Despite enduring plenty of Bradley Beal trade speculation before and during the 2020/21 season, the Wizards never wavered on their stated plan to build around Beal. And the All-Star guard didn’t force the team’s hand by asking to be dealt, even after a dismal first two-thirds of the season that saw Washington get off to a 17-32 start.
Still, with the Wizards out of the playoff – and play-in – picture in early April, it looked like it might just be a matter of time until the team had to start seriously considering major offseason changes to the roster, the coaching staff, and even the front office. But a 17-6 finish to the regular season and a win in their second play-in game gave the Wizards a glimmer of hope heading into the summer, even if their playoff run was short-lived.
That run in April and May wasn’t enough to save Scott Brooks‘ job, however. The Wizards and their head coach were unable to agree to terms on a new contract, leaving the team in the market for a new coach, with Wes Unseld Jr. and Jamahl Mosley among a handful of finalists.
As for whether the team’s second-half success was enough to stave off major front office and roster changes, that remains to be seen. But for now, it looks like the plan is to hope a new coach and some tweaks to the roster will help buoy a core group led by Beal and Russell Westbrook to greater heights in 2021/22.
The Wizards’ Offseason Plan:
As long as Beal and Westbrook remain on the Wizards’ books, the team’s options for revamping the roster around them are somewhat limited. The star duo is earning a combined $78MM in 2021/22, over two-thirds of the projected $112MM cap.
Washington’s next two highest salaries belong to Davis Bertans ($16MM) and Thomas Bryant ($8.67MM), who would each likely be expendable in the right trade this offseason. Bertans’ contract, which still has four years on it, would be trickier to move than Bryant’s expiring deal.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Bryant is in the Wizards’ plans going forward — he missed nearly all of the 2020/21 season with an ACL tear and may not be back to 100% by the fall. Daniel Gafford, who is on a minimum-salary contract, emerged as a legitimate option at the five in the spring, but the team will need at least one more center with Alex Len and Robin Lopez facing free agency.
Besides Len and Lopez, the Wizards will have to make decisions on free agent guards Ish Smith, Raul Neto, and Garrison Mathews. All played roles in 2020/21 and would be worthwhile investments as long as their price tags remain modest.
However, re-signing more than one of their free agents, hanging onto their first-round pick, and not dumping any contracts in trades could put the Wizards’ team salary pretty close to the tax line, preventing the team from making use of its full mid-level exception. Without that mid-level, Washington’s best hope of upgrading its roster will be on the trade market, with Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija, the No. 15 pick, and future first-rounders among the club’s most appealing assets.
It will be crucial this offseason to get a clear sense of where Beal stands. If the Wizards believe they can convince him to sign a contract extension this summer, or re-up with the team in 2022, trading some of those young players and draft assets for a win-now piece might make sense. If Washington feels Beal’s commitment to D.C. isn’t iron-clad, hanging onto those assets – and potentially even shopping Beal before he reaches free agency – may be the right play.
Salary Cap Situation
Note: Our salary cap projections are based on a presumed 3% increase, which would result in a $112.4MM cap for 2021/22.
Guaranteed Salary
Russell Westbrook ($44,211,146)- Bradley Beal ($33,724,200)
- Davis Bertans ($16,000,000)
- Thomas Bryant ($8,666,667)
- Rui Hachimura ($4,916,160)
- Deni Avdija ($4,692,840)
- Chandler Hutchison ($4,019,459)
- Total: $116,230,472
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Daniel Gafford ($1,782,621)
- Anthony Gill ($1,517,981) 1
- Caleb Homesley ($1,517,981)
- Total: $4,818,583
Restricted Free Agents
- Isaac Bonga ($2,079,826 qualifying offer / $2,079,826 cap hold): Bird rights
- Total (cap holds): $2,079,826
Two-Way Free Agents
Draft Picks
- No. 15 overall pick ($3,383,640)
- Total: $3,383,640
Extension-Eligible Players
- Chandler Hutchison (rookie scale)
- Bradley Beal (veteran)
- Thomas Bryant (veteran)
- Daniel Gafford (veteran)
- Russell Westbrook (veteran)
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Ian Mahinmi ($23,175,077): Bird rights 3
- Robin Lopez ($8,760,000): Non-Bird rights
- Ish Smith ($7,800,000): Early Bird rights
- Alex Len ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights
- Raul Neto ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights
- Shabazz Napier ($1,669,178): Early Bird rights 3
- Ty Lawson ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights 3
- Ramon Sessions ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights 3
- Total: $48,080,967
Offseason Cap Outlook
The Wizards’ seven guaranteed contracts, Gafford’s non-guaranteed salary, and the No. 15 pick add up to approximately $121MM in commitments for nine roster spots. That puts Washington’s team salary well over the cap.
The tax line projects to be in the $137MM range for 2021/22. Depending on how they fill out the back end of their roster, the Wizards could have just enough flexibility to make use of the full mid-level exception. If they take on any additional salary in trades or re-sign certain free agents, they’ll likely be limited to the taxpayer MLE.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Mid-level exception: $9,536,000 4
- Bi-annual exception: $3,732,000 4
- Trade exception: $2,161,920
- Trade exception: $1,000,000
Footnotes
- Gill’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after August 7.
- Because he has been on a two-way contract with the Wizards for two seasons, Mathews is eligible for a standard minimum-salary qualifying offer.
- The cap holds for these players remain on the Wizards’ books from a prior season because they haven’t been renounced. They can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
- These are projected values. If the Wizards approach or cross the tax line, they may forfeit these exceptions and instead gain access to the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.9MM).
Salary and cap information from Basketball Insiders, RealGM, and ESPN was used in the creation of this post.
Lakers, Clippers and 76ers should target Westbrook, not Lillard.
Why?
Reality
Lillard deal should be overpaid like this
One young star and 6 Firsts, not swap
At this point I’m convinced you don’t even watch basketball
I reassure that I play and watch basketball.
I was expecting that you proposed a feasible Lillard trade.
Harden wasn’t available for trade either btw. Unfortunately I don’t think there is a feasible trade that sends Dame to LA but it is laughable to say the Lakers should target Westbrook. They need perimeter shooting and beyond that they need someone who can carry them through games when Bron and AD inevitably go down at some point during the season. Dame offers both of those while Russ offers neither.
This is upgraded and feasible trade for Lakers
Lakers get Westbrook
Wizards get Schroeder, KCP and Kuzma
This only further convinces me that you don’t watch basketball.
Westbrook upgrades the Lakers more than having Schroeder, KCP, and Kuzma? Gtfo.
PS Westbrook would be a horrible acquisition for the Sixers.
Even more evidence you don’t follow basketball – Schroeder is an unrestricted free agent. And if you bring up sign and trade, that would be the cherry on top. Washington has cap issues and aren’t going to take someone who turned down $20M per for 4 years, looking for even more and worth less.
Beal is not legally required to say where he stands, and I doubt any peers would expect or pressure him to do so.
He seems to enjoy running with Westbrook.
Westbrook however somewhat phases out others like Bertans, Bryant & Ish… It’s a different team and not worse in theory. They are limited without turnover but were before too.
The Wizards seem to be content with just spinning their wheels. It’s been that way for many, many years. Aside from their 5 year rebuild where they picked up Wall and Beal in the draft, the Wizards have been in the 35-45 win range in the East almost every year. But never more. They haven’t had a 50 win team since the 1978-79 season. And that streak doesn’t look likely to be broken any time soon.
44M for Westbrook…Jeezus
What you expect?? Adam Silver handed the power to the players. Nowadays, if you shoot 30% from 3’s and you average defender then you’re worth a max!!
You got Rich Gotti and LeGone plotting against teams, pushing for trades regardless of the commitments and contracts.
NBA needs a Roger Goodell!!!
Back in day you watch games to get away from politics and drama, now that’s all they got to offer!
This year earned ever single cent, try watchin’ games instead of just trollin’, right?
Sixers get Beal
Wolves get Simmons and Shake
Wizards get Beasley, Rubio, Okogie, 2 Wolves 1sts and a Sixers 1st
Sixers need a win now package, picks from the wolves and Beasley do nothing for their timeline. But may be a way to get Beal.
I’d rank my targets as 1 Lillard, 2 Beal. Would do what I had to get those 2 without depleting the bench. Can’t give up Thybulle because they have no other wing defender. Prefer to give up Shake but would include Maxey if I had to. Really mortgages the future but Embiid is probably shot by 31/32 with his style of play anyway so it’s a limited window.
I’d also do a Fox, MB3 and a pick. I think this hard caps the Sixers tho?
Would do Brogdon, Lavert and 13 although hesitant because of the injuries.
Not really liking a Wiggins 7 and 14 but I’d take Davion Mitchell and Kispert with those picks if I kept them.
For the Wiz. Good luck getting rid of Bertans or Westbrick. Bryant won’t get much because of his injuries.
2* Sixers firsts all unprotected.
The Wizards get terribly shorted in this deal you’re proposing. Yes, it’s a lot of picks; but if you put Beal on the Sixers and Simmons on the Wolves, they’re late 1sts. You really don’t have to condition them unprotected because there’s no chance they’re lottery picks.
The Wizards would hang onto Beal, if they’re smart- and I think they will.
I still believe simmons is a very good player.and sixers should keep him.if not,i hope my bulls take him.
Chandler Hutchison has a guaranteed contract, wow.
Boylen pondered the information, but said nothing. Did he guarantee Hutchinson without knowing he did? Did he even draft him? Can’t remember… guy was always hanging with the trainers. Can’t get involved with people like that.