FanPost

Offseason Options for Sheppard & the Wizards

Spending time on Bullets Forever recently, it seems that a few themes have emerged. I think most would agree that the wing and center spots need to be addressed this offseason. Yes, best player available is something that we want the Wiz to follow but realistically, we shouldn’t expect them to draft or put serious money into players who play the same roles or positions as Beal or Rui, or Wall. I wouldn’t rule out a combo guard as the first round pick, but that would show that they are likely punting on Robinson after 30 something games, which I don't see as too likely.

It’s becoming clear that the Wiz will have options this summer and flexibility to improve this team in a serious way for next year — in addition to John Wall returning. Looking forward, the Wiz currently have $103M under contract with the following allocated to:

  • about $5M - rough salary for the 1st round pick
  • $14.3M – Bertans – his qualifying offer, I think we can expect his salary to be pretty close to this, maybe slightly more
  • $2.4M – Shabazz – his cap hold, I can see him sticking as the 3rd PG though this could be a good roster spot for a 2nd rd pick
  • $1.6M – Mathews – I’m imagining he stays in the fold, likely on a non-guaranteed deal
  • $1.6M – 2nd rounder - ideally this becomes a two-way player

So before any additions it’s:

Wall-Ish-(Shabazz?)
Beal-Robinson-(Mathews?)
Bonga-TBJr-Admiral
Rui-(Bertans?)
Bryant-Wagner-(AP?)


with AP (or Williams) & Garrison (or Payton) on non-guaranteed deals and Admiral as a potential roster casualty if he doesn’t show more to end this year and over the summer.

What tools do the Wiz then have available to improve this team?

  1. The first round pick - it’s looking pretty safe to say that the Wiz will be getting a top 12 pick.
  2. They should have the entire non-taxpayer MLE ($9.75M)
  3. $5M trade exception from Sato trade that expires on 7/7/20
  4. Tradable contracts in Bryant and Ish, in addition to the younger players though it’d be counter-intuitive to move them

If they use the full amount on the MLE and everyone listed is on the team (including Bertans, Shabazz, Admiral, AP & Mathews) to start next season, the Wiz would be looking at $138M or so, just under the projected luxury tax of $139M. This is without considering who might be the final cuts as we would be looking at a surplus. So what would be your top choice on how to improve this team for 2020-2021?

This represents the view of the user who wrote the FanPost, and not the entire Bullets Forever community. We're a place of many opinions, not just one.