The Washington Wizards were quite active during the recent NBA trade deadline. They retooled around their young core, bringing in veterans Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart while moving Kyle Kuzma. Most of the moves were seemingly made to add a veteran presence to one of the younger locker rooms in the league.

It's been just over a year and a half since the Phoenix Suns gave the Washington Wizards a metaphorical Get Out of Jail Free card, taking on the majority of Bradley Beal 's quarter- billion dollar contract in exchange for Chris Paul — who was traded to Golden State just 12 days later — Landry Shamet,

After years in Eastern Conference purgatory, the Washington Wizards finally look like a franchise heading in the right direction, which is why it was wise to not pursue a plan to acquire Beal at the trade deadline.