Wizards acquire Sam Dekker, trade Jason Smith as part of three-team trade

The Wizards are trading Jason Smith and a 2022 second round pick to the Bucks and acquiring Sam Dekker from Cleveland as part of three-team trade, according to multiple reports.

This is primarily a cost-cutting move for Washington. The move will shave $4.7 million off the team’s luxury tax bill this season, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN. By making the move today, Washington will be able to package Dekker along with other players in potential trades before this season’s February 8 trade deadline.

Fred Katz of The Athletic is reporting the Wizards removed the protections on the 2020 second round pick the team owed Milwaukee from the Jodie Meeks trade inorder to deal the 2022 pick in the Dekker deal.

Speaking of the Jodie Meeks trade, Washington can take Dekker in with the $3.5 million trade exception they created in that deal, which would allow them to create a $5.5 million exception for Smith, according to Albert Nahmad.

Although this move is mostly about helping Washington’s payroll, there’s also a chance it could help on-court product. Smith had only played 130 minutes all season, with most of them coming in garbage time, so even Dekker doesn’t crack the team’s rotation, the team doesn’t lose anything meaningful in this deal.

Anything he provides once he recovers from the ankle injury he suffered last month is a plus and gives Washington more depth on the wing in case of an injury. Plus, if he pans out better than expected, they’ll have matching rights this summer when he enters restricted free agency.