Why the Wizards do it?

The Wizards have finally initiated a rebuild and any veteran who is not glued down should be available for trade. Kuzma and Jones are both quality starters, however, they're not all-stars and a return of two middling first-round picks sounds like fair value for the combination of the two players. Add into the return three "second-draft guys" in Pokusevski, Hayes, and Mann, as well two semi-expiring contracts in Bertans and Graham, and you have yourself a very fair return package for the duo of Kuzma and Jones.

Why the Pistons do it? The Pistons have recently been rumored to be looking for veteran help. Kuzma would fit the mold very well as he is currently a better player than Stewart, still only 28-years-old, and under control throughout the next three seasons beyond this season on a declining-scale contract. Micic is also on a fair contract and would very likely also be an upgrade over Hayes contribution-wise. The Pistons would accomplish their goal of improving the talent around their young core without sacrificing arguably the four most important pieces of that aforementioned young core.

Why the Spurs do it? Recent rumors have claimed that Johnson might be the odd man out in San Antonio when taking into consideration arguably the three main pieces of their young core. Now would be a great time to cash in on his value as he is under contract throughout the next three seasons beyond this season on a declining-scale contract. In this trade, they net themselves a very reliable starting point guard, something they could definitely use (also the brother of their back-up point guard Tre Jones), and a first-round pick in this year's upcoming draft that should land in at least the middle of the first-round, if not higher. Perhaps they'd ask the Thunder for a little more in return here, however, this would, at the very least, be a decent return for Johnson.

Why the Thunder do it? In this trade, the Thunder would be sending four players who have not been consistent members of their rotation in exchange for two players who would theoretically fit very well into their rotation while being controlled for the next three (Johnson) and four (Stewart) seasons beyond this one on, at the very least, very reasonable contracts. Sure, giving up three first-round picks would sting a bit but they would still have 11 future first-round draft picks throughout the next seven seasons alongside handfuls of second-round draft picks, still leaving them in a prime position to trade for a star if necessary while having a complete embarrassment of riches in the "young players with tons of talent and potential" department.