NBA Trade Grades: The Kristaps Porzingis-Spencer Dinwiddie deal

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Spencer Dinwiddie #26 and Davis Bertans #42 of the Washington Wizards in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 15, 2021 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Wizards 115-113, NBA Trade Grades: The Kristaps Porzingis-Spencer Dinwiddie deal, NBA Trade Grades. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

NBA Trade Grades: The Kristaps Porzingis-Spencer Dinwiddie deal – Wizards

You have to squint, and it doesn’t make it much prettier, but there is at least a bit more of a method to the madness here for the Wizards. Earlier in the day, they traded Montrezl Harrell to the Charlotte Hornets. This freed up the center position for Porzingis to slot right in, albeit as a much more expensive and injury-prone option.

Ish Smith and Vernon Carey came across from the Hornets in that deal, and if we’ve learned one thing after all his time in the league it is that… Ish Smith is still in the league.

Seriously though, he’ll pop-off one random Thursday night in Indiana and give the fans something nice. He’s also a seasoned professional who can add something to what was, at one point this season, a squad with some sneaky depth.

That depth better not elude them now, because you can be sure Porzingis will miss time due to injury. But his aforementioned numbers are real, and they can help the Wizards in some small way.

They currently rank 23rd in offensive rating (108.6), and although Porzingis can appear to be allergic to the painted area sometimes, he is a career 35.3 percent shooter from deep.

Also inescapable however is the fact that he has played just 320 regular-season games in seven years. To put that into context Anthony Davis, himself seemingly also always injured, has played nearly one full season more (400 regular-season games) than Porzingis in that time. Zion Williamson, yes that guy, has already played 25 percent of the regular season games Porzingis has, and he’s been out forever.

That does not bode well.

Neither does having to pay both Porzingis and Bradley Beal essentially all of the team’s money, assuming Beal re-signs with them. On the court, the two of them could be a fabulous offensive duo. Defensively, however, it would be a different story.

But if the aim of the game, not taking money into account, is getting better and trying to win, then the Wizards did a solid job and gave up fairly little in the process. They even somehow got a second-round pick.

Wizards Grade : C

dark. Next. Both sides of the Domantas Sabonis-Tyrese Haliburton trade

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