NBA Free Agency 2018: One signing every team should make

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts against the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

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WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 19: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards and DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans shake hands after the game on December 19, 2017 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Washington Wizards — DeMarcus Cousins

Dwight Howard, once he hits free agency, would be a less-costly signing and easier to pull off. But, if healthy, Cousins is simply a much better player at this point and has a connection with John Wall.

The trick for Washington is finding a way to get Cousins. They can’t sign him outright, so it’ll be dependent on them to work out a sign-and-trade for him. That’s going to cost them something real, with Otto Porter Jr. being the most obvious candidate. Dealing Porter Jr. requires faith in Kelly Oubre Jr. to grow next season and hope you can find cheap help on the edges of free agency. It’s a risk, but maybe one worth taking for a team that hasn’t gone as far as they’d have liked the last few seasons.

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With Cousins, Wall and Bradley Beal, the Wizards would have their most talented core of the Wall era and it would give Wall the type of center he’s been asking for. Cousins’ Achilles is a huge risk and what Cousins’ contract looks like is one of the more fascinating parts of this summer. Pre-injury, he seemed like a safe bet for a max deal. Should any team even consider offering that to him now?

For Washington, Cousins would be worth the risk. Wall is 27, in the middle of his prime and is locked in through the 2022 season. Getting Cousins, with the obvious downsides, is worth the risk for a team that should be trying to maximize the prime of Wall right now.

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