Washington Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard clarified his “fastest trade” comment on Monday regarding the Dwight Howard trade.
The Wizards traded Howard to the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this summer. Sheppard told ESPN it was the fastest trade ever and it only took 15 minutes to complete. The new Wizards GM says that was mostly because Washington couldn't offer Howard a starting spot since they re-signed Thomas Bryant.
Tommy Sheppard clarifies his “fastest trade” comments to ESPN on Dwight Howard, saying it was partly because they couldn’t offer a starting job with Thomas Bryant re-signed.
— Chase Hughes (@ChaseHughesNBCS) July 22, 2019
Dwight Howard averaged 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds with the Wizards in 2018-19 while shooting 62.3 percent from the field. He played in just nine games due to back surgery. The Grizzlies are widely expected to waive Howard.
Thomas Bryant put up 10.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists this past season. He shot 61.6 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and 78.1 percent from the free-throw line. The Wizards re-signed Bryant to a three-year, $25 million contract.
Washington had no choice but to trade Howard. Bryant is younger and a better player at this point in his career. There's no way Howard was going to accept a bench role with the Wizards. Washington probably did Howard a favor by trading him to Memphis. Once he gets waived by the Grizzlies, the former All-Star can pick which team he wants to play for next.
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