NBA Trade Rumors: Pelicans trade Tim Frazier to the Wizards
In a puzzling move, the New Orleans Pelicans have traded backup Tim Frazier to the Washington Wizards for a late second rounder.
According to Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders, the Pelicans and Wizards agreed to a trade that will send backup Tim Frazier to Washington in exchange for the 52nd pick in the NBA Draft.
The move comes as a major surprise for the Pelicans. With starting point guard Jrue Holiday hitting unrestricted free agency in July, the team’s backcourt situation is uncertain at best. Frazier, who turns 27 in the fall, has played well for New Orleans over the past two seasons. He filled in for Holiday at the start of the season and established some chemistry with Anthony Davis in the pick and roll.
Trading Frazier, who’s only making $2 million next season, for pick 52 in the draft doesn’t seem particularly prudent. While Frazier isn’t a top shelf backup, he’s a competent player that is valuable to the Pelicans. If Holiday leaves in July, the Pelicans will have no point guards they can trust on the roster and no real way to attain a starter level player. They just won’t have enough cap space unless they can unload Omer Asik or Alexis Ajinca, which will cost them assets. Maybe New Orleans has another move in mind, but as matters currently stand, this trade hurt them.
For the Wizards, the trade makes much more sense. The struggles of the Wizards bench have been well documented throughout the season. Backup point was especially brutal for Washington last year; Trey Burke had another disappointing season and Tomas Satoransky couldn’t shoot. The acquisition of Brandon Jennings didn’t improve the team’s bench play either, and the Celtics exposed his weak defense in the playoffs.
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Adding Frazier for a low price makes sense for Washington. He can bolster the team’s guard rotation and help prop up the struggling bench mob.