Washington Wizards: 3 potential Delon Wright trades

Dallas Mavericks

One path that the Washington Wizards can follow in a Delon Wright trade is receiving negative-value contracts from their trade partners in exchange for draft assets. This is a core method to acquire assets during a long rebuilding process. One such contract is Tim Hardaway Jr’s.

Delon Wright is exactly what the Dallas Mavericks need: a tough, defensive-minded guard who can play next to either Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving, while also being able to play next to both of them. He can take on the tough defensive assignments while Doncic and Irving conserve their energy to carry the offense. When you have magicians like Irving and Doncic, Wright’s shooting deficiencies create less of a problem.

To make the salaries match, Danilo Gallinari heads to Dallas as well. If he is healthy and back to his old self, Gallinari could be a useful option for the Mavs as well.

In return, Washington acquires sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. Despite being an offensively talented player, Hardaway has two more years and $34 million in salary left in his deal. His status as an overpaid player makes him an asset that the Mavs are trying to rid themselves of.

The Wizards could use Hardaway Jr as a floor-spacer, but his utility in this deal is mostly to net Washington a first-round pick. To compensate the Wizards for taking on Hardaway Jr’s contract, the Mavs send a future first-round pick, which could be very valuable depending on where Luka Doncic is playing in a few years.