When it comes to winners and losers in the Philadelphia 76ers' blockbuster trade for Jimmy Butler, the Washington Wizards come out as the NBA's biggest losers. When the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled the trigger on the trade with the Sixers, the Wizards missed out on an opportunity to escape from their early-season struggles. Instead, it’s the Sixers who improved their title chances immensely with one bold move.

Washington is the most disappointing Eastern Conference team after adding former All-Star center Dwight Howard, Jeff Green and Austin Rivers in the summer. Despite boasting one of the league’s best backcourts in All-Star guards John Wall and Bradley Beal, the Wizards have managed to underachieve with an unacceptable 3-9 record, featuring a handful of ugly blowouts and endless stretches of lethargic play.

Last season, the Wizards finished with a 43-39 record, good enough for eighth in the East in spite of Wall’s two-month absence due to an injury. The fans and the franchise were hoping to build on that semi-success with the inclusion of Howard and the other additions, but the adjustment has been difficult, to say the least. Having Butler perhaps as early as the start of training camp, or even now, could have been a huge boost for a franchise spinning its wheels.

There was chatter about Washington being a team in on Butler:

If the Wizards were able to strike a deal for the 6-foot-8 forward, they would have had one of the best two-way players in the league. Butler can lock down on another team’s best player and make the opponent work on the defensive end as well. The Wizards have the league’s third-worst defensive rating at 114.1 and were hoping an addition of Butler would galvanize the team’s effort on that end of the court.

But could the Wizards have offered a more compelling package to the Timberwolves than what the Sixers dangled in front of them to swing the deal in their favor?

Washington may have been able to do it if it offered up Bradley Beal, but ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported over the weekend that Beal wasn't on the table. With Otto Porter likely the centerpiece of the deal, Minnesota clearly didn't think that was enough, especially since the forward is under contract for $81.8 million over the next three seasons.

Bradley Beal, Jimmy Butler, Wizards

The Wizards determined trading for a free-agent-to-be in Butler wasn't worth the risk of surrendering Beal, despite Butler's immense talent level. It's arguable whether that was the right call given Washington looks like a team in need of a major shakeup, though Butler would have brought his own baggage to the table. It's at least understandable why the Wizards didn't want to give up a young star to get a potential rental, but seeing Butler go to Philly stings.

Philadelphia, on the other hand, didn’t give up too much to acquire Butler. The Sixers sent Robert Covington and Dario Saric to the Wolves for the chance to gain an upper hand in the battle for Eastern supremacy. Though the two were important role players, the gamble could pay off handsomely for the Sixers when they face the Raptors, Boston Celtics or Milwaukee Bucks in the playoffs.

Now, all the Wizards can do is watch as the Sixers take their place amongst the league’s elite while they struggle to simply get out from the bottom of the East. Washington needs to turn things around fast, otherwise this season could be lost and big changes could lie ahead.