Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Dahlsim]

As for comparisons of players, we will likely need to agree to disagree. Each player has his strength and weaknesses and there are only so few players that are very similar. Only a few are put in a right role on a good team. The season you mentioned for PJ I think is his only season in a winning situation.

PJ is a good overall player. Decent shooter, above average defender. Rui on the other hand is an absolutely elite shooter (he shot 60 % from three in playoffs after over 40 % in the regular season) and an ok defender. Collins is a better scorer but worse defender. Aldama had very similar stats to PJ and is a rare breed of a 4/5 hybrid that can shoot. Watson had arguably better season than prime PJ and is only 23. Of course there is a risk of a small sample. Denver didn't get a rotational player, Cleveland only sent Strus to Clippers because they needed to get under the first apron. Dort went for 3 SRPs - I see this as similar value as 1 SRP and FRP swap.

Rui is not an elite shooter.  Not nearly enough volume.  Most of those trades were made out of necessity for cap reasons, which obviously can affect value.  Mavs are not in that position.  No reason to sell low.

That made me curious.  Per AI (Grok) 

Summary assessment: Hachimura is a good-to-very-good shooter by NBA forward standards—efficient inside and from mid-range from the start of his career, and a reliable 41–44% three-point shooter on moderate volume (roughly 3.5–4 attempts per game) during his Lakers years. He fits well as a complementary spacer rather than a primary creator or high-volume sniper. Stats are drawn primarily from Basketball-Reference and aggregated sources covering his full career through the completed 2025–26 season.

and AI comparison pretty much verifies what I would have thought and what mostly you both said, although Rui seems definitely the more efficient shooter even if we don't declare him completely "Elite" due to the career line and volume.  

Comparison to Rui Hachimura (Lakers focus)

• Three-point shooting: Hachimura is clearly more accurate (career ~39.4%, Lakers ~41.5% on ~3.5–3.6 attempts) versus Washington’s higher volume but lower accuracy (career 35.4%, Mavericks 34.3% on ~4.5 attempts). Hachimura has been the more reliable floor-spacer by percentage; Washington generates more attempts.
  
• Overall shooting efficiency: Hachimura holds a clear edge in FG% (career ~49.9%, Lakers ~51–52%) and true shooting, thanks to a stronger two-point game and more selective three-point diet. Washington’s higher three-point attempt rate and different role pull his FG% down into the mid-40s.
  
• Role/context: Washington is the higher-usage, higher-rebounding, more versatile two-way forward (better playmaking and defensive versatility on average). Hachimura is the more pure efficient complementary scorer/shooter who thrives in spot-up and mid-range roles.
  
• Bottom line: Hachimura is the better pure shooter (especially from three). Washington is a more complete, higher-volume contributor whose shooting is serviceable but not a standout strength relative to his other skills.
  

From a trade perspective PJ age 27 and Rui age 28 almost a wash, seems like its mostly about shooting vs overall 2-way versatility.