4 Newly-available trade targets the Washington Wizards should pursue after December 15

Starting Friday, December 15, the players who signed contracts last offseason will finally be eligible to be traded. This is a de facto start date for the trade season in the NBA. There is a long list of players who will be available to be dealt on Friday, and it includes a few names the Washington Wizards should be interested in.

The Washington Wizards are in the early stages of a long rebuilding process. They are focused on the future and would presumably only target players who fit their timeline. They are also unlikely to give up future draft assets or valuable young players. However, they should still try to find value on the margins by targeting players who are undervalued or underutilized on their current teams. Players who are not getting the playing time they desire or have a smaller role than they initially thought could be gettable via a trade.

The glaring need for the Wizards is size. The rotation is undersized across all positions, hurting their ability to defend. Furthermore, they don't have the defensive anchor or interior presence to make up for the leaky perimeter defense. If they are trying to make moves before the trade deadline, going after a big man with size and defensive capability makes the most sense. Having a decent rebounder, rim protector, and interior defender would make the Wizards look a lot more like a real NBA team. That would go a long way in keeping games close and competitive, which in turn would aid the development of the young players. And that is clearly the most important thing for the franchise.

Here are five candidates who fit that bill, become available after December 15, and should be easily acquirable by the Washington Wizards.