The Wizards Acquired Bojan Bogdanović for a Protected First
On February 22, 2017, Washington acquired wing scorer Bojan Bogdanović and forward Chris McCullough from Brooklyn. The Nets received forward Andrew Nicholson, guard Marcus Thornton and a protected future first-round pick that conveyed at No. 22 in the 2017 draft. Brooklyn ultimately selected center Jarrett Allen with that choice. Washington was seeking another scorer for its playoff push beside John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr., while the Nets prioritized a premium future selection during a rebuild. Nicholson and Thornton were salaries and roster options rather than the principal long-term basketball return. The deal was more than Bogdanović for Allen directly, because Allen had not yet been drafted and the first had conditions attached. The agreement exchanged immediate wing offense for draft capital and veteran contracts.
Bogdanović Helped the Wizards Reach the Second Round
Bogdanović averaged 12.7 points in 26 regular-season appearances with Washington following the trade. He supplied outside shooting and bench offense as the Wizards advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where Boston beat them in seven games. He then signed with Indiana in free agency, so Washington did not receive multiple seasons of his production. McCullough was a younger forward available for development, though he did not become a long-term Washington starter. The Wizards C inherited grade acknowledges a useful playoff rental while discounting the first-round selection surrendered. Bogdanović later scored many points for Indiana, Utah and Detroit, but those performances cannot be counted as Washington franchise benefit from the February agreement. The direct return was a timely addition to an established Eastern contender.
Jarrett Allen Became the Rebuilding Asset for Brooklyn
The Nets used the conveyed No. 22 draft choice on Texas center Jarrett Allen. He appeared in 72 games as a rookie in 2017-18, averaging 8.2 points and 5.4 rebounds, and developed into a much more substantial starting center over subsequent Brooklyn seasons. His defense, rebounding and rim finishing provided value beyond what is usually expected from a selection late in the first round. Brooklyn later moved him to Cleveland in the January 2021 James Harden package, another transaction that must be evaluated separately. Nicholson and Thornton did not represent an equivalent long-term core on their own; the pick was the decisive part of Brooklyn return. The Nets B+ inherited grade reflects converting a veteran scoring rental into a strong young center with tangible NBA production.
Final Verdict
Nets Win. Brooklyn receives B+ for Andrew Nicholson, Marcus Thornton and a protected 2017 first-rounder that became No. 22 Jarrett Allen, a multi-season starting center. Washington gets C for Bojan Bogdanović, who averaged 12.7 points in 26 games during its 2017 playoff run, and Chris McCullough. The pick created the longer-term return.