One NBA writer is proposing that the Washington Wizards acquire Fred VanVleet from the Toronto Raptors this offseason to get Bradley Beal more help.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed that the Wizards trade Daniel Gafford, Johnny Davis, Isaiah Todd and the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft for VanVleet.
“If Washington hopes to compete for anything with this core, it has to upgrade the point guard position. Going from Monte Morris to Fred VanVleet would be a multi-tier jump,” Buckley wrote. “Morris is an offensive caretaker who’s best when piloting a bench unit. VanVleet is a certified star on both ends pairing top-shelf shot-creation skills with pesky point-of-attack defense.
“VanVleet works both on and off the basketball, which, when coupled with his stingy defense, makes him close to an ideal backcourt partner for Beal. The pair would put tremendous pressure on opposing defenses, who would get stretched awfully thin if they had to also contend with Kuzma and Porziņģis, both of whom netted 21-plus points per game.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors & Washington Wizards Updates
VanVleet averaged 19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists this season for the Raptors while shooting 39.3% from the floor, 34.2% from beyond the arc and 89.8% from the free-throw line. He can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason if he declines his 2023-24 player option.
Beal, who averaged 23.2 points for the Wizards this season, hasn’t played with a star teammate since 2020-21 when he had former MVP Russell Westbrook next to him. Washington would be wise to acquire VanVleet, who won the 2019 championship with the Raptors over the Golden State Warriors in six games.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors & Washington Wizards Updates
VanVleet will turn 30 during the 2023-24 season. Most people around the NBA expect the All-Star point guard to decline his player option and enter free agency this offseason. It will be interesting to see if the Wizards show interest in the Illinois native.
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