There exist two rebuilding forces in today’s NBA. Though similar in intent, they are vastly different in method. And thanks to the recent action on the trade block, two perfect anecdotal examples have surfaced in two of the league’s franchises.
The Washington Wizards and the Utah Jazz. Two teams united in purpose, but divided in execution.
Both teams have waded through the muck of the NBA Draft lottery for years in the fallout of failed championship contenders of yesteryear. The Wizards capped out with their backcourt dynamic of John Wall and Bradley Beal, and have failed to reach such highs since. Time has torn this franchise to ribbons — mere scraps of a competent basketball team remain. The Jazz hit their ceiling on the core of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, and did not hesitate to hit the big red glowing self-destruct button on the corner of owner Ryan Smith’s desk.
Stripped to their parts, both franchises lingered at the floor of the NBA standings in hopes of securing a game-changing talent in the draft, and both franchises have yet to secure their sure-fire superstar to shepherd the flock from poverty.
So, with the Feb 5 trade deadline rapidly approaching, two muddying basketball teams saw an opportunity to change their fates and jumped at it.
First was the Jazz, a team intent on retaining its core of Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler, who shipped off three first-round picks and four replaceable players in return for a former All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year in Jaren Jackson Jr.
Next were the Wizards, caught in the frenzy and chomping at the first big fish they saw. Like JJJ, the newest Washington Wizard is also a former All-Star and DPOY, though with a much more accomplished career. This addition is Anthony Davis, and the Wiz dealt two first-round picks, three second-rounders, and (just like Utah) four easily replaced players to obtain his services.
On the surface, these moves appear incredibly similar. Two defensive specialists capable of producing on the offensive end are arriving at their new teams, ready to pull the plug on tanking practices and set their sights on winning basketball. In truth, these trades will produce drastically different results.
I’ve already shared my thoughts on Utah’s trade for Jackson. In short, I think his addition is a brilliant use of the Jazz’s embarrassment of assets. Carrying far too many draft picks than a single team could ever hope to utilize, Utah consolidated and returned an all-star caliber big man at 26 years of age without compromising their future (the Jazz still have at least one first-round draft pick in every future draft).
Utah retains flexibility in cap space and asset management while injecting their current plans with a complementary piece. This was a calculated deal initiated with the future in mind, not an all-in gamble made in desperation.
The Wizards’ acquisition of Anthony Davis is the very definition of haste. Davis, approaching his 33rd birthday, has a list of injuries longer than his accolades (which is saying a lot). He’s played at least 60 games just twice in his last seven seasons. His most recent team, the Mavericks organization that was so certain of his value that they traded Luka Doncic unprovoked, has parted ways with him after just 29 appearances in Dallas.
The Mavs couldn’t wait to get out of the Anthony Davis business, even with the sunk cost of Doncic in LA. That says a lot to me if I were an NBA executive.
Davis is on the decline, and for a player as injury-prone as he’s proved to be over his career, a bet on an aging Davis is a bet you’re likely to lose. No matter how optimistic one could be about the Wizards’ young core (Sarr, Carrington, George, Coulibaly, Johnson, etc.), it’s unlikely that Davis will be consistently available to lead on the court as the youth mature into their primes.
Especially considering the Trae Young acquisition, it feels like the Wizards are anxious to compete for the playoffs tomorrow.
A backcourt of Young and Davis is fascinating on paper. Young, one of basketball’s most prolific shooters (by volume, not efficiency) and distributors, paired with Davis, one of the most prolific rim protectors and an excellent supplement on the offensive end, is an awesome pairing.
But is it built to last? What’s this team’s potential as currently constructed? Time will tell, but there are far fewer sands left in this hourglass compared to that of their Utahn counterparts.
The Jazz move forward without torching their timetable. The Wizards cut out the waiting game and opted for a win-now solution. From my perspective, this is the difference between investing and gambling, and the latter is often far less friendly to its participants.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
