Kyle Kuzma, Tyus Jones, Daniel Gafford, Delon Wright, and Landry Shamet are among the Wizards who have generated exploratory trade interest so far this season, writes Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
According to Scotto, the Wizards are seeking a first-round pick in exchange for Jones, and ideally one beyond 2024 that would have a chance to become a top-20 selection down the road. That would be a high price to pay for a player who is on an expiring contract and likely wouldn’t be a starter on a new team, so it will be interesting to see if Washington lowers its demands by next Thursday or plays hardball with potential trade partners.
While the Wizards have also reportedly set high asking prices for Kuzma and Gafford, who are under contract for multiple seasons beyond this one, Wright and Shamet – who aren’t owed guaranteed money beyond this year – appear more attainable. League sources tell Scotto that Wright is expected to generate offers consisting of second-round draft compensation.
The Wizards, who have plenty of room to operate below the luxury tax line, are also open to using their available traded player exceptions to accommodate salary dumps from teams willing to attach young players or draft picks, Scotto writes. As our tracker shows, Washington has six TPEs, including one worth over $12MM and another worth nearly $10MM.
Here are several more items of interest from Scotto’s latest rumor round-up:
- The Wizards are expected to be “open-minded” and cast a wide net when they launch their search for a permanent head coach this spring, says Scotto, noting that the early expectations around the NBA is that the team will end up hiring a first-time coach for its rebuild.
- The Clippers are gauging the value of Bones Hyland and P.J. Tucker on the trade market, league sources tell Scotto. If Tucker isn’t moved at the deadline, he’s not expected to discuss a buyout, Scotto adds. Most buyout candidates are on expiring contracts, whereas Tucker’s deal includes an $11.54MM player option for next season.
- Some of the trade chatter surrounding Hawks guard Dejounte Murray has quieted down as of late, according to Scotto, who says Atlanta’s desire to acquire two first-round picks and to not take on salary beyond this season in a Murray trade has complicated negotiations so far.
- Elsewhere on the Hawks front, rival executives and league sources who have spoken to Scotto believe that Atlanta wants to hang onto swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic through the trade deadline. Bogdanovic is averaging a career-best 17.1 points per game off the bench this season and is under team control for three more years beyond this one.
The trade chatter surrounding Dejounte has calmed down bc common sense has apparently become overwhelming and it’s become apparent to even the thirstiest reporters that it makes little to zero sense for us to trade Dejounte anytime soon
Reporters aren’t the ones who put out these rumors. Hawks have been looking to retool, rebuild. Since your all star Collins was moved. Hawks have gauged value in most their players. And Murray just happens to be their biggest trade asset. Get a grip. Better yet. Get the Hawks to get a grip.
#1 fan you’re 0 for everything as usual smh.. it’s clearly the reporters putting out the rumors. How many times do you have to read the phrase “according to Scotto” to realize that some guy named Scotto is the 1 making this stuff up?.. Hawks like every other team are continuously retooling & have always “gauged value” on guys on a daily basis (what does John Collins have to do with it?) but that’s obv much different than what these reporters have been suggesting regarding Dejounte. They act like the Hawks are aggressively shopping him which as I’ve said numerous times, is illogical. And he’s obv not our biggest trade asset, I’m sure you remember Trae Young plays for the Hawks.
If the hawks don’t make a trade, they will continue to be an average team with 0 upside
Trae young is not a winning basketball player (that’s obvious to anyone who understands basketball).
If that hawks were smart, they would keep Murray because of his team friendly deal and deal Trae for a boatload of assets, but they just aren’t a smart FO
Trae’s 15-15 in the postseason so far in his career with some absolutely legendary performances. He’s led his team to 3 straight postseasons. This is a team that was 1 of the very worst in the league when he got here. He won a gold medal in FIBA U18 play. He’s pretty clearly a future HOFer. To say he’s not a winning basketball player is a very ignorant thing to say tbh. What should be obvious to anyone that understands basketball is how great of a pg Trae is. He’s definitely a terrible defensive player but offensively he’s one of the best pgs ever. That being said it definitely is time to trade him. I think NO is the best fit
Hahahahah Trae one of the best pgs ever?!? You must be high. Trae Young will never lead a championship team in the NBA. He peaked in college. Zero chance at the HoF but keep dreaming
“Atlanta’s desire to acquire two first-round picks and to not take on salary beyond this season in a Murray trade has complicated negotiations so far.“
This should be a done deal for Knicks. So I don’t think this is entirely true. Murray is not my first choice. But. I can see why Thibs and this FO would want him. Imo Hawks will move more than one player by TD.
You’re doubting the reporter? But wait, he wouldn’t spread false info would he?
If Murray is off the market, then it’s due to Snyder. He’s apparently not as influential in personnel decisions as most assumed he’d be when he took the HC job, or very influential at all. That they’d shop Murray without his input is telling. It’s also a poorly structured FO mode of operation. A HC running the FO might be problematic, but he has to be a crucial voice in it.
Any team in need of a PG should at least kick the tires on Murray. I think he has a decent chance to be the SAS version of himself if he is moved back to his more natural position (or, forget natural, the position at which he was a + defender and then some). For any other team, I’d stay clear.
Lol y’all are something else with this narrative. It’s so obvious that you are buying whatever is in these articles but I promise if you just watch the games & use common sense you’ll be much closer to the truth
You’re saying what exactly?
My comments were about 1) the ATL FO – HC dynamic, and 2) Murray’s defensive impact when playing alongside TY. Watching games won’t provide any information on the first. As for the second, I’ve watched more than enough games to reach a conclusion.
You say if Dejounte don’t get traded it’s bc of Snyder bc u saw an article on here saying that when common sense should tell you that Dejounte was a long shot to be traded no matter what bc of just basic common sense that comes from watching basketball games, specifically watching the Hawks with Dejounte. Anybody with familiarity of this team would know that this is a terrible defensive team. Trading our best perimeter defender would only make the team worse. There are (unlikely) scenarios where the Hawks might choose to tank the rest of the season. Other than that it makes no sense to trade Dejounte. Someone who watches Hawks games or just enough basketball in general would understand that, I feel. Someone who moreso values the opinions of these reporters would buy into the Snyder narrative like you did… And for the 2nd part I mean if you’ve seen any Hawks games you would know that Trae rarely guards the opposing teams lead guard. Dejounte usually does that & Trae guards someone off the ball. Last night it was often Taurean Prince he was guarding. Dejounte is an elite perimeter defender tho, on or off the ball. He’s the same defensive player he was in SA if not better. Obv he’s playing in a different system and with different players tho
If said if Murray is currently “off the market”, then it’s because of Snyder (not simply if he’s not traded, because that could have many causes, and, yes, the most likely of which is that there wasn’t a good offer). Snyder’s own words are the principal basis of my assertion, although it was backed by numerous real time reports.
Murray has NOT been a elite perimeter defender with ATL in terms of results. Not statistically, not optically. NBA defense these days in particular is about the matchups that find you, even hunt you, not the ones you choose. It’s not an on or off ball distinction either. Of course, Murray starts on the PG, that’s really the point. The fact is that offenses hunt C’s and PG’s, in different ways, for different reasons. Historically, putting two of either on the court at the same time for long periods is problematic, even if one of the two is individually a good defender. Obviously, position designation isn’t dispositive, but the fact is ATL has a 165 lb player and 180 lb player on the court together.
What is your explanation for why a team like ATL, with a guy you believe is an elite perimeter defender at the point, a tag team of rim protectors at C, and a group of big young athletic wings, is so poor on defense? It can’t all be TY, although he’s a bunch of it.
Personally, I would NOT trade Murray. But that’s beside the point.
Hawks should trade Trae for the highest bid…
Small guards don’t age well, especially inefficient ones…