Washington Wizards Offseason Overview
What does the Wizards' cap sheet look like as they head into the draft and free agency? What decisions do the Wizards need to make soon regarding their roster?
After looking at the Utah Jazz's offseason situation, let’s examine the Washington Wizards. Where does the Wizards’ roster and cap sheet stand? Do the Wizards have free agents or trade targets who could fit with the San Antonio Spurs?
Wizards Cap Sheet, Exceptions, and Roster Decisions
When examining the Wizards’ cap sheet, they are projected to be an over-the-cap team this summer.
When including the 6th and 18th first-round picks the Wizards will have in the June draft, Washington already has 11 players under guaranteed contracts. The Wizards’ roster goes up to 16 players when you include Khris Middleton, who has a player option, and then four players on non-guaranteed deals in Richaun Holmes, Anthony Gill, Justin Champagnie, and Colby Jones.
Middleton has until June 29 to exercise his $34 million player option or become an unrestricted free agent. With the Brooklyn Nets looking like the only team with a lot of cap space this offseason, Middleton is unlikely to see that type of money if he opts out, so right now, I’m predicting he exercises the option.
The Wizards have until July 1 to decide on Gill and Jones’ non-guaranteed contracts, while they have until January to decide on Holmes and Champagnie's non-guaranteed deals.
Washington has three players going into free agency: Malcolm Brogdon, who will be an unrestricted free agent, and two-way players Tristan Vukcevic and JT Thor, who can both become restricted free agents if the Wizards tender them qualifying offers by June 29.
With the Wizards expected to be an over-the-cap team, they’ll have access to the non-tax mid-level exception of $14.1 million and the bi-annual exception of $5.1 million to sign free agents or acquire players in trades. The Wizards also have trade player exceptions of $9.9 million, $5.2 million, and $2.4 million that can be used to acquire players.
What does the Wizards’ depth chart look like?
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