Washington Wizards: 5 goals for the 2018 offseason
3. Gauge the trade value of Tomas Satoransky and Kelly Oubre Jr.
It’s no secret the Washington Wizards don’t have any cap space, so another avenue for them to explore getting better is through trades. Two names that should have some trade value are Tomas Satoransky and Kelly Oubre Jr.
Satoransky had some interesting feedback during his exit interview and it’s worth noting:
Tomas Satoransky on playoffs and why Brooks didn't play him much vs. Raptors: "The end [the playoffs] was bitter. ... I tried to ask the coach [in the exit interview], but I didn't quite get an explanation. The playoffs were a struggle throughout for me."
— Lukas Kuba (@Luke_Mellow) May 26, 2018
During the first round of the postseason, Satoransky’s minutes went to Ty Lawson. Lawson averaged 5.8 points, 3.0 assists and 2.6 rebounds in his five appearances in the playoffs. Much to the chagrin of Satoransky, it may or may not have gone over well in the grand scheme of things. He appeared in six games averaging 1.2 points and 1.5 rebounds in 10 minutes per contest.
Satoransky played a big role in the Wizards’ success this season without John Wall, then the team went away from him. It could turn into Satoransky requesting a trade in the long run, which could be good for both parties involved.
Kelly Oubre Jr. is another intriguing case. His value as one of the key reserves for the Washington Wizards is certainly there. He averaged 11.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in his third year in the NBA. As he approaches the final year of his contract, he could be an enticing piece.
The Wizards should be busy in the trade market this offseason, so don’t be surprised if Satoransky and Oubre’s name are involved in discussions. If it improves the makeup of the rotation, it would be hard to pass up on cashing in on the value of either Satoransky or Oubre.