The Wizards have signed 25-year old center Hilton Armstrong to a 1-year deal. Armstrong played in 33 games (0 starts) for the Hornets, Rockets and Kings in which he averaged 10.2 minutes, 2.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He has now played in 224 games (37 starts) in his four years in his NBA career and he has averaged 12.5 minutes, 3.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Armstrong will provide some depth in the middle but don’t expect miracles out of him as he’s not that good.

The Wizards have acquired 22-year old power forward Yi Jianlian from the Nets for 29-year old SG/SF Quinton Ross. Yi Jianlian is a player on the rise. He played in 52 games (51 starts) for the Nets last season and he averaged 31.8 minutes, 12.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. He has now played in 179 games (152 starts) in his three years in the NBA and he has averaged 26.4 minutes, 9.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Ross played in 25 games (0 starts) for the Wizards last season and he averaged 10.4 minutes, 1.5 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. This is the second trade in the last week that the Wizards stole players from teams trying to clear cap space. I think Yi Jianlian will be the starting power forward for the Wizards in 2010-11.

The Wizards have acquired forward Trevor Booker (#23 overall) and center Hamady Ndiaye (#56 overall) from the Timberwolves for 23-year old forward Lazar Hayward (#30 overall) and 22-year old forward Nemanja Bjelica (#35 overall). 22-year old Trevor Booker is a 6′7″, 240 pound dynamo as he fills up the stat sheet. Booker played in 32 games (all starts) for Clemson last season and he averaged 15.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocked shots per game. He played in 134 games (all starts) in his four years in college and he averaged 12.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.9 blocked shots per game. 23-year old center Hamady Ndiaye is a defensive force in the middle. He is 7′0″, 235 pounds and he plays a big man’s game. Ndiaye played in 32 games (25 starts) for Rutgers last season and he averaged 9.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 4.5 blocked shots per game. He played in 124 games (85 starts) in college and he averaged 5.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 2.9 blocked shots per game. The Wizards got a lot of size in this trade and it was needed.

The Wizards have acquired 20-year old power forward Kevin Seraphin from the Bulls to complete the Kirk Hinrich trade. Seraphin is a big guy at 6′9″, 264 pounds and he has a nice upside. He played in 97 games (47 starts) in his three years in France and he averaged 7.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.0 blocked shots per game. Getting the #17 overall pick (Seraphin) and Kirk Hinrich for a future 2nd round pick was a outstanding move for the Wizards.

It appears as if the Wizards will acquire 29-year old SG/PG Kirk Hinrich and the #17 overall pick in the draft from the Bulls for a future 2nd round pick. The trade can’t be announced until July 8th because the Wizards won’t have the cap space until then. Hinrich played in 74 games (53 starts) last season for the Bulls and he averaged 33.5 minutes, 10.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Hinrich has now played in 514 games (433 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 34.0 minutes, 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Hinrich can swing between the point or shooting guard which really gives the Wizards a nice bunch of players at guard. This was a great trade for the Wizards.

UPDATE: (7/8/2010) - The Wizards have traded the rights to 25-year old power forward Vladimir Veremeenko to the Bulls to complete this trade. He was a draft pick of the Wizards in 2006 who has been playing in Russia.