NBA Rumors: Analyzing Likeliest Trade Deadline Candidates From Wizards

The Washington Wizards are currently middling on the border of being a play-in team and completely missing out on playoff action.

They are now rumored to be open to trading anyone but three-time All-Star Bradley Beal.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported the development in Washington on “The Lowe Post” podcast, and here are three of the likeliest names to be dealt at the upcoming NBA trade deadline set for February 10.

Montrezl Harrell, Center

One of three players included in the Russell Westbrook trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, Montrezl Harrell played an important role for the Wizards this season as a fill-in starter for Thomas Bryant, who was recovering from an ACL tear.

Initially serving as a backup to then-starter Daniel Gafford, Harrell is simply too good to be playing second-fiddle in a team that may not even make the playoffs at all.

Harrell is very much capable of putting up big numbers when given enough minutes to perform (currently averaging 13.9 points, 7 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 24.4 minutes), but the big man was only able to break the 30-minute barrier six times out of a possible 42 games this season.

The 28-year-old is on a very team-friendly contract that he had signed with the Lakers last season, making only $9.7 million this season.

In addition, he is set for unrestricted free agency.

Moving Harrell almost instantly solves the Wizards’ logjam in the frontcourt and their asking price for him will most likely be a starting-caliber small forward or a sixth-man to play behind Beal in order to balance out their team.

Spencer Dinwiddie, Guard

The current starting point guard for the Wizards--Spencer Dinwiddie--along with Harrell has been mentioned by Lowe as one of the likeliest players to be moved.

Appearing in 40 games this season, Dinwiddie has been severely underwhelming for the Wizards since being acquired in a sign-and-trade deal in the same trade that brought Harrell to Washington, averaging only 13.2 points on 38.6% shooting from the field, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists.

Dinwiddie was poised to become an important member of the Brooklyn Nets’ bench but suffered a partially torn ACL in December 2020.

Making $17.1 million this year and $18 million next year, the 28-year-old combo guard should be an impact player for whichever team wants to take on his contract.

The Wizards would certainly do well in trying to offload Dinwiddie, along with one of their many frontcourt options, and hopefully get back a more impactful player that can help take the load off Beal.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Guard/Forward

Washington did particularly well in fleecing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from the Lakers in the Westbrook trade as he has injected them with certain energy on both ends of the court while also being comfortable enough to be a 3-and-D player when Beal is on the floor.

Pope Is currently the starting small forward for the Wizard, and while he definitely has had his moments of lifting the team, it might not be such a bad idea after all to move him.

Rookie Deni Avdija may be given the starting nod after the trade deadline if they get to move Pope at the trade deadline to help shore up their lack of depth at the point guard spot.

If Washington does decide to keep Pope though, it would not be hard seeing him in an off-the-bench role behind Beal as their skills do overlap in certain areas.

All of the trades that the Wizards may consider ahead of the trade deadline should be in the hopes of convincing Beal to stay with the team and keep them competitive until the end of the season before making a big signing in free agency.