Wizards trade Jordan McRae to Denver for Shabazz Napier

The Washington Wizards traded forward Jordan McRae to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday in exchange for point guard Shabazz Napier, a source with knowledge of the situation said. 

And to pave way for Napier to get playing time in the backcourt, the Wizards sent starter Isaiah Thomas to the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team trade that netted them reserve shooting guard Jerome Robinson, ESPN reported.

McRae, 28, had appeared in 29 games for Washington this season, averaging a career-high 12.8 points per game. He had recently been out with an ankle injury, but was nearing a return.

Hours earlier, coach Scott Brooks said Thursday McRae was likely to play Friday against the Dallas Mavericks. 

Now, that won’t happen. He’ll head to Denver, a team seen as a contender in the Western Conference. It is unlikely he’ll receive rotation minutes as the Nuggets are a deep team with a set lineup, though they have been affected by injuries as of late. 

Napier, meanwhile, spent 36 games with the Minnesota Timberwolves this season. He was recently traded to Denver on Wednesday in a four-team, 12-player trade, but will be rerouted to Washington.

Drafted 24th overall in 2015, Napier has played for the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota. He’ll compete for minutes with point guard Ish Smith. 

The Washington Post was the first to report the news of the McRae deal.