NBA Trade Deadline 2018: 5 trades to save Nikola Mirotic from the Bulls
. . Washington Wizards. 2. team. 142.
The Washington Wizards are a team in desperate need of a shake-up. Adding Nikola Mirotic to their roster could provide them with the burst of energy they need to help push them back to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Things seem a bit stale in Washington. They currently sit in fifth place in the East with a 25-19 record and seem a bit uninspired as of late. Mirotic could bring his energy, three-point shooting, and bench scoring to the team looking to make a move.
The Wizards are another team with a first-round pick to offer, but the need to use their Wizard-magic powers to make things work when it comes to the salary cap. They don’t have anything at all of value they could offer in terms of expiring contracts. They might need to start negotiations by including a young player with upside potential to sweeten their offer. Kelly Oubre (two-years, $2.1 million) could be a good start. The third-year player out of Kansas is currently putting up averages of 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds-per-game in a career-high 27 minutes per campaign. Oubre, like Stanley Johnson on Detroit, could be given more minutes, and opportunities to prove himself and grow as a member of a rebuilding Bulls team.
The Wizards could also opt to part with one of their big men in a deal with the Bulls. Their roster currently features Ian Mahinmi (3 years, $16.6 million), Marcin Gortat (2 years, $12.8 million), Markieff Morris (2 years, $8.0 million), and Jason Smith (2 years, $5.2 million).
Overall, the first-round pick plus young player, plus contract match package that Detroit can potentially offer may be a little bit stronger than Washington’s. The Pistons’ pick as of now would be higher, and most likely will remain so. There’s even potential that it could even land in the lottery if things slip for Detroit. Johnson vs. Oubre is a bit of a toss-up, with Oubre showing more offensive skills so far, and Johnson having a slight edge on the defensive side of the ball. If the Bulls place a high priority on the value of the draft pick they receive in return for Mirotic, Detroit’s package would have the edge.