AP Photo/Nick Wass
The Charlotte Hornets could use more backcourt depth after losing Dennis Smith Jr. in free agency to the Brooklyn Nets, and they are reportedly looking at Washington Wizards guard Delon Wright as a potential addition to the team.
“Looking forward, Delon Wright is a trade target the Hornets are eyeing,” wrote Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Wright just finished his eighth season in the NBA and first with the Wizards. He averaged 7.4 points on 47.4 percent shooting, 3.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. Wright played in 50 games (14 starts) and averaged 24.4 minutes per contest.
The 6’5″ guard, who turned 31 in April, has one year remaining on a contract that pays him $8,195,122 in 2023-24.
Washington is in rebuilding mode after parting ways with its top two players in Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porziņģis through trade. With Wright on an expiring contract, the Wizards could hypothetically look to deal him now or before the next trade deadline to get assets in return with an eye toward the future.
As for the Hornets, they could really use a two-way player like Wright, whose defensive efforts would be welcome on a team that just finished No. 20 in defensive efficiency last year, according to Basketball-Reference.
We’ll see if anything happens, but for now, both teams are trying to improve on losses from seasons that kept them both out of the playoff picture last year.
