The Washington Wizards ended last season at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Considering the makeup of the team, this was not viewed as a surprise. But given the history of the franchise, it was abundantly clear that they needed to make some changes.
The Philadelphia 76ers found themselves in a similar situation. After being a playoff side for the better part of the decade, the 76ers found themselves spiraling out of control and finishing 13th in the East, as injuries derailed their season.
With the offseason in full swing, the Wizards have made an effort to get better. After trading for veteran players like CJ McCollum and talented young scorers like Cam Whitmore, Washington looks marginally more competitive. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Philadelphia, as they attempt to run it back without making too many changes.
Considering that both teams intend to make improvements in the offseason, we present a trade proposal that would allow both teams to do so without any major risks.
Proposed Trade Details
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Khris Middleton, Marcus Smart
Washington Wizards Receive: Paul George, 2027 first-round pick, 2028 second-round pick (DEN), 2029 second-round pick (HOU)
For the 76ers, this trade has marginally more merit in the immediate context. With the acquisition of Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart, Philadelphia immediately bolsters its roster strength.
The addition of Middleton is interesting in many ways. Effectively acting as a replacement for Paul George on the wings, Middleton provides limited defense, but his offensive game remains dependable, especially considering his cap hit of $33,296,296.
As a capable midrange maestro, the Wizards forward recorded an average of 11.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists last season. Although this is a marked reduction from George’s offensive impact, Middleton would be expected to take on a tertiary role while Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Jared McCain take over the offensive duties.
Meanwhile, Marcus Smart’s addition does a lot to reinforce Philadelphia’s bench and bolster their backcourt strength. Smart is currently on the verge of being bought out by the Wizards. But at a contract value of $21,336,856, they stand to gain more by using him as a trade chip.
Although Smart’s offense is limited, with an average of 9.0 points last season, he remains an extremely capable defender and leader.
His ability to communicate and be vocal will be essential in making the bench unit more cohesive for the long haul. Additionally, Smart would be an incredible veteran to mentor 76ers rookie VJ Edgecomb.
If nothing else, both Smart and Middleton are on expiring contracts. This would help Philadelphia clear cap space for next season.
This trade also has a lot of merit for the Wizards. While the acquisition of draft capital is beneficial, the team would also be adding a very capable star in Paul George to their roster.
Even at 35 years old, George is a solid player. Although he has had an unfortunate series of run-ins with injury, this has not limited his ability to be a contributor on the floor.
Last season, the forward recorded an average of 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game on shooting splits of 43.0% from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc. When considering that he was the second or third option for the better part of the season, these are fairly intriguing numbers.
In Washington, George would undoubtedly be the primary scoring option for the team. Although this would limit the Wizards’ flexibility on offense, with the 35-year-old leading the way, a duo of him and CJ McCollum could be quite interesting.
The downside of this deal lies in the short term, as George is expected to miss time as he recovers from a knee injury. Having undergone arthroscopic surgery already, the forward is expected to be re-evaluated once training camp begins.
Until then, there is no official timeline for return. Considering his cap hit of $51,666,090 next season and the three years left on his contract, this could be a point of concern for Washington.
Should The Wizards Do This Deal?
While acquiring Paul George could be considered a gamble, the Wizards should benefit from doing this deal in the long run.
The avenues for George to succeed in Washington are plenty. With little pressure to carry the team to a title, or even a playoff berth, the 35-year-old will be in a much more comfortable environment to perform.
With the latitude available to him, there is a likelihood that he would see a resurgence in performance. This would be beneficial for Washington, as it would spell success for them as well.
Even if George underperforms, the Wizards still walk away with valuable draft assets in the process. While they could simply bide their time and make use of them to select young players, draft capital is always helpful when trying to facilitate big trades.
