the major draw here. Just don’t sell Payton Pritchard short. He’s shooting a scorching 41.2% from three-point range over his first two seasons. He’s a high IQ, low usage point guard who could be part of this Wizards rotation for years to come.
We would assume that this trade portends a Beal deal if it doesn’t come after one. Downgrading the roster for future assets would be misguided with the star shooting guard on the roster. On the other hand, if Beal were dealt for a more substantial haul of first-round picks, this trade would be a nice additional move for the Wizards.
Accepting a rebuild isn’t easy. That doesn’t mean it isn’t right. It wasn’t so long ago that the Boston Celtics bit the bullet and traded Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce for an excess of future first-round selections.
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Flashforward to 2022, and they’re exactly where the Wizards want to be: competing in the Eastern Conference Finals.
