Deal of the Day: What Would a Chris Paul/Steven Adams MEGA Deal look like?

In Deal of the Day, salary cap rules may be bent but hopefully not broken.

Today’s Deal: What Would a MEGA deal for Chris Paul and Steven Adams look like?

The Deal received an email from bazteal recently demanding that we look into trading John Wall because “Ish can do the same job at a fraction of the cost.” Safe to assume that we do not agree on that. Statistically speaking Ish Smith’s best year, technically the 50 games he played in Philly, still couldn’t match up to Wall’s worst. That settled, we’re left with the request for a Wall deal, just not the one bazteal may have envisioned.

Then why even write about...right, because this is Deal of the Day and this is what we do. We transact. #DealNation

The Oklahoma City Thunder trade point guard Chris Paul and center Steven Adams to the Washington Wizards for point guard John Wall, center Thomas Bryant, guard Jerome Robinson, center Moritz Wagner, the #9 pick overall and the #37 pick overall this year and a future first round pick (FRP).

As a math check, the Wizards take on an extra $13 million in year one of this deal. No small number. We’ll get into the luxury tax limitations and more below.

Why do the Thunder do the deal?

A year ago the Thunder and Rockets struck a grand bargain swapping Russell Westbrook for Chris Paul and multiple first round picks or pick swap rights. That deal went down a week after the Thunder ransomed Paul George to the Clippers for Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a boatload of picks.

A year later the Thunder finished a surprising fifth in the West, losing in game seven of the opening round of the playoffs to the Rockets. Paul was voted second team All-NBA. This was a feel good story even if we all know Paul wouldn’t retire there. Sam Presti is playing the long game.

Then news broke that Billy Donovan would not return to OKC. With Stephen Silas’ hiring in Houston the Thunder are now the only team without a head coach. So yeah, they’re very much a franchise in flux.

What they get from Washington in return for Paul and Adams is less than what each would return if traded separately. That alone makes this highly improbable. We know Presti will max those assets. That doesn’t make for much fun from a Wizards’ prospective. So in this scenario the Wizards get a deal to take both and accelerate their process.

What they get from Washington is a former All-Star guard five years younger than Paul and a 23-year old center who shoots 40% from deep, that’s friggin what. The #9 pick in any draft comes with some weight. Certainly more weight than a future Clippers pick for years when Kawhi Leonard is still on the roster. Another FRP is needed, lets call it 2023’s.

Why do the Wizards do the deal?

Holy bleep when Tommy said they were done with the lottery and ready to win now, I did not see THIS coming. Look, we know Wall isn’t tradeable until the league knows he can ball again. That’s not going to happen from video clips of his Miami or California workouts.

We’re already out on a fictional limb here. OKC taking on the extra year of his super max is unlikely but as I mentioned they get an immediate $13 million in savings. If there was someone who could make the most of him and all those picks, it’s Presti.

The Wizards would do this to take a year off of the super max contract they gave to Wall. They’d do it to give Bradley Beal a second team All-NBA point guard and a bleeping good, if interior-oriented, center. Adams’ contract expires after the 2021 season. Keeping him on a sub $20 million extension would be a coup.

Let’s talk about the luxury tax. Beal, Paul and Adams would account for $97.5 million toward an expected lux tax threshold of $132 million. Combined Rui Hachimura, Smith, Troy Brown, Admiral Schofield, Isaac Bonga and Davis Bertans (making $12 million a year in this scenario) add an additional $29.2 million. That’s just nine roster spots and $126.7 million is accounted for. Don’t have to be quick with the #2 pencil to realize the Wizards wouldn’t have the full MLE without making additional moves.

Is it worth it? If you can get Paul and Adams...

• Chris Paul - Ish Smith - Troy Brown Jr.
• Bradley Beal - Garrison Mathews (RFA)
• Isaac Bonga - ___________ - Admiral Schofield
• Rui Hachimura - Davis Bertans (UFA)
• Steven Adams - ____________ - Anzejs Pasecniks (camp guarantee)

Trade Resources

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Stathead.com

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