The Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly placed center Tristan Thompson on the trade block. As contenders presumably line up with hopes of acquiring Thompson, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst dropped a nugget while appearing on Zach Lowe’s ESPN Radio podcast that the Washington Wizards are a “surprise buyer” ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline and are interested in Thompson.
Candace Buckner of The Washington Post later confirmed Windhorst’s report saying the Wizards have indeed expressed interest in Thompson.
The level of interest is unknown. Washington is lurking around the playoff picture, currently 4.5 games out of the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference despite a 17-32 record.
The Wizards have struggled at center with production and health. Thomas Bryant and Ian Mahinmi have each played in 29 of the Wizards’ 49 games. Bryant is the team’s leading rebounder with 7.4 boards per game, adding 12.9 points per game on 58.8% shooting from the field.
Meanwhile, Tristan Thompson is averaging 11.9 points and 10.4 rebounds on 50.8% shooting.
Thompson would add defense in the pick-and-roll and protecting the rim that Bryant and Mahinmi are lacking. Thompson also adds the ability to attack the glass. However, what would be the packaging offered to acquire him may be tricky for Washington.
Thompson is in the last year of his contract with a cap hit of a bit more than $18.5 million. The lone matching part to offer may be Mahinmi who carries a $15.45 million cap hit for this season.
Mahinmi is in the final year of his deal as well. Trading him to improve in the post with Thompson may make sense. However, the Wizards are just about $3.1 million below the NBA’s luxury tax. Adding Thompson would add $3.1 million to their payroll.
Could more moving parts be offered in the deal?
Veteran guard Isaiah Thomas makes the league minimum at $2.3 million?!
The NBA’s trade deadline is Thursday at 3:00 PM ET. We’ll have to wait until then to see if the Wizards will push their chips in for Thompson or any other available player to contend for a playoff spot.
