Sat, Jul 19, 2014 at 1:11pm

WIZ ADDS VET HUMPHRIES VIA SIGN-AND-TRADE

In a sign-and-trade deal, the Washington Wizards acquired power forward-center Kris Humphries from the Boston Celtics for a trade exception worth $4.3 million and a protected 2nd-round draft pick in 2015.

What does it give the Washington Wizards
Last season the Wizards had the energetic {P=2745 Trevor Booker} backing up the post positions, but he's undersized and has moved on to the Utah Jazz. Enter Humphries, an upgrade as the third big man in Washington's rotation. He's proven he can be an above-average starter at either power forward or center if needed, and Humphries gets a 3-year, $13 million deal with his new squad. This is a very nice, underrated pickup for a Wizards team on the rise.

What does it give the Boston Celtics
The Celtics are a very young squad in overhaul mode, so Humphries wasn't an ideal fit considering their need to give bigger minutes to talented emerging big men such as {P Jared Sullinger}, {P Kelly Olynyk}, and {P Tyler Zeller}. The trade exception helps with Boston's future plans, since over the next year they can now trade for a player whose contract is worth up to $4.3 million--without having to move a similarly-salaried player the other way in return.

Fantasy impact
Humphries has some solid sleeper fantasy appeal with the Wizards (especially if {P Nene Hilario} gets injured again) and this trade likely nullifies next season's sleeper value of promising young Wizards post player {P Kevin Seraphin}. On the Boston side of the transaction, this probably ensures regular minutes next season for the three-man rotation of {P Jared Sullinger}, {P Kelly Olynyk}, and {P Tyler Zeller}.