The Wizards’ season is now over, and if they don’t hit the lottery and get into a Top 3 pick, they’ll be drafting anywhere from seventh to 10th depending on who does win the lottery.
NBA TV’s Chris Miles joined Brian Mitchell and Scott Jackson (in for JP Finlay this week) on Monday, and when it came to ideas to improve the Wizards, he and Scott had a little back-and-forth about tanking, which Jackson wishes started earlier.
“I wish they would’ve done it a month ahead of time just to increase their odds to get a better player,” Jackson said, and this led him to ask Miles if it’s feasible to go forward with the current “Big 3” – and not only did Miles say no, he had maybe the most radical idea of which of the three to move.
“No, and what’s crazy about it is that this is the most productive Porzingis has been since his All-Star year,” Miles said. “So if you told me he would play this way and the team would still be out of the Play-In? I mean, 10 teams make it, so come on. I think something has to change, and it’s the same thing I’ve said has needed to change for years: it’s time to move Bradley Beal.”
Even though Beal had a better season, it’s clear to Miles that he’s the weak link of the Big 3.
“I think it’s just evident now; he played 50 games and some of his best team basketball this year, but it’s still not working,” Miles said. “This is the time like, okay, we understand this didn’t work and we have to do something new. And Kudos to Johnny Davis, who came up at the end of the year and looked like he was ready for a chance. So, I think that if there’s any time to blow it up and rebuild completely, how about the year you miss the play-in?”
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So does he think it will happen?
“No, I think they missed the boat. Now Bradley Beal has power, and his deal is just one of those bad NBA contracts,” Miles said. “He went from everybody wanting him on a value contract to what do you expect to get for him in return? If they’re going to move him and try to rebuild this thing, it’s pennies on the dollar for this thing.”
Miles thinks GM Tommy Sheppard has done a good job with all of his other moves, but Beal’s deal is just “eating this team up” and that’s just the fact of the matter. And, even though Brian Mitchell feels like it seems the Wizards are okay with being “a middle of the pack” team, Miles assures that’s not the case – and he has an idea of what the Wizards’ blueprint should be.
“I can’t co-sign that because Tommy Sheppard brought in Kristaps, and that was a good move, and KCP and Kuzma came in and produced,” Miles said. “They’ve paid people, but they’re working hard but not working smart. They’re putting the pieces together and messing up the main thing: you need that star that will produce and perform every night. John Wall wasn’t that guy, but he was the closest they’ve had. They need to do whatever it takes to get an NBA Superstar, and I think the blueprint for them should be the New Orleans Pelicans.”
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