Nuggets & Wizards Swing Trade

The Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets are close to finalizing a four-player deal, according to NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

Washington is finalizing a trade to acquire Denver's Will Barton and Monte Morris for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

It's the first deal for newly-installed Nuggets president of basketball operations Calvin Booth, as he is sending Monte Morris and Will Barton to the Wizards for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith.  

KCP is viewed by the Nuggets as a better 3-and-D fit than Barton. They're both defensive-minded wings. 

But Morris, who sources say was courted by at least 20 teams, was a starting-calibre point guard who will no longer be able to start now that Jamal Murray is expected back full-time this coming season for the Nuggets. 

The other interesting note comes from an NBA record about to be set by Ish Smith:

Assuming Ish Smith plays 1 game in Denver, he would set the record for most franchises played with in NBA history at 13.

— Matt Williams (@StatsWilliams) June 29, 2022

Once he gets into a game for Denver, Smith will set the record most teams played for in NBA history, at 13. 

Photo Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports