Deal of the Day: What Would a Wizards and Blazers draft pick swap look like?

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

Today’s Deal: What Would a Portland Trade Down Look Like?

Last time we dealt with the Trail Blazers it was for our friend Trevor Ariza. This Deal is more specific to trading down.

The Wizards trade the #9 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, guard Jerome Robinson and center Moritz Wagner to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for the #16 overall pick, center Zach Collins, forward Nassir Little and the #46 pick overall.

Why do the Trail Blazers do the deal?

Scanning the Ringer’s Mock draft for Portland’s target, a couple names stand out: Isaac Okoro and Patrick Williams. Okoro goes to the Hawks at 6. Now, you’ll notice Okongwu there for the Wizards at 9. They take him if he’s there. We’re moving forward as if he’s not there.

That leaves Patrick Williams, 6’8 forward with 6’11 wingspan out of Florida State. He’s an intriguing combo forward who displays some handle and shot creation to go along with his high motor and rim protection.

Tankathon compares Isaac Okoro to Patrick Williams to Nassir Little

Williams measures up better than Okoro and Little by coming in over 6’8. This feels like Portland taking a big swing for a player type they’ve been adding over the years. It wasn’t so long ago Portland had Al-Farouq Aminu, Maurice Harkless, and Noah Vonleh.

As long as we’re profiling they take back Mo Wagner, in part to make salary work. Mo seems like he fits somewhere between Mason Plumlee and Meyers Leonard on the ball handler/shooter scale of forwards. He’s enough to merit a chance at reserve minutes.

Tankathon compares Mason Plumlee to Meyers Leonard to Mo Buckets Wagner

Collins’ extension is on the horizon. Ultimately Portland determines its best to use those dollars in pursuit of a bigger impact player.

Why do the Wizards do the deal?

First and foremost because their guy is gone. That’s the only reason to move down. Once your guy is gone it makes sense to get a final offer on the pick. From my reading of the same tea leaves everyone else has access to, I get the sense they have another tier of guys a little lower. Front Office has their sights on someone a little further down. Let’s revisit after talking about the other assets.

Zach Collins was the 10th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft which means he will be eligible for an extension in the near future. He’s gradually increased his load in PDX going from 16 mpg as a rookie to 26mpg in the 2019-2020 season. He only played 11 games in the 19-20 season though.

Important to point out that he missed most of the season with a shoulder injury. He played in the seeding games then went from out for a week with a stress reaction to surgery on a hairline fracture in his ankle.

The Wizards acquire him because of his defense. In a limited sample size his defensive field goal percentage was a very low 43.4%! That’s better than Brook Lopez 46.7%, JaVale McGee 50.3%, and Jakob Poeltl 51.3%. These are all centers who turn close-in shots into increasingly difficult ones.

The Wizards also receive 2019 first round pick power forward Nassir Little (Tar Heel). As a potential selection at #9 last year playing the wing he was a divisive prospect. As a late first round pick making only 8.6 million over the next 3 years, 2 of those team options, it’s easier to see his role.

Back to profiling, his role is a lot like what Tommy was hoping for from Admiral Schofield. Defend forwards and some centers with his 6’6 frame, 7’1.25 wingspan and 38.5 inch max vertical leap. Admiral has already shifted away from that PJ Tucker 2.0 track, losing weight and working on more wing skills. Little can continue working on his game without the expectation of being a ball handler.

At 16 the question is who they’d be targeting. Jalen Smith seems like our kind of pick. Tommy said he wanted bouncy and rim defending. That’s what Smith does. Saddiq Bey would be a popular option at 16.

I’d love for them to consider BPA which could mean a deep shooting point guard in Tyrell Terry or a tweener like Tyrese Maxey. TT recently measured 6’3 and 174 pounds, considerably bigger than 6’1 160 previously reported.

Of all the trade downs we’ve put together so far this one feels the weakest. The only other play-now type they have to offer is guard Anfernee Simons and he hasn’t clicked into his NBA role yet either. Unless Portland is interested in adding a future first instead of the 2nd rounder and Little it doesn’t seem worth doing.

Anyhow, I expect they’d package 37 and 46 to move up unless they’re confident their pick at 46 can be signed to a 2-way deal.

Wizards would have #16, #37, #46, MLE and the BAE:

• John Wall - Ish Smith - Shabazz Napier (UFA)
• Bradley Beal - Troy Brown Jr. - Garrison Mathews (RFA)
• Isaac Bonga - Admiral Schofield
• Rui Hachimura - Davis Bertans (UFA) - Nassir Little
• Thomas Bryant - Zach Collins - Anzejs Pasecniks (camp guarantee)

Trade Resources

• The Ringer
• 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.