This Timberwolves-Wizards trade proposal sends intriguing guard to Minnesota

One NBA writer is proposing that the Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards make a trade this summer.

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed that the Timberwolves trade Wendell Moore Jr. and Jordan McLaughlin to the Wizards for Delon Wright.

“Mike Conley Jr. is still a quality starting point guard in the NBA, but at age 35, the Wolves should be looking to upgrade the position behind him,” Swartz wrote. “Wright has been one of the better backup floor generals in the league for years now, a good on-ball defender with terrific size at 6’5”. His 1.8 steals per game ranked second only to O.G. Anunoby’s 1.9, and that was with Wright playing just 24.4 minutes a night.

“McLaughlin takes over Wright’s job as the backup in Washington while Moore, the 26th overall pick last year, gives the Wizards a prospect with upside if they pivot to a rebuild this summer.”

Wright averaged 7.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Wizards this season while shooting 47.4% from the field, 34.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line. Washington won only 35 games and didn’t qualify for the play-in tournament despite having Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porziņģis.

The 31-year-old Wright signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Wizards in July 2022. He has career averages of 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists with the Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks and Wizards.

The Timberwolves were the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs and lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round in five games. Moore Jr. and McLaughlin aren’t valuable players in Minnesota, so the front office should consider moving the two for a veteran like Wright.

Swartz’s proposed trade is eligible to be made this offseason under CBA rules.