Daniel Gafford got a quick chance to play his old team last night, and went for 16 points, 17 boards, and five blocks in 24 minutes in Dallas’ win over the Wizards – a performance so good Kyle Kuzma joked Gafford ‘has the easiest job in sports taking lobs from Luka Doncic.’
He was the only Wizard dealt at the deadline though, which is something that didn’t surprise WaPo beat writer Ava Wallace.
“I was a little surprised, but less so when you look at the number of first-round picks available league-wide at the deadline,” Wallace said. “I think it’s smart they didn’t just give away Tyus Jones, who has been hugely important in the rebuild, for just a couple of second-round picks, and the same with Kuzma – the ask was high, and the picks weren’t there. That’s all part of the plan: They’re going to go slow and steady and not make rash decisions when they have flexibility. I think they were pretty deliberate, and pried one of the only first-round picks that really went around in this cycle.”
So where ARE we in that rebuild, and how do the Wiz feel about it being 9-44 as we close in on the All-Star break?
“They definitely want to be more competitive; they’re not unhappy with their place, but definitely unhappy with their record, because maybe they didn’t want to be THIS bad – and that’s probably part of the reason Wed Unseld is gone,” Wallace said. “But this is still so early, and that’s why you see a guy like Gafford move at the deadline – he was under contract not making a ton of money and was having a good year, so when you get rid of a guy like that for picks and flexibility, that’s how you know how close to the beginning this is.”
Take a listen to Wallace’s entire segment about the state of the Wizards above!
