Washington Wizards: 3 players at center to consider trading for
By Ethan Smith
No position on the Washington Wizards roster needs an upgrade more than the center position. Here are three guys they should consider at the trade deadline.
The NBA trade deadline is around the corner, and priority number one for the Washington Wizards should be a frontcourt improvement. Since Thomas Bryant’s brilliant start to the season was cut short, the Wizards have been trying to get by with a trio of Robin Lopez, Moritz Wagner, and Alex Len. It hasn’t worked out. Despite having one of the most productive backcourts in the NBA, the Wizards have one of the worst center rotations.
Both Robin Lopez and Moritz Wagner are on expiring contracts that are movable before 3 pm on March 25, the official trade deadline. Because Len, who is also on an expiring deal, was signed mid-season, he won’t be trade-eligible until April 8, well after the deadline.
If the Wizards want to abandon the center trio they’re currently rocking with or make a move to sure up the position beyond this season, here are three centers they should consider trading for.
Jaxson Hayes: Center, New Orleans Pelicans
Jaxson Hayes seeing the floor less this season than he did as a rookie last season, and he’s producing a bit less, too. Both he and Willy Hernangomez are firmly behind Steven Adams, and Hernangomez is technically a bit more productive than Hayes. However, Hayes tends to get more run when both are healthy and available.
Adams seems to have the starting position on lock, but the Pelicans are reportedly interested in Myles Turner, which might indicate how they feel about Hayes as the future center. He’s not the one. But he could be an upgrade for the Wizards.
There’s no doubt Hayes has some maturing to do, but there’s no denying how remarkable his athletic tools are. He is a freak: super bouncy and super long. Hayes can dunk on anybody’s head and be a human fly swatter around the rim. But he’s still just 20 years old and often looks every bit of it while on the floor.
However, Hayes’ upside still outweighs the growing pains, especially while still on a team-friendly deal. He’d be a dynamic addition to the Wizards’ frontcourt that’s currently missing some explosion with the trudging Lopez and Len. Hayes, and a healthy Thomas Bryant, would be a dangerous rim running pair for the Wizards, who currently leads the NBA in pace (104.9).
In 31 games this season, Hayes is averaging 5.2 points and 3.4 rebounds while getting a measly 13.2 minutes per game. All of those numbers are down from his rookie season. However, he’s shooting much better from the field (72.5 percent) and could be doing more if given a bigger opportunity.