The Washington Wizards need to trade for this under the radar center

This season has been underwhelming for the Washington Wizards as their perpetual Play-In Tournament machine doesn’t seem to be working. This is problematic for the team as that has become their entire identity over the last half decade.

Their lack of ability to draft players with high upside has compounded their issues making any team that can break the cycle of irrelevance. They are once again relying on a group of players in their late twenties and early thirties to make something out of nothing in a lower seed.

With Rui Hachimura now off the table in a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers that has left Wizards fans with mixed feelings, there is less ability to make this trade happen, but if it gets done, the Wiz will be in a much better place.

The Washington Wizards need to move for Andre Drummond.

Initially the idea was to build a package around Rui Hachimura for both Coby White and Andre Drummond, but now with Kendrick Nunn being traded to the team in the Hachimura deal, the Wiz are going to need to settle for less now.

Drummond is the perfect piece for the Wiz as now with a slightly better point guard on the roster, the big man lineup will work better. As we saw earlier in the season, the lineups featuring Porzingis at the four instead of the five have worked incredibly well.

Adding the former All-Star would allow the Wizards to start Daniel Gafford at center next to Porzingis. This would be a huge starting lineup featuring two players over seven feet tall, including the seven foot three monster that is Kristaps Porzingis.

Drummond would also provide some rim protection, something that has been an issue consistently with the team since Marcin Gortat left back in 2018. They have set the record for most points allowed in the paint multiple times in the last few seasons. A truly good defense will always focus on limiting layups and dunks.

Adding a rim protector and rebounding machine like Drummond would allow the Wizards to keep the other team from scoring. Something they have yet to figure out this season as they are 17th in the league in defensive efficiency.

This trade for Andre Drummond has the potential to fix most of the remaining issues with the roster for the Washington Wizards following the Hachimura trade. Only time will tell if they can get it done.