The Washington Wizards defied outside expectations at the 2023-24 NBA trade deadline.
Many executives from rival teams expect the rebuilding Wizards to trade point guard Tyce Jones, combo guard Delon Wright and possibly forward Kyle Kuzma for draft picks and young players. Ta.
Instead, Washington remained relatively silent. The Wizards made just one trade on Thursday, sending 25-year-old starting center Daniel Gafford to the Dallas Mavericks for a late 2024 first-round pick and sending 30-year-old backup center Richaun Holmes to the Dallas Mavericks. obtained.
Jones and Wright will remain on the Wizards' roster and become unrestricted free agents this summer, leaving the possibility that the Wizards could sign them elsewhere without receiving a pick or player in return.
what happened?
Washington was unable to acquire a first-round pick for Jones from a potential suitor, which is not surprising, according to team officials. If you look at the rosters of the league's other 29 teams, only a handful have Jones in their starting lineup. Potential candidates who coveted Jones wanted him to play a backup role and were willing to give up a second-round pick.
Meanwhile, the Wizards are one of the few teams that could envision Jones, who turns 28 in May, starting next season. Team executives highly value Jones' professionalism, leadership, and offensive skills. The Athletic It was reported last week that they are strongly considering re-signing him in free agency this summer. By not trading Jones, the Wizards would retain Bird's rights to Jones this offseason, allowing the Wizards to re-sign him even if they are over the salary cap. Wizards executives deemed retaining Jones' Bird rights and re-signing him more beneficial than adding a second-round pick. In free agency, Washington could offer Jones something few other teams can offer: a starting job.
At first glance, it seems like retaining the 31-year-old Wright would be even more difficult considering he could leave as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
But team officials said the potential trade package offered to Wright would be overwhelming, perhaps a late second-round pick, but the Wizards would need to receive his salary for the 2024-25 season. . Adding next season's salary would limit Washington's flexibility with the league's tax base.
Wizards executives chose to keep their options open for the upcoming offseason. Washington retains a traded player exception worth $12.4 million from the Kristaps Porzisis trade last June and a traded player exception worth $9.8 million from the Monte Morris trade last July. It's also possible that another team would give up a valuable draft pick by trading a contract to one of these exceptions. By not adding his 2024-2025 salary Thursday in exchange for Wright, Washington will likely be able to use one of these exceptions without getting close to the tax bill.
The Wizards were “close” to accepting one offer for Kuzma, according to team officials, although Wizards officials did not reveal the identity of the potential trade partner. The Athletic It turns out that the suitor is almost certainly the Mavericks, not the Sacramento Kings. The Mavericks' offer for Kuzma wasn't strong enough for the Wizards, who wanted a home run offer and not just a fair offer. Washington's offer is said to be at least two first-round picks.
Wizards officials value Kuzma's play and off-the-court intangibles — apparently much higher than most other teams. The AthleticReport for the trade deadline. Of course, if they keep Kuzma now, the Wizards could re-offer him this offseason, and the return could be higher. Kuzma's guaranteed annual salary for the final three seasons of his contract has decreased each year: $23.5 million in 2024-25, $21.5 million in 2025-26, and $19.4 million in 2026-27. It's a tailwind.
Washington acquired a coveted unrestricted first-round pick in the trade with Dallas for Gafford, who has made strides on both sides of the ball this season. In this deal, the Wizards acquire Holmes and, more importantly, receive the more lucrative of the LA Clippers' 2024 first-round pick and the Oklahoma City Thunder's 2024 first-round pick. become. If the league's current standings hold, that first-round pick would become the Clippers' No. 26 pick.
Why would the Wizards let go of their starting center on a relatively team-friendly contract in exchange for a late first-round pick in what is considered a relatively weak draft?
Team officials agree that the next draft likely won't include players as talented as the top three picks in the 2023 NBA Draft (Victor Wenbanyama, Brandon Miller, and Scoot Henderson) At the same time, we believe they are also taking into consideration the level of talent that will be available in the players that will be available in the second half of 2024. The first round will be relatively close to the talent level of, say, his No. 10 overall player.
Essentially, the Wizards are betting general manager Will Dawkins, senior vice president of player personnel Travis Schlenk and their evaluators to find a diamond in the rough late in the first round. There is.
And having two first-round picks means Washington has the option of trying to package those picks to move up in the draft if there's a player that Dawkins and Schlenk feel is a good fit. will be given.
Gafford was named interim coach as he developed as a defensive rebounder and interior scorer this season. Brian Keefe called Gafford an “anchor” on Wednesday. for the Wizards all season. But even though Gafford is averaging career highs in points (10.9 per game), rebounds (8.0 per game), and blocks (2.0 per game), most rival scouts and talent evaluators sees his limitations as those of a backup center on a competing team. . Gafford is a good shot blocker, but he's not an elite shot blocker who can stop opposing drivers like Rudy Gobert, Jaren Jackson Jr. or Anthony Davis.
Washington's only trade this deadline cycle took place in January, when the team acquired center Marvin Bagley III, forward Isaiah Livers, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick. sent veteran big men Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscula to Detroit to acquire .
Bagley will replace Gafford in the Wizards' starting lineup.
Gafford's contract, which the Wizards extended during Tommy Shepherd's tenure as team president and general manager, runs through the 2025-26 season. Holmes' contract ends with a player option for 2024-25 worth $12.9 million.
By taking Gafford's $14.4 million 2025-26 salary off the books, the Wizards will create more tax room for a likely extension with Corey Kispert. This contract extension will take effect from the 2025-26 season.
(Top photo of Jordan Poole, Tyce Jones and Kyle Kuzma: Brett Davis/USA Today)
