The Brooklyn Nets have traded Bojan Bogdanovic and Chris McCollough to the Washington Wizards for Andre Nicholson, Marcus Thornton and a lottery-protected 2017 first-round pick.
Washington Wizards: B-
Additions: Bojan Bogdanovic and Chris McCullough
After missing out on Lou Williams, the Wizards turned their sights to Bogdanovic in an attempt to bolster their second unit. Trading for Bogdanovic gives the Wizards an automatic boost to their bench production, acquiring a player who is currently shooting 44 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point land.
Bogdanovic was the second-leading scorer for the Nets this season, averaging 14.2 PPG, a stat slightly inflated by the team’s lack of offensive talent. Nevertheless, Bogdanovic’s ability to knock down shots will provide the floor spacing and three-point shooting Washington desired as they gear up for the playoffs.
Bojan will be a restricted free agent this offseason and the Wizards will have the option to protect their investment by matching any offer sheet Bogdanovic signs.
The Wizards also get the opportunity to take a look at former first-round pick Chris McCullough, a relic of the Billy King Era. McCullough has spent the majority of his NBA career in the D-League and has shown little promise of developing into a consistent NBA Player.
Brooklyn Nets: B
Additions: Andre Nicholson, Marcus Thornton and a lottery-protected 2017 first-round pick
Bogdanovic was the only Nets player, not named Brook Lopez, to garnish serious attention on the trade market and Nets’ General Manager Sean Marks was determined to capitalize on his value.
In return for Bogdanovic, the deal sends a coveted first-round draft pick to Brooklyn, as the team continues to recoup the draft picks lost in the infamous 2013 trade, where the Nets sent the rights to four first-round draft picks (2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018) to Boston for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. The Nets now have two 2017 first-round picks in a draft that is expected to be one of the deepest in recent years.
Bogdanovic, who turns 28 years old in April, did not factor into the Nets rebuilding plans past this season and the Nets have sold high on 6’8” Yugoslavian. In order to seal the deal, the Nets had to take back the contracts of Marcus Thornton and Andrew Nicholson, who has three years and $20 million left on his contract. Nicholson, a former first-round pick by the Orlando Magic, has been buried deep on the Washington bench this season and is averaging only 2.5 PPG in eight minutes.
Overall, the loss of Bogdanovic and the addition of Nicholson’s contract is a small price to pay acquire another first-round pick. With the Nets record at 9-47, expect the Nets to continue to be sellers as the NBA trade deadline approaches.
The Brooklyn Nets get the win on this deal.