Big man Jason Smith said he’s interested in returning to the Wizards if they want him, Mike DePrisco of NBC Sports Washington relays. Smith made the comment on a Wizards Postgame Live broadcast. Washington’s frontcourt has been depleted by injuries, including a foot ailment to starting center Thomas Bryant that will sideline him for at least three weeks. The 33-year-old seven-footer played 20 games last season, including 12 with the Wizards.
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- Luka Doncic and Trae Young were essentially traded for each other on draft night 2018 but the Hawks guard doesn’t mind the comparisons, he said in an ESPN interview. “We’re going to be compared throughout our whole careers,” Young said. “That’s fine, that’s what it’s going to be — it happened on draft night, and I don’t think it’ll stop until we’re both retired.”
- The Heat want center Bam Adebayo to be more aggressive offensively, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald tweets. Adebayo is averaging 14.2 PPG while averaging nine shot attempts and 5.7 free throw attempts.
- Trading for DeMar DeRozan doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Magic, Josh Robbins of The Athletic opines. The Magic are reportedly interested in DeRozan but he can become an unrestricted free agent by declining his $27.7MM player option this summer, Robbins notes. Giving up a good young player like Aaron Gordon for DeRozan would be too risky unless the veteran guard made a commitment to stay with Orlando. A trade with the Warriors for guard D’Angelo Russell would be more feasible, though the Magic’s interest level in doing that is unknown, Robbins adds.
Just like Orlando to trade for a player that makes them even worse from 3.
Trae is a good, if not great scorer. However, there is no comparison to Luka. He can let it motivate him all he wants, but they aren’t even in the same conversation.
Keep in mind Luka was traded for Young and a first round pick.
Yep, I know. I’m just talking about them as players. Even still, I’d do that trade 100/100 times over.
I think Derozan would do better at doing what Gordon is supposed to do, than Gordon himself is. Gordon looks so HAPPY shooting a three, even when I would rather see him showing his physicality or creativity on a drive. Derozan does this on the regular!
Writer Robbins says *no unless he signs for longer*, but what if he does? Derozan for Gordon then? I would do it. Derozan makes ~$8MM more, so the Magic would have to add another, such as any of about 7 players between Khem Birch and TRoss. Bamba is supposed to be be looking more viable.