Trade Grades Wizards

Markieff Morris

6/22/2016

Trade Grades
Click here for link to Phoenix Suns Trade Grades

Wizards get: PF/SF Markieff Morris
Suns get: C/PF DeJuan Blair, PF Kris Humphries, 2016 protected first-rounder

Love the acquisition, but I don’t know about the price. It’s not the big men here that I’m concerned about: Humphries is putting up 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16.6 minutes per game, while Blair averages just 2.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in a mere 7.5 minutes per game. Rather, it’s the first-rounder that has me worrying. I’m of the philosophy, given the disasters we’ve seen with the New York teams and more, that if you are going to give up a first-rounder, you must get a sure thing in return that puts you into title contention immediately. I get that this pick is protected, so there is a chance that Washington is able to keep it, but a very risky trade nonetheless.

On the bright side, however, Markieff makes a ton of sense in Washington. Their forward rotation has been weak even back when Paul Pierce was still in town, and Markieff is just a do-it-all guy who can play perfectly off of PG John Wall and SG Bradley Beal. Morris is averaging 11.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, slight regressions from last season, but given the circumstances in Phoenix, not really cause for much concern.

Again, the only issue I have here is the risk associated with giving up a first-rounder, especially considering the fact that the Suns desperately needed to trade Markieff.

Grade: B-

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Jared Dudley

6/22/2016

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Trade Grades
Click here for link to Milwaukee Bucks Trade Grade

Wizards get: SF Jared Dudley
Bucks get: Protected second-round pick (from Washington)

The Wizards went a little overboard in an effort to fill the hole left by Paul Pierce at small forward this summer. Not only did they do this deal, but they also traded up to draft rookie SF Kelly Oubre Jr, while still having solid role players like SF Otto Porter Jr and SF/SG Martell Webster waiting in the wings. Still, it’s hard not to love this deal. Dudley’s $4.25 million contract fits perfectly into the trade exception from dealing away PG Andre Miller, so the money is no sweat. And Washington gave up essentially nothing in exchange, meaning this deal can only be positive. And it is, as Dudley’s 7.2 point per game with Milwaukee last year, excellent defense, and nice three-point touch will be of great use to the Wizards.

Grade: A

Major thanks to Corbin Fields (@ctuck_fields) for his significant contribution to this trade grade

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Kelly Oubre Jr.

6/22/2016

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Trade Grades
Click here for link to Atlanta Hawks Trade Grade

Got: #15 pick (drafted SF Kelly Oubre Jr.)
Gave up: #19 pick (turned into PG/SG Jerian Grant), two future second-rounders

This one made very little sense for the Wizards. Oubre Jr. might’ve been available at #19 anyways, and he’s a long-term prospect that could even be redundant with young SF Otto Porter Jr. Besides, for a team in the thick of a playoff race, trading up for a prospect that will probably need a year in the D-League makes little sense. Even though two future second-rounders are a small price to pay, Washington should’ve either taken PF/C Bobby Portis with their pick, or traded up for a legitimate impact player.

As mentioned, Oubre Jr. is probably a long-term project, as his ability to contribute right away is minimal. However, he is still an excellent defender with solid shooting ability. He’s quick and athletic, which give him the potential he needs to become an excellent slasher, although he will need to improve his lackluster ball-handling skillsfor that. He could need a year in the D-League, which is actually a pretty good measure of his very high upside long-term, considering that Washington was willing to spend the #15 pick on him. He will be competing with Porter, Paul Pierce (if he re-signs) and others for minutes at small forward.

The Wizards could’ve addressed a bigger need (power forward) with a better player immediately with PF/C Bobby Portis, who was still available at #19, all without coughing up any future second-rounders! On the other hand, however, these second-rounders are relatively worthless, and the star-studded backcourt of PG John Wall and SG Bradley Beal is young, so Washington might have some time to wait on Oubre. Still, this roster has plenty of veteran parts, and it’s just a head-scratcher as to why they’d want Oubre over any other guys that could make a more immediate impact if they were going to trade up four slots.

Grade: C+

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Andre Miller

6/22/2016

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Trade Grades

Wizards get: PG Ramon Sessions
Kings get: PG Andre Miller

This is also a “meh” deal from Washington’s perspective, much as it is from Sacramento’s. Sessions and Miller have pretty much equal values as backup point guards, with maybe Miller holding out a slight edge. He’s averaging 3.5 points and 3 assists per game, all while connecting on a very efficient 54% of his shots. Sessions, on the other hand, is averaging 5.5 points which is two more than Miller, but on a dismal 35% shooting and also with one less assist at 2.5 assists per game. Financially, Miller has an expiring deal worth $4.6 million, while Sessions is owed about $2.1 million annually for each of the next two seasons, which are reasonable figures. Not really much of a difference, but I suppose I’d rather take Miller, depending on how my coffee tasted that day.

Grade: B-

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Washington Wizards: Trade Grades

Markieff Morris

Jared Dudley

Kelly Oubre Jr.

Andre Miller

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