After locking up Bradley Beal to a maximum-salary contract in 2016, the Wizards committed max deals to two more players during the 2017 offseason. Otto Porter‘s went into effect this past season, while John Wall‘s – which could start at approximately $37.8MM – will begin in 2019/20. Even before Wall’s huge raise hits their cap, the Wizards have very limited flexibility, reducing the club’s options in free agency this summer. It remains to be seen if the trade market can help Washington upgrade its roster.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Wizards financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2018:
Guaranteed Salary
- Otto Porter ($26,011,913)
- Bradley Beal ($25,434,262)
- John Wall ($19,169,800)
- Ian Mahinmi ($15,944,154)
- Marcin Gortat ($13,565,218)
- Markieff Morris ($8,600,000)
- Kelly Oubre ($3,208,630)
- Tomas Satoransky ($3,129,187)
- Martell Webster ($833,333) — Waived via stretch provision
- Total: $115,896,497
Player Options
- Jason Smith ($5,450,000)
- Jodie Meeks ($3,454,500)
- Total: $8,904,500
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- None
Restricted Free Agents
- None
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Tim Frazier ($3,800,000): Bird rights
- No. 15 overall pick ($2,725,615)
- Chris McCullough ($2,243,326): Bird rights
- Ty Lawson ($1,499,698): Non-Bird rights
- Mike Scott ($1,499,698): Non-Bird rights
- Ramon Sessions ($1,499,698): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $13,268,035
Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000
Projected Cap Room: None
- The Wizards will be well over the cap threshold again in 2018/19, barring major cuts and/or trades. If we assume Smith and Meeks exercise their player options, the Wizards’ total team salary – taking into account their 10 player contracts, plus cap charges for their first-round pick and an empty roster spot – would get all the way up to $128,357,923.
- That projected team salary isn’t just over the cap — it’s also well over the estimated tax line. So the Wizards may look to cut costs to avoid paying the tax for a team that mustered just two playoff wins.
Note: Rookie scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Only 2 teams have a shot at winning and 75% of the league will likely end up over the luxury tax limit next year lol.
The more I think about the more a Cousins sign and trade for Porter makes sense.
To my knowledge Washgtn is ~$3mil over the apron (of ~$125mil). They cannot receive a signandtrade player while over the apron unless the trade puts them under. So they will have to send out another player too, or get Cousins to sign for 23 mil or less, which is far short of the max. And he has to agree. And the Pels would have to want the other player. And the Wizrds would be even more strapped if they don’t get that discount on Cousins– Porter only makes 26 mil. Not sure what Cousins’ max is.
It’s complicated. But there are several teams like the Wzrds that should trade perimeter scoring for frontline scoring.
Literally the worst case of money and management I’ve seen of any nba team so far. All that money for barely 5-6 guys and now how you going to fill the squad out? Clearly the current team isn’t getting it done so now what? 3 Players on max contracts for next years to come which takes nearly 70% of it right there
They are close to having the whole cap just covering Wall, Beale and Porter. Will they be able to play with just three players. Should Ernie be resigned to a max contract also?