Deal of the Day: How would the Wizards look if they trade up to the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft?

As the Bullets Forever community well knows, The Deal starts with assumptions on team strategy and/or priorities. If that, then what? What would a trade look like with those plans?? All of it is completely made up. This Deal’s scenario is Tommy prioritizing their guy, moving assets to trade up in the 2020 NBA Draft.

The Washington Wizards trade Troy Brown Jr., the #9 overall pick and the #37 overall pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for the #5 overall pick and a 2021 second round pick, originally Houston’s.

Why do the Cavs do the deal?

Cleveland has an imbalance of shooting point guards. Collin Sexton improved to 38 percent from 3 point range. He shot his way to 20ppg. Darius Garland, notsomuch at 35 percent. Garland’s inefficiency came in his rookie year. Cavs are hopeful his second season will show improvement. Troy Brown Jr. addresses the imbalance with his vision and passing. And at 6’7 he’s an active defender and much better rebounder.

They add #9 of course, moving down a few spots but staying in the mid-lottery. Any team moving down has to see something in their options. Or from another angle, maybe their guy goes #4 so they don’t feel like staying at 5. Do they have a real wildcard in their sites?

Adding #37 gets them back in the 2nd round. They don’t currently have a second rounder.

Why do the Wizards do the deal?

Wizards General Manager Tommy Sheppard says a lot of things. One of them was that they don’t plan to take advantage of the lottery next season. You see, the Wizards won’t be in the lottery because they’re in the playoffs. Cool!

Another way to look at it is that they don’t plan to have a pick this high again. If so, why not take advantage by moving up for their favorite player? In this scenario they don’t give up any picks in future years.

I don’t want to trade Troy. I don’t believe the team has any plans for Troy going anywhere. If they get hot and bothered to move up he could be moved, however unlikely that may be. In this scenario he fits Cleveland’s timeline and meshes with their lottery pick guards.

Including #37 is easier knowing they plan to buy into the 2nd round, ideally in the low 40s (again).

The million dollar question: who do they pick with #5? My mind naturally arrives at Onyeka KONG Okongwu. He has an intriguing mix of defensive impact and high level footwork to go with his big soft hands. That’s a combination that warrants consideration even if his outside shot is not ready.

What if it’s not OO? Let’s say Ball, Edwards, and Wiseman are for sure off the board. I think Chicago selects Cleveland’s guy in Avdija. That green-lights their move down, leaving Tommy to get his guy, Obi Toppin!?!

Obi’d check a lot of boxes as an immediate impact vertical spacer, a bouncy athlete, and more shooting from the front court. Imagining him side by side with Rui brings on some preemptive cringing. Defensive rotations will be a rollercoaster but there’s no denying his instant impact.

Not that I think already having Rui should keep the Wizards from drafting Toppin. Pick the best player and figure it out. I’d list Toppin as a center for now. That’s a product of how I think they’d use him early on and where he’d have the best mismatches. He’s a 4 in certain lineups too.

Wizards would still have room for a defensive minded big, possibly John Henson who would fit the BAE slot.

Roster with MLE, BAE, and #5:

• John Wall - Ish Smith
• Bradley Beal - Garrison Mathews (RFA)
• Isaac Bonga - _________ - Admiral Schofield
• Rui Hachimura - Davis Bertans (UFA)
• Thomas Bryant - Moritz Wagner - Anzejs Pasecniks (camp guarantee)

Trade Resources

• TradeNBA
• ESPN Trade Machine
• CBA FAQ
• Stathead.com

Want to request a trade target or send a challenge? Email me at Jheiser3 at gmail.com and include your Bullets Forever screen name.