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Grade the trade: Bucks add established backup guard in swap with Wizards

By Franco Luna

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 01: Delon Wright #55 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket on Grayson Allen #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of the game at Fiserv Forum on January 01, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 01: Delon Wright #55 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket on Grayson Allen #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of the game at Fiserv Forum on January 01, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee Bucks: Grayson Allen, Washington Wizards: Delon Wright
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 01 (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /

Grade the trade: Washington’s point of view

This trade would give the Wizards a young wing player with potential.

Allen is a 26-year-old who has shown flashes of potential, particularly on the offensive end. He is not going to be an All-Star any time soon, but he’s shown he’s an extremely competent shooter and defender who is going to stick around in the league for a very long time, which fits the Wizards’ timeline and needs.

However, Allen is also a streaky shooter and has a history of making questionable plays. The Wizards would need to be patient with him as he continues to develop; fortunately for him, they have the luxury of time on their side if he ever ends up in the capital city.

In his five NBA seasons, Allen has averaged 10.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while maintaining a career 39.9 percent 3-point shooter, which is evidently in the upper echelon of the league.

The Wizards are in the early stages of a rebuild, and they need young players with potential but also complementary pieces to assist their current starting lineup. Heading into next season, it’s looking like they’re going to be relying a ton on guys like Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole to do a lot of the heavy lifting on the offensive end. Allen is a young, score-first wing who can be both of those things for them should this acquisition happen.

It’s not hard to see how well Allen would fit this unit. Allen would likely start at shooting guard for the Wizards alongside Kuzma and Poole. He would be the primary three-point shooter of the three, and he would also be responsible for creating shots for his teammates.

The combination of Allen, Kuzma, and Poole would give the Wizards a very versatile and dangerous offensive lineup. Allen’s shooting would open up driving lanes for Kuzma and Poole, and his playmaking would help to create easy shots for his teammates. Allen’s defense would also help to improve the Wizards’ overall defense.

As it currently stands, Allen is definitely a more valuable asset than Wright, given the latter’s age, so the Wizards could potentially get more draft picks or young players in a trade for him. This would help them accelerate their rebuild.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to trade Delon Wright for Grayson Allen will come down to the Wizards’ priorities. If they are focused on winning now, then they will likely keep Wright. However, if they are focused on rebuilding while also staying relatively competitive for their home crowd, then they should at the very least consider trading for Allen.

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