I've been working a few different options for a Beal trade, just for funsies. My basic premise has Horford, Richardson, Schroeder, Nesmith, and Langford (and firsts) going out with Beal and Bertans coming back. By my math this would allow us to avoid the luxury tax this year, but Bertans would definitely complicate things moving forward. Maybe we could rope the Thunder in to take Bertans into their cap space on for a couple future seconds.
I personally doubt that package would hold a lot of weight with Washington, unless Beal said he absolutely will not resign in the off-season and requests a trade to Boston. My question is whether or not we could rope in a third team (Thunder would be the fourth) to include an interesting young player that has been a bit more productive as a central young prospect in the trade. Here are my options:
1. Lakers with Talen Horton-Tucker and Dunn (and a future first to Washington), with Schroeder and Richardson going to LA
2. Cleveland with Collin Sexton, with Schroeder going to the Cavs for their playoff push. This assume the Cavs will not and cannot sign Sexton to an extension this off-season, but would like to make a push now.
3. Minnesota with Beasley, which probably means Richardson (and maybe Horford) going to the Wolves for their playoff push. The other option is with Smart going out instead of Richardson.
4. Kings with Hield (not really young or a prospect), with Richardson and/or Horford going to the Kings as they try to get better win-now veterans to turn around their season.
5. Knicks with Quickley (not a great prospect), with Richardson and going to the Knicks (class win-now move) for Walker and Quickley.
6. Spurs with Walker (or White, or Vassel if Wizards prefer), with Richardson and/or Horford going to the Spurs and Young going back to the Wizards for a buyout.
I definitely think teams like the Lakers and Knicks are desperate enough to make trades like these. Question is which (if any) the Wizards want to build their team around. I really think THT could become very, very productive if he got more and more touches, which could make him a great contract on a lottery team. But again, the Wizards have to get excited about THT or Quickley.
I'm also curious about the Cavs, because its obvious Sexton is on the outside and will not be there long-term. Rondo is not the answer as a backup. Rubio is injured. If the rumors are true about Lavert and the Cavs don't want to give up too many draft picks, Schroeder could be a great alternative. It just seems like more would be needed with Schroeder to make this work, but I could definitely see the Wizards getting excited about him as a central piece to replace Beal.