Deal of the Day: Can the Wizards give Kawhi Leonard what he wants?

Word out of Clipperland is that Kawhi Leonard wants the team to add a veteran point guard. Not a point guard sized scorer, they have one of those in Lou Williams. And not a point of attack defender, they have one of those in the guy you hate when he shows up to the pick up court, Patrick Beverly. Number 8.5 in that video. I’m more of a #2.

So in today’s scenario, the Washington Wizards trade guard Ish Smith and center Moritz Wagner to the Los Angeles Clippers for forward/center JaMychal Green and a 2023 second round pick, originally from Detroit. Green opted into his player option so he could be traded. The Wizards retain his Bird Rights in 2021. The deal also works if Green opts out and then is signed and traded for $6-7 million per season with the third year only partially guaranteed.

Why do the Clippers do the deal?

Because rumor has it that Kawhi wants to add a point guard. The Clippers are all in on Kawhi and that includes whatever he wants them to add/subtract. As long as he stays they’ll be a contender.

The more interesting question is who Kawhi wants to subtract from the current Clippers mix. Reggie Jackson is a UFA. Pat Bev has 2 year and $26.6 million left on his contract. Sweet Lou has one year left. It’s challenging to determine what kind of point guard and salary slot Kawhi has in mind.

It’s easier knowing we realistically only have one veteran point guard to offer, which makes this deal pretty straightforward. Certainly worth wondering if Ish is a little too similar to Lou size wise. If they can work it out then Green makes sense as a mid-size piece to move.

Mo Wagner provides a young inexpensive foul-drawer!

Why do the Wizards do the deal?

JaMychal Green is a good rotation player. At 6’8 he’s almost entirely a power forward who can stretch the floor after back to back 39+ percent shooting from 3 point distance. He played 20 mpg as a spacer with Lou and Montrez running the pick and roll game. Played mostly on the perimeter but his defensive rating didn’t suffer out there.

Here’s his Sports Reference page. One reason I included Mo Wags in exchange for the pick is because Scotty Brooks is likely to get Green some minutes as a small ball 5 in addition to playing some 4 off the bench.

While Green is a good defender it’s based on his footwork and positional play, not rim defending. We’d still need an upgrade defensively in addition to the new hole at reserve point guard, unless you see Troy Brown Jr taking over there.

Wizards would still have the MLE for said big, 39, the BAE, and #37:

• John Wall - Troy Brown Jr. - Shabazz Napier (UFA) - PG at 37?
• Bradley Beal - Jerome Robinson - Garrison Mathews (RFA)
• Rui Hachimura - Isaac Bonga - Admiral Schofield
• Davis Bertans (UFA) - JaMychal Green
• Thomas Bryant - __________- 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.