The Denver Nuggets are finalizing a deal to trade Monte Morris and Will Barton to the Washington Wizards for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith.
Denver made that move to have some financial flexibility, while Washington adds a pair of key veteran players next to Bradley Beal.
Deal is getting final approvals now, and expected to be completed soon, sources said. https://t.co/FNfcClRBUV
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022
Monte Morris averaged 12.6 points and 4.4 assists for the Nuggets last season, while Barton had 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. The Wizards aims to make the playoffs next season and such moves help them increase their depth.
On the other hand, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a decent 3-and-D player and a great fit around Nikola Jokic. He averaged 13.2 points, on 39% from beyond the arc and this will be his third team in the last three seasons.
DEN has had its eye on KCP for a long time — at least dating to last season's trade deadline, per sources — and he's a smoother 3-and-D fit around Jokic than Barton is. With Bones locked in, going from Morris to Ish at backup PG is a relatively painless way to (blech) duck tax. https://t.co/bdRxX1wRRs
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) June 29, 2022
