NBA 2024 Offseason Check-In: Washington Wizards

Hoops Rumors looks at the 2024 offseason for all 30 NBA teams and recaps the summer free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures and more. We take a look at each team's offseason moves and consider what could come before the start of the regular season. Today we'll focus on that Washington Wizards.

Free agent signings

• Jonas Valanciunas: Three years, $30,295,000. Third year without guarantee. Signed with Bird Rights and purchased from Pelicans via Sign-and-Trade.
• Saddiq Bey: Three years, $19,000,000. Includes an additional $1 million in unlikely incentives. Signed except for the middle level for non-taxpayers.
• Anthony Gill: Two years, minimum salary ($4,784,366). Second year without guarantee. Re-signed except for the minimum salary.
• Leaky black: One year, minimum salary. Not guaranteed (Appendix 10). Signed except for the minimum salary.
• Kira Lewis: One year, minimum salary. Not guaranteed (Appendix 10). Signed except for the minimum salary.
• Jaylen Nowell: One year, minimum salary. Not guaranteed (Appendix 10). Signed except for the minimum salary.

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• I have acquired the design rights Kyshawn George (No. 24 pick) from the Knicks in exchange for draft rights Dillon Jones (pick No. 26) and the pick No. 51 in the 2024 draft.
• Acquired Malcolm Brogdon; the design rights Carlton Carrington (No. 14 pick); either the 2029 first-round pick of the Trail Blazers, Celtics or Bucks (whichever is second-cheapest); the Warriors' 2028 second-round pick; and the Trail Blazers' 2030 second-round pick from the Trail Blazers in exchange for Deni Avdija.
• Acquired Jonas Valanciunas (sign-and-trade) from the Pelicans in exchange for the Bulls' 2027 second-round pick (top-50 protected).

Draft picks

• 1-2: Alex Sarr
  • Signed a rookie contract (four years, $51,036,398).
• 1-14: Carlton Carrington
  • Signed a rookie contract (four years, $21,290,769).
• 1-24: Kyshawn George
  • Signed a rookie contract (four years, $14,336,172).

Bilateral contract signings

Departed/unsigned free agents

Other movements

Salary cap situation

• Operating above the cap ($140.6 million) and below the luxury tax limit ($170.8 million).
• Has a salary of approximately $161.1 million.
• The hard cap is $178,132,000.
• Approximately $6.4 million in mid-level exemptions available for non-taxpayers; Full Semi-Annual Exemption ($4.7M) available.
• Two traded player exemptions available (maximum value $12,402,000).

The off-season so far

When a new front office takes over the basketball operations department of an NBA team, that new group often has little connection to the club's incumbent players and seeks to gradually fill the roster with their own people. This is especially true when the team is in rebuilding mode.

Although I didn't necessarily expect the Wizards to move Deni Avdija It wasn't much of a surprise to top decision makers this offseason Michael Winger And Will Dawkins decided to capitalize on Avdija's 2023-24 career year by cashing in on a player drafted by the previous regime whose value was at an all-time high.

Based on reporting in the spring, we knew that the Wizards, who had the second and 26th overall picks in June's draft, wanted to continue accumulating picks – and specifically, add a third first-rounder for 2024. The Avdija deal helped them do exactly that. By sending the Ascendant to Portland and taking over Malcolm BrogdonTo help the Blazers get out of tax territory, Washington added two future second-round picks and two first-rounders, including this year's No. 14 overall pick, to the expiring $22.5 million contract.

It was a smart trade by the Wizards, who may be able to trade Brogdon for something valuable later this season. The veteran guard didn't fit into Portland's crowded backcourt on a team with financial concerns, but he's a career 39.1 percent three-point shooter who is just two years removed from winning Sixth Man of the Year honors . If healthy, Brogdon should appeal to teams looking for help in the backcourt at this year's trade deadline.

With the No. 14 pick in that deal, the Wizards selected the Pittsburgh guard Carlton Carringtonwho showed intriguing potential in the Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 15.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists in his five appearances. Carrington slots in at No. 2 overall Alex Sarr and No. 24 selection Kyshawn George (The Wizards gave up their No. 51 pick and moved up two spots from No. 26 for George) to make up Washington's 2024-25 rookie class.

Sarr was considered the top prospect in this year's draft by several experts, and while he didn't shine quite as well as Carrington in Vegas (Sarr made just 9 of 47 field throws, or 19.1%), the slender 19-year-old center has that Potential to be a long-term defensive anchor in DC

At 20 years old, George is actually the oldest of the Wizards' three first-rounders, but like Carrington, he was an experienced college player still in the very early stages of his development. The 6-foot-2 swingman showed an effective outside shot (.408 3PT%) in his first year in Miami and could become a solid shooter and playmaker on the wing, although he likely won't make a significant impact as a rookie.

After adding three young players as potential long-term building blocks, the Wizards spent the remainder of their offseason focused on supplementing their roster with experienced contributors who could make life a little easier for these prospects.

Most notably, the team negotiated a sign-and-trade deal with New Orleans to add an experienced center Jonas Valanciunas on a three-year contract worth about $10 million per year. With a reliable veteran like Valanciunas in the group of five, Washington can take things slowly with Sarr. I wouldn't expect Valanciunas to be part of the Wizards' next playoff team, but he's a perfect backup starter and his contract is team-friendly enough to make him a potential trade chip – LeBron James and the Lakers are said to be interested in him this summer, so it might be worth thinking about again down the road.

The Wizards further solidified their frontcourt by bringing him back Richaun Holmes on a two-year, $25.9 million extension. On the surface, it may seem like an odd move for a player who hasn't logged significant minutes in the past two seasons, but Holmes' new contract (which begins in 2024-25) replaces a $12.88 million player option. dollars and is almost completely unsuitable – guaranteed in the second year.

In other words, the Wizards are essentially paying Holmes the same total salary they would have had he simply chosen that option, but now he has a slightly smaller first-year cap hit and a team option for 2025-26. I wouldn't expect the salary to be guaranteed for 25/26, but whether he regains his 2019-21 form you never know. At least it gives Washington more flexibility when it comes to the big man's future.

The Wizards' other unorthodox summer signing was bringing in former Pistons and Hawks forwards Saddiq Bey with a three-year contract worth $19 million (plus another $1 million in incentives). Bey will likely miss most or all of the 2024-25 season while he recovers from a torn ACL, which is just fine for a Washington team that isn't interested in immediately pushing for a playoff spot.

Assuming Bey is back to 100% by the start of the 25/26 season, he could be a steal on the wing in the final two years of his contract – whereas he had a down year last season before the injury, the first time he did so -Rounder showed promising three-point ability early in his career.

Next

The Wizards are carrying 15 players on fully guaranteed contracts, but also have several others on non-guaranteed contracts who could compete for roster spots in training camp and during the preseason. Jared Butlerwho was on the roster last season is in the mix, as are the camp invitees from Exhibit 10 Kira Lewis, Jaylen NowellAnd Leaky black.

While Exhibit 10 signees are often simply given a ticket to the G League, Lewis and Nowell have several years of NBA experience and are no longer eligible for two-way deals, so I can imagine them going for a 15-year deal. Mann place should be considered.

Patrick Baldwina former first-round pick who has played limited minutes in a total of 69 appearances over his two NBA seasons could be the underdog if one of the 15 players with guaranteed contracts doesn't make the team. Another 2022 first-rounder, Johnny Davisalso has a disappointing NBA resume so far, although he at least played well in Las Vegas in July, while Baldwin's performance in Summer League was inconsistent.

The Wizards also have a two-way slot available – Black is the only camp invitee who could be converted outright to fill it, but the team could also look outside the organization. Butler would also be eligible, but would have to waive and re-sign him.

Corey Kispert isn't the only Wizard eligible for a contract extension this fall, but he's probably the only legitimate candidate for a new contract. He and the team have until October 21st to work out an expansion of the rookie scale.

Kispert has steadily improved over the course of his three NBA seasons, making 40.2% of his three-point attempts over the last two years. He's the type of player who would fit well on many teams and could draw real interest if he hits free agency in 2025. Therefore, it would be in the Wizards' best interest to lock him up now if they could get him at a later date for a reasonable price.

It's worth noting that Kispert is another player drafted by the previous front office, which could reduce the chances of the two sides reaching an agreement in the coming weeks. But like Avdija, who signed a rookie extension last fall, Kispert would be a valuable future trade if he had a favorable long-term contract and the Wizards ultimately decided he wasn't in their plans.