The Wizards have reduced their roster from 17 players on standard contracts to 15 by waiving big man Taj Gibson and forward Xavier Cooks, reports Josh Robbins of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Washington faced a roster crunch this fall, with all 17 of their players on standard contracts owed fully guaranteed salaries in 2023/24. Neither Gibson nor Cooks projected to have a significant rotation role in D.C. and neither one was owed any guaranteed money beyond this season, making them logical candidates to be the odd men out.
Gibson, who has 14 years of NBA experience under his belt, spent last season with the Wizards, averaging 3.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in a career-low 9.8 minutes per game across 49 appearances. After reaching unrestricted free agency, the 38-year-old earned a new one-year, minimum-salary contract from Washington, but was unable to claim a regular season spot.
Assuming Gibson goes unclaimed on waivers, the Wizards will remain on the hook for his $2,019,706 cap charge and the forward/center will earn his full $3,196,448 salary.
As for Cooks, the Australian-born forward had spent most of his professional career playing for the Sydney Kings after going undrafted out of Winthrop in 2018. After helping lead the Kings to a National Basketball League title earlier this year, Cooks signed a four-year contract with the Wizards in March that included two guaranteed seasons — last year and this year.
Cooks’ $1,719,864 salary will remain on the Wizards’ books for 2023/24, but the team won’t have to pay his $2,019,699 salary for 2024/25 or his $2,187,451 team option for ’25/26.
Having signed center John Butler to a two-way contract earlier today, Washington now has a full 18-man roster entering the regular season — 15 players on standard deals and three on two-ways.
I’m sorry is that a typo on John Butler’s BRef page? 7’1, 175 lbs? He’d better hope it’s not windy in DC.
Seems like a stupid mistake to give Taj Gibson a guaranteed contract this offseason, to now have to cut him.
Besides, why would a team like Washington hire such an old player anyway?
Veteran experience
A lot of these teams hire veterans to help coach by example and provide a constructive locker room . You’re right that he hasn’t been worth the minimum for probably the past 3-4 years but teams value the experience he can provide. I imagine the minimum he got this year was with the same plan as last but they wanted the roster spot more this time around.
Ok, but they could have given him a non-guaranteed contract. This approach was a financial mistake.
Feed Butler
OK …. Thibs he’s available . He can backup Randle for at least awhile. We had him last night. We win the game.