The Washington Wizards are continuing to retool their roster to prepare it for a rebuilding process that should take multiple years. To maximize their draft assets, add young players, and maintain salary cap flexibility, it behooves them to trade their veteran guard Delon Wright.
Wright spent last season with the Washington Wizards after a journeyman career in which he played for six teams in seven seasons. It looked like he found a permanent home in Washington last year as he had one of the best seasons of his career. Unfortunately, the 31-year-old Wright doesn’t fit the Wizards’ timeline, as Wright fits better on a playoff team trying to contend.
Wright was one of the best guard defenders in the league last season. Standing at 6’5, he has good size and length for his position, giving him the ability to defend multiple positions. He is an intelligent defender with active hands, as demonstrated by his average of 1.8 steals in only 24 minutes per game. He is easily one of the best turnover-forcing guards in the league.
His offensive production certainly leaves a lot to be desired. Even though he can sink open three-pointers, he is a hesitant shooter. He doesn’t have much scoring chops or the ability to put pressure on the rim either. However, he is one of the best offensive rebounders in his position.
On a good team, he can not be your lead creator or playmaker. He is better utilized as a third guard, but thanks to his ability to play both point guard and shooting guard, he can slide in next to any backcourt player.
On a team where Wright is not asked to do much on the ball offensively, he would be a very valuable addition. He can provide a veteran presence, toughness, and perimeter defense. His expiring contract of only $8.1 million for next season makes him an easily acquirable trade target.
Here are some potential trade scenarios that the Washington Wizards would be interested in.
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.
Utah Jazz
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports, the Utah Jazz have made Collin Sexton available in trade talks. The 24-year-old guard who averaged 14.3 points per game last season on an impressive 61.6% true shooting, still has a lot of untapped potential that the Wizards can take advantage of.
Sexton dealt with injuries the past two seasons, stymieing his development. However, he is still a really good scorer with lightning-quick speed, dynamic first step, and excellent finishing ability. He is certainly an intriguing buy-low candidate.
What would require the Wizards to acquire Sexton and his contract which has 3 years and $55 million remaining, is giving up both Delon Wright and Monte Morris.
Without Sexton, the Utah Jazz don’t have credible, veteran guards. With this deal, they get two. Morris and Wright will set the table for Utah’s star frontcourt duo of Lauri Markkanen and John Collins while improving them on the defensive end.
If the Utah Jazz want to take a step forward next season, it will be hard for them to do better than both Wright and Morris on the open market. If they want to change course next summer, Wright and Morris’ expiring contracts make it easier for them to pivot. If they want to keep them, they will be on affordable contracts going forward. This has the potential to be a win-win trade.
Houston Rockets
One team that is not contending any time soon but could use the defensive intensity Delon Wright provides is the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets have been one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA for the past couple of seasons, and considering they still have one of the youngest teams in the league, that is most likely not going to change next season either. Unless they bring in defensive-minded veterans.
One of these players could be Delon Wright.
Houston has one of the most exciting cores in the league, with Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Jabari Smith, and Alperen Sengun. However, that core is lacking in defensive chops and leadership. Delon Wright can cover up the defensive weaknesses of this young team and provide much-needed intensity.
It’s widely known that the Houston Rockets are trying to take a step forward next season as they owe their first-round pick. They have more cap space than they know what to do with, so they can bring in Delon Wright in a variety of different ways.
One way that makes sense for Washington is to do it as a straight-up trade with Usman Garuba. Garuba didn’t have too big of a role with Houston the past two years but he is a very intriguing defensive big man. He can play either center or power forward, he is strong, athletic, and tough. He can switch out on the perimeter as well as protect the rim. He has consistently shown what he is capable of as one of the key pieces on the Spanish national team.
As a 21-year-old, he has serious potential and the Wizards would be able to give him ample playing time and opportunity to improve. Garuba doesn’t have a path for playing time in Houston as they have a surplus of young players they are trying to develop. However, the Wizards have a shortage of defensively solid big men, and Garuba could slide into the rotation to play an important role as part of the young core.