Washington Wizards: 3 trade options before 2018 NBA Trade Deadline

Courtney Lee

After the terrible news about unicorn Kristaps Porzingis tearing his ACL, it appears the New York Knicks are trading any and all assets they have. One of those assets is Courtney Lee, who is averaging a career-high 13.3 points and a career-high 2.7 assists per game, all while shooting 41.6 percent from 3.

Lee has done a little bit of everything this season. He can distribute, rebound, defend and make tough 3s. These are all things the Wizards desperately need.

Unfortunately for the Wizards, the Knicks are going to be trying to sell high on Lee, who’s been a top player for them. This too might cost the Wizards their 2018 first round draft pick. But Lee alone isn’t worth a first, there has to be something else to sweeten this deal.

That sweetener comes in the form of getting out of Gortat’s contract. Sure, the Wizards would take on similar money in Lee, but Gortat looks like he’s lost a step this year. He’s struggling to be the same imposing force he’s been in the past.

With Ian Mahinmi playing better and the league moving to smaller lineups, exchanging Gortat for Lee and sacrificing a first round draft pick might not be the end of the world for a team trying to win now.