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It’s been two years and a month since the Wizards traded John Wall to the Houston Rockets, and they should be happy with how that deal has worked since then. They acquired Russell Westbrook, who broke Oscar Robertson’s triple-double record, and traded him to the Lakers for Kyle Kuzma, who enjoyed a borderline All-Star season in 2022-23. They also added salary cap flexibility without Wall’s supermax deal in the book.
However, this contract is not yet completed. That’s because this is the first year the Wall-affiliated Wizards have a first-round pick. Top 14 picks are protected. This pick is now owned by the New York Knicks after a subsequent trade.
It’s not exactly clear how that should fit into Wizards’ thinking, given the big picture of pick protection.
2023 – Top 14 Protection
2024 – Top 12 Protections
2025 – Top 10 Protection
2026 – Top 8 Protect, if Top 8, Wizards trade 2026 and 2027 second-round picks
All of these details add up to a complicated scenario when it comes to what the Wizards and their fans should be rooting for. may go to market in
For example, if the Wizards make the playoffs this season, they’ll lose a first-round pick in 2023. However, given the easing of protections over the next few years, this could be seen as a positive scenario. Losing the 15th pick would be better than the 13th pick, the 11th pick, or the 9th pick, as is possible in 2026.
It also ships pickouts and culminates deals, removing any restrictions they have on future drafts. More flexibility.
Based solely on the draft capital itself, the best-case scenario would be two 2nd round picks going elsewhere in 2026. Also subject to protection until 2026 arrives, so future 1st round picks impedes your ability to trade using your picks.
Also, all of this has some additional nuances, which is what drafts you prefer to pick. For example, this year’s draft is widely viewed as good. Victor Wenbanyama and Scoot Henderson aren’t the only ones at the top. There are many interesting prospects behind them.
On a related note, one of these future drafts could include high school prospects. If they did, they could combine the best prospects of the two classes into one, essentially creating a double draft. , which would arguably be the equivalent of losing a much higher nomination, so it would especially hurt.
What Wizards should expect in this scenario is probably up for debate. There is no definite answer. So it’s hard to tell whether or not he should or should take into account their thoughts on the playoff front, especially ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline.
At some point, though, it becomes a factor, and as that opportunity approaches, it’s something to keep in mind.
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