Nick Nurse realized a Trae Young trade was coming after noticing CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert were ruled out as sick but appeared fine on the bench during the Wizards loss to the 76ers.
Nick Nurse did not need an insider tip to realize something big was coming for the Washington Wizards. During Philadelphia 76ers blowout win 131-110 over Washington, the 76ers head coach picked up on small details that pointed toward an incoming Trae Young trade
Before the game, the Wizards listed CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert as out due to illness. Neither player suited up, even though both are key rotation pieces. With Washington clearly shorthanded, the game quickly turned into a one-sided win for the Sixers.
But what caught Nurse’s attention was not the box score. It was what he saw on the bench.
“Someone said they were sick, but then I saw them standing over there, and they didn't look very sick,” Nurse said, via Austin Krell.
Credit AFP – Scanpix
From Nurse’s point of view, the situation did not add up. The players were active on the sideline, moving around, and did not show signs of being unwell. In today’s NBA, that often means one thing: trade protection.
Teams frequently sit players involved in major deals to avoid any risk before the paperwork is finalized. Nurse connected the dots quickly, especially with rumors already linking Washington to a major move.
Shortly after the final buzzer, the picture became clear. McCollum and Kispert were part of a deal that sent Trae Young to Washington. The Wizards were willing to absorb a heavy loss if it meant securing a franchise point guard.
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