Justifying the Wizards giving Butler and Haywood to Dallas

On Saturday, the Wizards dealt Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood to the Dallas for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, James Singleton and Quinton Ross. Also known as the expiring contract poo poo platter. Naturally this deal sent Wizards fans over the edge. Butler and Haywood were 2 of their 3 present good players and longtime starters... To give them away for no young talent at all was a stab in the back.

Here's why I actually like the trade: If it's never made, the Wizards pay 14.5 million to Butler and Stevenson next year in a guaranteed rebuilding/lottery season. So if the Wizards are going to be terrible next year no matter what, why wouldn't you save that 15 million? The Wizards rebuild will commence the same after this trade. Their future is not dependant on whether Caron Butler is there as the token veteran leader of a bad rebuilding team. What will determine the success of their rebuild is drafting and patience.

Very simply this trade doesn't alter the Wizards forthcoming rebuild, it simply makes it more financially efficient. Which is exactly the change the Wizards organization needs to make.

(The question is whether Haywood would've pulled in more return talent if Washington didn't insist on the other teams taking Stevenson. Probably, but because Haywood is a forthcoming unrestricted free agent and half year rental, it'd likely be insubstantial at best. Like a 25th+ draft pick or Travis Outlaw. Either way you can't blame owners in this economy for going the financial route. Haywood for dumping Stevenson's contract is fair value.)

Too often trades are judged on a horse for horse value rather than their impact on the big picture. True, giving away Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood for expiring contracts seems insulting if only comparing trade weight. However when looking at the big picture that lack of marginal add-in talent will not change their path forward. Financially the trade is a success and for their upcoming rebuild it holds no damage. It's hard to imagine the Wizards wishing they had Caron Butler next season so they could finish with the league's 5th worst record instead of 2nd.