The Wizards continue to slide, losing three straight games after the All-Star break, though the franchise remains focused on making the playoffs and that may mean making a move before the trade deadline.
Several spots in the rotation are problematic for Scott Brooks’ club. The team’s forward rotation is thin, particularly at the three, with Rui Hachimura Deni Avdija, and Davis Bertans all capable of giving some minutes at small forward but all better suited to play the four. Troy Brown Jr. hasn’t helped fill that void and the front office is open to dealing him with an eye on helping the team this season.
Small forward isn’t the only void on this roster. With Thomas Bryant out for the season, the center position has been a rotating nightmare with Robin Lopez, Moritz Wagner, and Alex Len each notching starts since TB went down and each failing to inspire much hope for a significant stretch.
Trading for someone like Sacramento’s Richaun Holmes might be a feasible solution to their big man woes. Holmes, who is sporting a 19.3 player efficiency rating this season, will be a free agent at the end of the year and the Kings appear to be heading into seller mode. Holmes won’t catapult the Wizards into contender status, though he’d bring some stability in the post, something that Washington could clearly use at the moment.
More NBA Trade Rumors
- The Timberwolves are “dying” to acquire Hawks forward John Collins, Jackie McMullan recently expressed on the Bill Simmons podcast. “Minnesota wants him bad,” McMullan said. “What will they offer? I don’t know. They really want him. I think there are other teams too, but Minnesota particularly.”
- The Pistons have eyed Hamidou Diallo, whom the team recently acquired from Oklahoma City, for quite some time, James Edwards III of The Athletic writes. GM Troy Weaver was an executive with the Thunder before coming to Detroit.
- The Knicks will continue to look for upgrades prior to the trade deadline. “I have a strong bias towards good players,” coach Tom Thibodeau said (via The Athletic). “I know [the front office is] looking at all the possibilities. If something makes sense for us, we’ll do it.”
- ICYMI: The Warriors have interest in Cavs’ forward Cedi Osman among other targets.
More on @FortyEightMins
- 2021 NBA Trade Deadline Primer: Philadelphia 76ers
- Sixers reportedly interested in Will Barton
- Eastern Notes: Trades, Sixers, Leonard, Heat, Vucevic
