The Washington Wizards have made numerous trades attempting to finally crack their competitive problems. From trading Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole for expiring contracts to draft night deals to help fulfill roster needs, the front office has put the roster through the ringer. However, with the Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball being open to a potential trade, should Washington make another move to secure a true star?
Should Washington Shoot For Rival’s Dissatisfied Star?
It was reported on Thursday that Ball was open to a trade after “growing increasingly frustrated” after the Hornets dropped to 4-11 after Wednesday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers. With that, Washington could be picking up the phone. They are in desperate need of a primary playmaker and first option. However, is it the right move?
Washington’s Potential Trade
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley outlined a potential deal for Ball between the two franchises. Washington would send CJ McCollum, Bub Carrington, Cam Whitmore, a 2029 and 2030 first-round pick, with a 2026 and 2027 second-round pick in exchange for Ball.
The Wizards would almost certainly need to send a rather large package for a player with the likes of Ball. Additionally, this would keep the young core of Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, and Tre Johnson all together. With that being said, they would lose the potential upside of Whitmore and Carrington, but finally get their league star.
The Pros Of Ball For Washington
As mentioned, Washington would finally gain a true first option with elite playmaking ability. While Ball’s play has been down this season, he remains the Hornets’ number one playmaker and is still considered their best offensive weapon. This season, he’s averaging a career-high in assists while still scoring over 20 points per game.
He would instantly provide a boost to an offense that has seriously struggled to begin the season. The Wizards are currently 28th in offensive rating and are in the midst of a 12-game losing streak. They look lost at times and have had quite a few blown games over not being able to produce in the clutch.
Ball wouldn’t just add offensive talent, but would bring hype to the city. He’s an extremely flashy player, and Washington’s youth movement could grow to harness that play style uniquely. At just 24 years old, he’s only a few years older than George and Coulibaly, making him a perfect fit for the timeline.
Three Major Problems In Ball Trade
While Ball is a phenomenal player, he can’t provide Washington with much when injured. Out of his five full seasons in the league, Ball has only played over 60 games once. On average, Ball has only played 46 games per season since he was drafted in 2020.
With this deal, Washington wouldn’t be able to tread water while Ball would rehab from any potential injury. The Wizards would have to go deep into the rotation to find another guard, as McCollum and Carrington are the two main guards. AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, and Sharife Cooper have all played at the position, but have rarely seen the floor this season.
Additionally, Ball would bring in a max-scale contract in Washington. He signed a five-year, $203 million deal in 2023. This would result in a significant reduction in the Wizards’ cap space, making it much harder to acquire quality talent in the next few years. While they would be getting a true franchise face, they wouldn’t have much money to grab surrounding assets. Additionally, it would be harder to keep some of their young players. With the development of Sarr and George, they will no doubt ask for big money when their contracts are up.
The Last Word
Washington should at least pick up the phone and send a trade in. The Ball sweepstakes is fully underway, and several teams will call and make at least one offer. The Wizards shouldn’t buy high. However, if the right deal is there, they should take it and get their first true star since John Wall.
Featured Image: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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