Wizards receive: Furkan Korkmaz, Mo Bamba
Sixers receive: Delon Wright
After the departures of Georges Niang, Jalen McDaniels, and Shake Milton this offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers are suddenly lacking in depth. Things could get even worse if James Harden’s trade request is granted by the Sixers. Regardless of Harden’s situation, Delon Wright is a wonderful fit on this Philadelphia team.
If Harden leaves, Tyrese Maxey is going to be the primary perimeter creator in Philadelphia. He is an excellent offensive player who leaves a lot to be desired defensively. This is true for Harden as well. So, a defensive-minded, tough guard like Delon Wright could cover up for a lot of Philadelphia’s deficiencies.
Perimeter defense was one of the biggest shortcomings of the Sixers this past playoff runs. When you give up consistent drives to the basket, even an interior presence like Joel Embiid can’t cover all the holes. So, a point-of-attack defender who can guard the opposing point guard would be a huge help. The Sixers likely don’t want to add additional future salary anyways, so Wright’s expiring contract is even more appealing to them.
In return, the Wizards get two rolls of the dice. Furkan Korkmaz and Mo Bamba are both 25-year-olds that showed promise in different stages of their career before falling out of favor on their teams. Washington can afford to give a chance to such players. Korkmaz has the potential to be a sharpshooting wing, while Bamba fits the mold of a 3&D center, both are valuable player types in the modern NBA.
It is an excellent low-risk, high-reward move for Washington.