Around the NBA, some teams are struggling. Some teams care, and others aren’t concerned. Some teams are happy to lose games.
Take the Washington Wizards. They’re one of the worst teams in the NBA. That’s exactly where they want to be. The Wizards sent Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns just last summer. This team should be prioritizing their lottery odds above all else.
By contrast, the Brooklyn Nets don’t have any lottery odds to prioritize. They owe their next several first-round picks to the Houston Rockets. As a result, they don’t have any incentive to lose. Could they acquire Kyle Kuzma from the Wizards as a result?
The Trade Proposal
Washington Wizards receive: F/C Ben Simmons, 2027 First-Round Pick (Top 8 Protected – PHI via BKN)
Brooklyn Nets receive: F Kyle Kuzma, G/F Landry Shamet
Every team in the NBA has its own set of circumstances. Some have built-in advantages. Others have to play the hand that they’ve been dealt.
Take the Nets. This team plays in Brooklyn. That’s an automatic advantage. Not long ago, the Nets were a middling team without any draft capital. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving decided to force their way onto the squad anyway. In time, it wouldn’t be a shock if history repeats itself.
By contrast, nobody is forming a superteam in Washington. If this team is going to join the ranks of the league’s contenders, they’ll have to build through the draft. By that measure, the Wizards are right on track. Does this deal get them closer to their goals?
Why The Washington Wizards Do The Deal
Some Wizards fans won’t be happy with this proposal. Why are they taking on Simmons’ contract? We know – by now, Simmons has become synonymous with “bad money”.
Here’s the rub – Simmons’ deal runs half as long as Kuzma’s. The Wizards aren’t likely to be competitive for a team for years. They should be less concerned with the average annual value of a deal, and more concerned with the deal’s length. By the time this group is ready to contend, Kuzma’s deal could be a burden.
Simmons’ will be expired. Meanwhile, the Wizards are picking up a protected first for their troubles as well. For this rebuilding team, accumulating assets should be the top priority. Should the Nets part with an asset?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
The Nets have had an uninspiring season. At one point in the year, they looked formidable. Unfortunately, another injury to Simmons took the wind out of their sales.
At this point, a Ben Simmons injury is a foregone conclusion. It’s going to be difficult for the Nets to compete if they’re relying on him. Simmons is eating up a huge portion of their salary sheet, and he’s scarcely available. By contrast, Kuzma will typically be able to suit up.
He’s also a fantastic player. Kuzma would be this team’s second option behind Mikal Bridges. Outside of the basketball benefits, this deal could make it easier for the Nets to retain Nicolas Claxton this summer. It shouldn’t be difficult to salary dump Shamet, and the Nets could shave some money off of their books in doing so. In the meantime, Kuzma could help them put an end to their struggles.
