Why This Trade Makes Sense For The Washington Wizards

While he is not a player that will join the Wizards and immediately make them playoff contenders, Jonas Valuncianus is a very consistent center that will help the Wizards in rebounding and give them a legit scoring option in the low-post, something they do not have right now. 

Outside of Westbrook and Beal, the Wizards have no playmakers and virtually no reliable scoring threats. Rui Hachimura is starting to improve as an all-around player, but he is still only in his second season and still growing as a player. This makes Washington a team ideal to monitor in NBA trade rumors.

If this team is going to have any shot at making the playoffs this year, especially after their horrendous start to the season, then they are going to have to make a move to bring in a reliable big man. Valanciunas can not only help a Wizards’ team that ranks 10th in rebounding, but can aid them in terms of giving them a third reliable scoring option. 

Every season he has been in Memphis, Jonas Valanciunas has averaged a double-double and he can likely do the same in Washington, especially since all of the attention is on the Wizards’ backcourt. 

RELATED: NBA Trade Rumors: This Cavs-Wizards trade is focused on Andre Drummond

This team just does not have enough talent right now to be able to make a legit playoff push, regardless of how good Westbrook and Beal play. They may be on a 5-game win streak right now and beat some of the better teams in the league, but when it comes down to fighting for a playoff spot, this team simply does not have the talent to be able to do so. 

As a result, making a trade for Valanciunas, even though they would be giving up a lot of assets in the process, makes a lot of sense for the Washington Wizards. He is only owed $29M in total through next season, making him a very affordable trade option and a player who can have a high-impact for the next two seasons in Washington.