With John Wall, the Washington Wizards weren’t able to make much noise in the Eastern Conference, suffering defeats early in the playoffs year after years. With Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal, the Wizards could be poised to change that.
But how much more could they do if they added another star next to their dominant backcourt duo?
With so many names being floated around the rumor mill, anything is fair game at this point, and the Wizards have the assets required to aim for another big-name trade. More specifically, they might find a trade for Jazz big man Rudy Gobert especially fitting.
The 2x Defensive Player of the Year would be huge in setting the tone defensively for Washington and his 7-1, 258-pound frame is great for banging with bodies down low and grabbing rebounds off the glass. He’d be a great addition for basically any team in the NBA, but the question still remains: is he even available?
For the right haul, the Utah Jazz might just be inclined to consider anything…
Trade Package: Thomas Bryant, Rui Hachimura, Jerome Robinson, Moritz Wagner for Rudy Gobert
Wizards Create Powerhouse, Improve Defense
Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard has yet to indicate any plans to re-assess the trade market, but who says they have to stop now?
This season, the Eastern Conference has surged with talent, with the Nets, Bucks, Sixers, and Celtics all expected to compete for the Eastern Conference crown. Even with Westbrook, the Wizards might be behind in terms of playing up to the level of their competition.
Gobert gives them another star to throw at opponents and one that would have a profound impact on both ends of the floor. Last season, the star big man averaged 15.1 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game on 69.3% shooting.
Plug a guy like that with Westbrook, Bradley Beal, and Davis Bertans, and you’ve got a team that is capable of making some noise in the playoffs.
Jazz Build Promising Young Core
A package of Bryant, Hachimura, Robinson, and Wagner probably doesn’t seem very appealing at first, but each brings their own special skill set, and all match Donovan Mitchell’s timeline (he’s 24) better than Gobert, who will turn 29 in June.
Trading their star big men didn’t seem plausible a year ago, but it’s no secret that the relationship between Gobert and Mitchell has declined since the COVID-19 controversy back in March.
Their collapse in the first round of the Orlando bubble playoffs might also be a sign that something has to change for the team to show some progress this upcoming campaign.
By trading Gobert for promising youngsters, and maybe even some picks, Utah can re-tool their roster to add depth and build the best-fitting team around Donovan Mitchell.
It’s not an easy call to make, but even getting Rui Hachimura, who made the 2019-20 All-Rookie team, is reason enough to consider an offer from the Wizards.
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