In a swap of players with expiring contracts, the Washington Wizards have traded guard Jordan McRae to the Denver Nuggets for guard Shabazz Napier.
McRae was averaging 12.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Wizards this season. The 28-year-old out of Tennessee had surgery on his right ring finger in October. He's recently been dealing with a twisted left ankle.
The Nuggets are filling backcourt depth -- a position of need behind Jamal Murray, Will Barton, Gary Harris and Monte Morris. More importantly, they get early Bird rights to sign him as a free agent.
McRae joins a Nuggets team that's off to a 36-16 start and currently sits in third place in the Western Conference. He provides back-court depth behind Jamal Murray, Will Barton, Gary Harris and Monte Morris.
Napier, a 2014 first-round pick by the Hornets, was part of the four-team, 12-player trade on Tuesday, going from Minnesota to Denver.
He is averaging 9.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
