An aged Wizards guard, 31, floated as a trade target for the Celtics.
The Boston Celtics had one spot on their roster going into the 2023–24 campaign. They could certainly wait until the middle of the season to fill it, but they could also shuffle some players around to strengthen their lineup. Delon Wright of the Washington Wizards is one such choice.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report outlined his reasoning for thinking Wright would improve the depth of the Celtics.
“He is most useful on defense, where he can play lead guard (6’5”) with good length and an instinctive ability to maximize his physical attributes. Although his career 35.3 percent on low volume outside shooting is a ceiling for his offensive potential, he can create for others and make plays in the open court at any time.
“An MCL sprain has kept him out of action for the time being, but if he can get past this, the Celtics may consider him a plug-and-play candidate. In a story published on November 21, Buckley stated, “He also shouldn’t cost a ton in a trade, as he’s a 31-year-old non-star on an expiring contract.”
Wright is a journeyman in the NBA, having spent nine seasons on seven different teams. But compared to some of the other players the Celtics have on their bench, he has more experience. They would need to make some moves in order to acquire him without having to alter their rotation because he is owed nearly $8.2 million this season.
Given that the Wizards are one of the worst teams in the league, acquiring him might not cost much either.
On November 26, following the Celtics’ victory over the Hawks, Jayson Tatum gave Dalano Banton credit for his performance playing with the starting lineup. He also complimented Banton on being prepared for the moment the Celtics called his name.
According to Brian Robb of MassLive, Tatum told reporters, “DB’s been in this league for a little while.” “He has a high level of skill at the game. He also belongs to the group of prepared people. They work on their reads, stay conditioned, and come in every day so that we can simply plug in specific guys and keep the game going during these situations where players are in and out of the lineup.
He performed admirably, competed, and produced several clutch plays for us, so I was glad to see him given this chance.
Despite their differences in size, Delon Wright and Banton play the same position as bulky point guards. Considering that Wright has more experience than Banton, he should be able to start in an emergency situation just as well as Banton.
The Boston Celtics announced on November 27 through their X account that they had reassigned rookie Jordan Walsh to the Maine Celtics, their G-League affiliate.
Walsh’s assignment might be a sign that Jrue Holiday will soon rejoin the Celtics. He is doubtful for the November 28 Celtics game against the Chicago Bulls, but things could change.
Despite missing the last two games for the Celtics, Holiday’s ankle injury does not appear to be serious. If Delon Wright is acquired, it may allay worries in the event that Holiday is ever absent for an extended length of time.
