Grade the Trade: Wizards and Hawks swap offensive power forwards

Building the Trade: John Collins for Kyle Kuzma

Before we can grade the trade, we have to build it out. Kyle Kuzma makes $13 million, about $10 million less than John Collins. The difficulty in building a trade comes from both Washington and Atlanta being close to the luxury tax line. If the Wizards send too little money with Kuzma to the Hawks, then they will bump into the luxury tax; send too much, and the Hawks will.

Let’s assume that the core of the deal involves Collins coming to Washington, Kuzma and Rui Hachimura going to Atlanta, and some smaller salaries moving through a third team. Atlanta could also bump over the line and make a second move that ducks them under. By far the most important pieces are Collins and Kuzma, so let’s focus there.

Grading the trade for the Washington Wizards

Would the Washington Wizards want to make this trade? Kuzma is having a better scoring season than Collins this year, but he isn’t necessarily a better offensive player; Kuzma has simply had more opportunities for the Wizards. Collins can shoot better than Kuzma, is a better post scorer, and is a better pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop option. He’s not the on-ball perimeter creator that Kuzma is, though, and both are simply average defenders for their position.

If the Wizards were trying to build a contender, they would move Kuzma for draft capital. That’s not what they are doing, however; the franchise has made it clear they are trying to stay competitive. In that case, adding Collins is a great move. He fits well beside Kristaps Porzingis and would give the Wizards a powerful third option. The long-term money is less of an issue for a team that keeps whiffing on its draft picks.

Grade: B