Deal of the Day: How would this Wizards three-team trade with the Thunder and 76ers work?

The Deal has featured trade ideas that generally quite simple: two teams, keep it clean. keep it simple.

But life isn’t like that.

Sometimes there are too many competing needs, and that’s why a third team is often involved in a deal. This is one of those times!

Daryl More, the new President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers wants to move up to make a splash. The Washington Wizards have the No. 9 pick and may listen to the 76ers. But Philly’s No. 20 pick and a combination of their high second round picks aren’t enough.

Enter the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have the No. 25 pick. This could be the second piece for the Wizards to make a deal that’s a win-win-win for all three sides. So here’s the deal in detail:

The Wizards trade the No. 9 overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft to the Philadelphia 76ers and forward Admiral Schofield to the Thunder. The 76ers trade the No. 21 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and guard Shake Milton to the Wizards, and they trade the No. 34 and No. 36 overall pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder trade the No. 25 pick to the Wizards.

A different visual to help understand the moving parts:

Why do the 76ers do the deal?

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. The 76ers will be dramatically remaking their roster, again. Daryl Morey takes over and he’s got plans. Scanning this year’s assets the 76ers currently hold Picks: 21, 34, 36, 49 and 58. They didn’t plan to make all those picks when Elton Brand had final say. No change now. In a tough luck year only those first 3 have value that moves the meter enough to include in a package.

In this scenario they move up to make their pick of the available point guards. It’s truly a Dealer’s Choice as Tyrese Halliburton, Killian Hayes and late-rising Kira Lewis Jr are all there. In my mock they pick Halliburton.

Why do the Thunder do the deal?

As we’ve said for all of these Wizards’ trade down scenarios, the motivating factor is when your guy is drafted ahead of you. In My Most Recent Mock Draft (11/5) scenario the Thunder had finalists of Pokusevski, Achiuwa and Jaden McDaniels. They don’t expect those names to be available at 25 and are ready to deal. Morey recruits his old buddy Sam Presti to move back into the unguaranteed money range with the No. 34 and 36 picks.

The Thunder take back Admiral Schofield so that the Wizards can add Shake Milton.

Why do the Wizards do the deal?

We’re operating under the assumption that Onyeka Okongwu is their guy. Even if they have a tier of Okongwu, Okoro, and Toppin all of them are gone in this scenario. They’ve been (reportedly) preparing trade down scenarios given this expectation. The 76ers are a late entry but they come strong.

The Front Office isn’t interested in more picks in the 30’s. Philly is able to find a team willing to move off of their 20’s pick for two high 2’s. That means #21 and #25 are in for DC.

The Wizards are excited to add guard Shake Milton to their rotation. The 24 year old 6’5” guard, with 7’ wingspan, out of SMU played mostly shooting guard but also took minutes at SF and even PG. A simple way of thinking about Shake Milton is that he’s the player Wizards fans wish Jerome Robinson actually showed. Shake shot 43 percent from 3pt range last season, to Robinson’s 32 percent. He’s better across the board.

Comparing Shake’s 2nd year to Robinson’s 2nd year.

Acquiring Shake Milton means paying him. He’s under salary control for 3 more seasons, including a team option in that 3rd year. He’ll make $1.7mm, $1.85mm and $1.99mm over that span. That’s incredible value for what he brings to the team. Admiral Schofield is included to match salaries as the Wizard’s trade exceptions top out at $1.6mm.

By the way that is the contract structure that’s been floated for Wizards RFA Garrison Mathews.

Mock Draft got crazy as both Saddiq Bey and Precious Achiuwa are there for the Wizards at No. 21. Unable to use No. 25 and No. 37 to move up for both, they settled on Bey. At No. 25 they grab San Diego State PG Malachi Flynn. No. 37 is a choice between Isaiah Stewart, Daniel Oturu, Zeke Nnaji, or Udoka Azubuike. The Wizards take Stewart in this scenario.

Wizards would have No. 21 (Saddiq Bey), No. 25 (Malachi Flynn) No. 37 (Isaiah Stewart) the MLE and the BAE. Here is how the roster could look after the dust settles:

• John Wall - Ish Smith - Shabazz Napier (UFA)
• Bradley Beal - Shake Milton - Jerome Robinson - Garrison Mathews (RFA)
• _____________ - Troy Brown Jr. - Isaac Bonga
• Rui Hachimura - Davis Bertans (UFA)
• Thomas Bryant - __________ - Moritz Wagner - Anzejs Pasecniks (camp guarantee)

Trade Resources

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

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