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NBA Trade Grades: Hornets add Montrezl Harrell for postseason run

By Luke Duffy

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 17: Montrezl Harrell #6 of the Washington Wizards looks to pass as he is guarded by Gordon Hayward #20 and Jalen McDaniels #6 of the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of their game at Spectrum Center on November 17, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 17: Montrezl Harrell #6 of the Washington Wizards looks to pass as he is guarded by Gordon Hayward #20 and Jalen McDaniels #6 of the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of their game at Spectrum Center on November 17, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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NBA Trade Grades: Hornets add Montrezl Harrell for postseason run
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 28: Montrezl Harrell #6 and Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards celebrate in the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at Capital One Arena on October 28, 2021 in Washington, DC., NBA Trade Grades: Hornets add Montrezl Harrell for postseason run 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 G Fiume/Getty Images) /

NBA Trade Grades: The Montrezl Harrell deal – Washington Wizards

Starting with the money end of things, the Wizards didn’t exactly sign up for any terrible deals here. Ish Smith is owed just over $4 million next season and has played 112 games for the franchise before. If nothing else, he can be a backup point guard (as he always has been) who knows the place and provides stability in spot minutes.

Vernon Carey Jr. is still on his rookie deal, and his numbers are so small that they will have no impact at all. Which is just as well, because there’s going to come a time when the Wizards have to pay Porzingis $34 million as part of the deal that he is currently on. Getting rid of Harrell was no problem, and in a vacuum, the deal is harmless.

But when you stack it up with the other moves made, and not made, it is a bit more concerning. Harrell was an expiring contract, and the two players they got back and who they can keep into next season (Smith) and beyond (Carey) don’t exactly look like long-term solutions to an organization that is still trying to keep Bradley Beal happy.

Porzingis has an injury history that caused this writer to temporarily attempt to become a mathematician, and Beal recently opted to have wrist surgery and is out for the season.

Betting on star players with patchy medical histories (Porzingis), or ones who haven’t said they will be in Washington for the long-term (Beal) is always a worry.

It is unfair to include these points in the Harrell trade, but we all know Harrell was moved to allow space for Porzingis, so they have to be linked. After a solid start to the campaign, the Wizards had tailed off, but Harrell was still averaging 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds in 24.3 minutes off the bench for them.

That shows a level of productivity that the Wizards might get out of Porzingis, and then some, but in different ways. Harrell is a banger who will muck it up whenever he needs to. Porzingis operates outside the paint a lot more, and the Wizards (who rank 22nd in defensive rating at 111.7) will surely slide some more on the defensive end now that Harrell is gone.

Wizards Grade : C

Next. NBA Trade Grades: The Porzingis-Dinwiddie deal. dark

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