First, the Los Angeles Lakers took a future Hall of Famer from the Wizards on Thursday. Then the Los Angeles Dodgers traded for the Nationals future Hall of Fame pitcher and an all-star shortstop. There hasn't been such a fire sale in Washington since the War of 1812.
Seriously, do the Los Angeles Rams want Chase Young while the crosstown Kings take Alexander Ovechkin? Do we have to swap Five Guys for In-N-Out Burger? (OK, that's going too far.)
We haven't seen such a double whammy since the fall 1974 when the Watergate hearing opened while Arkansas Congressman Wilbur Mills was caught in a compromising position with Fanne "The Tidal Basin Bombshell" Foxe. Everybody got screwed that time, too.
Maybe in time, both deals will prove better for Washington. But, Los Angeles now has two teams going for titles using Washington players while the latter continues multiple rebuilds. (Hope it goes better than Metro platforms.)
Losing Russell Westbrook to the Lakers for a fistful of fair players and a first-rounder that has already been flipped (a deal that even NBA commissioner David Stern countered boos from the draft crowd by saying he's only reading it) is the least painful of the two deals. Westbrook was only here for a hot minute and couldn't get the Wiz to win. Westbrook has great stats, but he's a hard teammate on the court. Good luck sharing the rock with LeBron James. If they click, the Lakers can win a championship.
Meanwhile, the Wiz remain Bradley Beal-centric. Certainly, Washington could use help across the court and bench. Drafting Gonzaga sharpshooter Corey Kispert with the 15th overall selection was a bigger move than the Lakers deal. Whatever incoming coach Wes Unseld thought he was getting when taking the job has been flipped. But, maybe for the better because the Wiz weren't winning anything with the past roster, while the new one merely says winning season versus contender.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are trying to buy a title by obtaining Nats pitcher Max Scherzer and shortstop Trea Turner, who were both all-stars recently. So was outfielder Kyle Schwarber, who was dealt to the Boston Red Sox. Has any team traded three all-stars within the same month of the game?
Less than two years since winning the World Series, Washington has collapsed. A losing year amid the pandemic could be shrugged off, but 47-55 this season couldn't. With a farm system lacking prospects, Washington went for potential. And, it might be a decent payback. Washington gets Los Angeles' top prospect in catcher Keibert Ruiz and No. 3 prospect in pitcher Josiah Gray, plus another pitcher and outfielder.
Turner was looking like another Anthony Rendon exit in free agency in 2023 and Scherzer was free after this season. While the trade makes this season look empty over the final two months, it might work out over time. Meanwhile, it would sting watching Scherzer and Turner in the World Series this fall.
Paul Begala, a Bill Clinton strategist in the '90s, is famously known for saying Washington is Hollywood for ugly people. After these trades, the short term looks uglier than ever.
Rick Snider has covered Washington sports since 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks.
