The Washington Wizards may already be open to moving on from multiple players they acquired just this past offseason, as the team reportedly could have trade candidates in players like Danilo Gallinari and perhaps also Jordan Poole.
“The Wizards are expected to look to move forward Danilo Gallinari ahead of the February trade deadline, and likely even closer to the middle of December, when more players become trade-eligible,” wrote NBA insider Sam Amico.
This maybe should not come as a huge surprise, with the Wizards off to a 2-11 start to the 2023-24 NBA season heading into their game against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. But the fact that the Wizards may already be exploring their options after just 13 games speaks volumes about the state of the franchise.
“Gallinari isn’t the only name being mentioned when it comes to players the rebuilding Wizards could unload this season,” wrote Amico. “Point guard Tyus Jones and shooting guard Landry Shamet are believed to be others — with even starting guard Jordan Poole also being viewed as an outside possibility as a trade candidate.”
Gallinari arrived in Washington as part of the three-team trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics. It also included Jones coming over from the Memphis Grizzlies.
Poole was acquired by the Wizards in the trade that sent Chris Paul to the Golden State Warriors. Washington had acquired the veteran guard in addition to Shamet in a trade with the Phoenix Suns that sent Bradley Beal the other way and included the Indiana Pacers.
Poole is Washington’s second-leading scorer at 16.6 points per game — behind Kyle Kuzma at 23.4 points per game — but more was expected of the 24-year-old heading into the season, perhaps in part to increase his trade value.
So far, he has continued to show some of the troubling tendencies that may have caused the Warriors to ship him out despite Golden State’s decision to sign him to a lucrative contract extension prior to last season.
The 35-year-old Gallinari attracted some interest this past offseason, and it’s possible that will be the case again now that the Wizards may be shopping him and his 8.3 points per game.
Jones is averaging 10.3 points per game, and the 27-year-old leads the Wizards with 4.7 assists per contest. Shamet is at 6.8 points per game after the 26-year-old broke his toe before the season.
Poole and Jones have started all 13 of the Wizards’ games so far, with Gallinari and Shamet being used off the bench.
Washington is coming off back-to-back 35-win seasons, and it looks like the team will be hard-pressed to come close to that total this season.
