Fansided

Pre-Christmas trades to shake up the NBA

By Brandon Jefferson

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 11: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans boxes out against Otto Porter Jr. #22 of the Washington Wizards on December 11, 2015 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 2015 NBAE (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/NBAE via Getty Images
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 11: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans boxes out against Otto Porter Jr. #22 of the Washington Wizards on December 11, 2015 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 2015 NBAE (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/NBAE via Getty Images /
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5. Otto Porter Jr. to the Pelicans for Nikola Mirotic and Solomon Hill

The Washington Wizards said goodbye to Kelly Oubre Jr. due to the fact that they were unlikely to have the money to sign Oubre Jr. once he hits restricted free agency this summer. The last time the Wizards had a swingman hit restricted free agency, the numbers didn’t look pretty.

After signing Porter Jr. to his four-year, $106 million contract — the Brooklyn Nets originally signed Porter Jr. to this offer sheet, but Washington ultimately matched — the former Georgetown Hoya has seen his game plateau. With Ariza back in the fold, the Wizards would love nothing more than to clean their hands of Porter Jr.’s large-money deal.

What team would be so anxious for perimeter help that it wouldn’t bat an eye at the remaining $81 million left on Porter Jr.’s contract? The New Orleans Pelicans.

It’s put up or shut up time in the Big Easy. Anthony Davis will be eligible to sign the illustrious “supermax” contract this summer. However, Davis has voiced his frustration with the Pelicans’ inability to build a respectable roster around him.

Last season’s sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers in their postseason opener feels like it happened decades ago, not months. Davis said earlier this season that he felt as if he had to play perfect just for the team to have a shot at beating the upper echelon teams of the league.

While New Orleans doesn’t have the biggest treasure trove of assets to offer, the best part of the Mirotic and Hill package is the cap relief it offers Washington. Combined, that’s $24 million coming off of the Wizards cap sheet.

Mirotic has shown he’s capable of being a valuable member of a playoff team (Hill has been serviceable, at best, during a majority of his career), and he could eventually be another shooter to space the floor for John Wall and Bradley Beal.

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