Delon Wright agrees to buyout with Wizards, plans to sign with Heat

Guard Delon Wright has agreed to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards and is expected to sign with the Miami Heat, ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski first reported Friday.

Wright is the younger brother of Dorell Wright, who was drafted No. 19 overall by the Heat in the 2004 NBA Draft and spent his first six seasons with the franchise. Dorell Wright was a part of the Heat’s first championship team in 2005-06.

Washington Wizards guard Delon Wright has agreed on a contract buyout, clearing the way for him to sign with the Miami Heat upon clearing waivers, his agent Greg Lawrence tells ESPN. Another dependable veteran for the Heat’s rotation. pic.twitter.com/rLqQRgPiFM

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 16, 2024

Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald confirmed Wojnarowski’s report; the Heat had one available roster spot and can give either the prorated minimum or the prorated taxpayer mid-level exception that was freed up by offloading Kyle Lowry for Terry Rozier.

Can confirm @wojespn report that the Heat is expected to sign guard Delon Wright following his buyout with the Wizards.

— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) February 16, 2024

Wright will have to clear waivers before the move becomes official.

The 31-year-old appeared in 33 games with the Wizards this season, averaging 4.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 13.8 minutes per game; those numbers equate to roughly 10.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.7 steals per 75 possessions.

He is in the midst of his 9th NBA season and has played for six other franchises: The Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks. For his career, he’s averaged 7.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game on 45.3/35.4/80.5 (55.4 TS%) shooting splits.

Wright’s been inefficient from the floor this year, but has shot 36.8 percent from 3-point range (1.1 3PA)–including 44.0 percent on spot-up attempts, which take up roughly 65.8 percent of his 3-point shot profile and 20.5 percent of his overall shot profile, per NBA.com’s shot tracking data. He has shot below 35.0 percent on spot-up 3-point attempts three times since the start of 2016-17, his second season in the league.

Wright, most importantly, is a bulldog defender at the point-of-attack. Standing at 6-foot-5, 185 pounds, he has a plus-three wingspan that affords him the length to create deflections. He has good dexterity and a good center of balance when matched up against bigger wings, thus making it harder for him to get pushed off his spots whether he’s in the post or on the perimeter.

He’s also a good screen navigator, which the Heat lacks, for the most part. Wright should fit in seamlessly atop the Heat’s 2-2-1 press and 2-3 zone alongside Haywood Highsmith, Josh Richardson (when he’s healthy) and Caleb Martin.

The Heat’s defense has been the best in the NBA in February and the 8th-best this season … and it just got better. What do you think about Wright’s addition? Let us know in the comments!

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