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Summer agenda: Washington Wizards
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The Vertical Front-Office Insider Bobby Marks, a 20-year executive with the Nets, examines the off-season plans for teams that didn’t make the postseason.
THE PLAN GOING FORWARD
Audit the Season
High expectations in October ended in disappointment.
Step one of the aftermath of missing the playoffs has already started with Scott Brooks replacing Randy Wittman as head coach.
With no draft picks this June, the Wizards would be best served to take the next month not working out prospects but breaking down the season, layer by layer. Every facet of the Wizards’ basketball operation needs to be analyzed, including players, coaching, medical staff and roster direction.
Every team does this, but Washington will need to take it to another level this offseason.
Find a wingman for John Wall
Bradley Beal and Otto Porter have each shown flashes of being John Wall’s top complement. However, Beal (health, minutes restrictions) and Porter (development) have not shown enough consistency.
In a perfect world, Beal can shake the injury bug, and Porter can take another big step this summer. But until Washington can solidify either spot, Wall will continue to struggle on his own.
Get creative with Beal’s contract
The Wizards’ most important decision this summer will not rest on their projected cap space, but finding a comfort level with Beal, a restricted free agent.
Beal, when healthy, is one of the top shooting guards in the East and a terrific complement to Wall. But he has missed more than 70 total games in the last four seasons, 40 because of a right-leg stress reaction.
Wizards management must find the right contract terms with Beal, who was once thought of as a max-contract player.
Similar to the contract parameters of Brook Lopez of the Nets, Washington needs to protect itself contractually in case Beal misses extensive time with the right-leg injury.
Although the ball is in the Wizards’ court now, the pressure starts once Beal entertains offers from other teams.
Expectation level with cap space
Smaller successful moves should be what Washington aims for this summer.
Once billed as the summer of Kevin Durant, Washington could have close to $28 million in cap space this July, but it needs to have realistic expectations going forward.
TEAM NEEDS
With five players under contract and no draft picks, Washington has plenty of holes to fill.
Figuring out if the starting lineup fits should be the first goal, but replenishing a bench that loses every key backup will be just as important.
SUMMER CAP BREAKDOWN
Guaranteed | 2016-17 | Insider info |
1. John Wall | $16,957,900 | None |
2. Marcin Gortat | $12,000,000 | None |
3. Otto Porter | $5,893,981 | Eligible for rookie extension |
4. Kelly Oubre | $2,006,640 | None |
5. Markieff Morris | $7,400,000 | None |
Non/partial | 2016-17 | Guarantee date |
6. Drew Gooden | $3,547,000 | Full protection after July 15 |
7. Jarell Eddie | $980,431 | Full protection after July 15 |
FA cap holds | 2016-17 | Free-agent status |
8. Bradley Beal | $14,236,685 | Restricted/full Bird rights |
9. Jared Dudley | $8,075,000 | Full Bird rights |
10. Alan Anderson | $4,800,000 | Non-Bird rights |
11. Ramon Sessions | $2,821,605 | Early Bird rights |
12. Marcus Thornton | $980,431 | Non-Bird rights |
13. Garrett Temple | $980,431 | Early Bird rights |
14. Nene Hilario | $19,500,000 | Full Bird rights |
15. J.J. Hickson | $980,431 | Non-Bird rights |
16. Will Bynum | $947,276 | Cap hold |
17. Al Harrington | $947,276 | Cap hold |
Dead money
Martell Webster, $833,333 (stretch provision)
Guaranteed | $44,258,521 |
Non/partial | $4,527,431 |
FA cap holds | $54,269,135 |
First-round holds | $0 |
Minimum holds | $0 |
Dead money | $833,333 |
Total | $103,888,420 |
Salary cap | $92,000,000 |
Cap space | None ($11,888,420 over cap) |
PROJECTED CAP SPACE
Washington is likely to have close to $28 million in cap space this summer once free-agent cap holds (other than Beal's) are renounced, or if their free agents sign with another team.
Until then, Washington technically is considered to be over the cap.
JUNE DRAFT PICKS
First round: To Phoenix
Second round: To Atlanta
FUTURE PICKS
First round
Own all first round picks starting in 2017.
Key rights to: Aaron White (Pick No. 49, 2015); Tomas Satoransky (Pick No. 32, 2012)
PREVIOUS SUMMER AGENDAS: Nets | Pelicans | Timberwolves | Lakers | Knicks
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