WIZ GETS SCORING BOOST WITH BOGDANOVIC IN 4-PLAYER SWAP
The Washington Wizards acquired swingman Bojan Bogdanovic and center/power forward Chris McCullough from the Brooklyn Nets for forward/center Andrew Nicholson, shooting guard Marcus Thornton, and a lottery-protected 1st-round draft pick in 2017.
What does it give the Washington Wizards
It's hard not to love this move by the Wiz. In Bogdanovic they get a veteran sixth man, one of the league's more underrated perimeter-scoring swingmen and a player who brings excellent shooting and scoring talent (and has proven capable of starting regularly in the NBA when needed). Meanwhile McCullough is one of the more athletic young big man prospects in the Association, and he may prove to be a steal a few years down the road (if he can stay healthy and keep developing ideally). On top of all this, Washington also frees up cap space for the future in moving Nicholson's deal, which has three-plus more years on it (while Bogdanovic's expires this summer).
What does it give the Brooklyn Nets
This is a head-scratcher of a swap by the woeful Nets. While Nicholson might have some untapped talent, he hasn't graduated past role player status yet in his NBA career. The fact Brooklyn is taking on his three-plus years of salary is tough to figure (although Thornton's deal comes off the books this summer). In Thornton the Nets get a veteran clubhouse presence, but not much more at this point. If the pick had been in the lottery this move might have made more sense.
Fantasy impact
Expect Nicholson to battle with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for minutes at small forward the rest of this season, and for neither to be very fantasy-viable (with no other Nets regulars affected significantly by this transaction). Bogdanovic probably bumps Kelly Oubre from Washington's sixth man role, but also gets a fantasy downgrade (since he likely will be less involved in the offense with his new team than he was with Brooklyn). McCullough remains a fantasy non-factor for this season.
Player focus
Brooklyn Nets
a first-round draft pick in 2017 (lottery protected)