Washington Wizards NBA Trade Deadline 2017: Four Targets That Won’t Require A First Round Pick
By Ryan Eugene
Trade target: Darren Collison
Among #WizardsTwitter, it seems Collison is the most coveted player after Williams and Barton.
Collison has started 44 of 49 games this season and is averaging an enticing 13.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 42% shooting on three pointers. He can play both guard positions, meaning he can be paired with John Wall or Bradley Beal – something that the team really should look for while making a trade.
According to Chris Mannix of the Vertical, “Free agents-to-be Ben McLemore and Darren Collison are available, sources said, as is Arron Afflalo, a solid bench scorer with a manageable contract.”
With the Kings finally trading away DeMarcus Cousins, the team is in full tank mode. If they fall in the top 10 in the draft, the Kings will keep their first round pick. Because of that, the Kings may be willing to sell their players for less than equal value.
That brings up the reason as to why Collison may be able to be had for a player plus second round pick(s).
Collison is in the final year of a deal paying him $5.2 million this season. As an unrestricted free agent next season, it’s hard to tell how much he’ll command in the open market, and if Washington would be willing to go into the luxury tax to resign him.
Even so, trading for a player like Collison, would greatly improve this team’s bench.
Trey Burke has improved his level of play in recent weeks, but Collison is an easy upgrade. He learned early on from Chris Paul in New Orleans, and has experience playing big minutes and some time in the postseason.