The Washington Wizards have not gotten off to a great start so far this season despite the addition of superstar point guard Russell Westbrook. Bradley Beal has continued his exceptional scoring from last season, but the rest of the team aren’t helping him including Russell Westbrook who is seemingly getting triple-doubles for nothing. With a losing record at the moment, the Washington Wizards do look as if they will be missing the playoffs in the Eastern Conference this year.
They do have two All-Star caliber players in the squad, so adding a third piece could take them to the next level and ensure a playoff spot in the East. Orlando have Davis Bertans on a $15 million contract and he will be eligible for a trade in a few months, while Robin Lopez is on a $7,300,000 contract and can be moved in a few months as well. Point guard Ish Smith and Rui Hachimura can also be moved, as they are on a $6 million and $4,692,480 contracts respectively.
Here are the 4 players the Washington Wizards can acquire to ensure a playoff berth this season.
4. DeMar DeRozan
2020-2021 Statistics: 21.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG
The Washington Wizards have nice players but they need more. Bradley Beal is a superstar offensive player but he needs help, mainly because Westbrook is an inconsistent scorer from the perimeter. DeMar DeRozan won’t be trusted to make threes as good as Bradley Beal, but he does shoot threes at a decent clip and can create his own offense as well.
A Big Three of Westbrook, Beal, and DeRozan is very intriguing thanks to their mix of athleticism and offensive abilities. Washington need to do something to ensure a playoff seeding because missing the playoffs would not look good for coach Scott Brooks or the Wizards franchise as a whole.
3. Aaron Gordon
2020-2021 Statistics: 13.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Aaron Gordon is an athletic beast at the forward position, and he still has a very high ceiling even though he hasn’t reached it yet. Gordon can still make improvements with his three-point shot and overall play, and a trade elsewhere might do him good.
Orlando are pretty good this season and Gordon has had some strong games so far, but Washington could take Gordon’s game to the next level. A fast break with Westbrook running the point and Gordon catching rim lobs is a fantastic way to get buckets in a hurry. The Wizards need to get easier buckets and Gordon is a perfect young player to help.
2. Kevin Love
2020-2021 Statistics: 9.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.0 BPG
The Washington Wizards already have Davis Bertans and Thomas Bryant as bigs, but Kevin Love adds a different dynamic for the team. Love can score inside, rebound the ball at a high level, and shoot from the perimeter. With Westbrook running the point, the Magic will greatly improve their offense with Love’s floor spacing.
Washington are most probably out of a playoff seeding this season so adding a player with Love’s experience improves their chance of not only making the playoffs but also getting to the second round. Love would become the best knockdown shooter on the team which bodes well when Westbrook and Bradley Beal are tightly defended.
1. LaMarcus Aldridge
2020-2021 Statistics: 12.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG
LaMarcus Aldridge is past his best but that doesn’t mean Washington can’t get him for a bargain deal. Adding big names and talented players is never a bad thing, and at the very least, Aldridge usurps what Bryant brings as a scorer. Westbrook has shown over his career that he is capable of being a playmaker and decision-maker for the team, so adding a player that can be a go-to option is well worth consideration for Washington.
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