Complete 2018 NBA Free Agency primer for OKC Thunder and all 30 teams
Washington Wizards:
Free Agents:
- Tim Frazier (UFA)
- Ty Lawson (UFA)
- Chris McCullough (UFA)
- Mike Scott (UFA)
- Ramon Sessions (UFA)
Jodie Meeks and Jason Smith both opted into their final contract year. As for Rivers, he opted in on June 23rd prior to the trade which brought him to Washington.
The Clippers are trading Austin Rivers to the Wizards for Marcin Gortat, per @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/iPfHFJ1x3F
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 26, 2018
Team Profile and Ranking:
Key Ranking Stats to end the season:
- Offense: 13th (107.1)
- Defense: 15th (106.4 )
- Net:16th (plus +0.7)
NBA Power Ranking at 2017-18 season end: 17th
ESPN Power Ranking post playoffs:16th
Vegas odds to win 2018-19 title as of June 26: 100 to 1
Committed Salary: $123,882,447.00 as of June 29th
Average attendance: 17,973
Attendance rank: 14th
Arena: Capital One Arena
Management:
- General Manager: Ernie Grunfeld – 2003
- Head Coach: Scott Brooks – 2016
No sentient person is surprised the Wizards are moving Gortat. He and Wall were oil and water. Washington needs a center, though. Would not be shocked if Wizards consider UFA Nerlens Noel (Dallas).
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) June 27, 2018
Salary Profile:
As per below the Wizards enter the moratorium locked into $123,882,447 million. Notably, the Martell Webster charge is the final year of the stretch provision the team took on when they waived him. Austin Rivers salary of $12,650,000 replaces Marcin Gortat salary of $13,565,218
The meager shift in the difference between the two contracts contract doesn’t move the needle much. The Wizards committed salary ranks fifth overall entering the moratorium.
| Sala | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Age | 2018-19 | Signed Using | Guaranteed |
| Otto Porter | 25 | $26,011,913 | Bird Rights | $78,035,739 |
| Bradley Beal | 25 | $25,434,263 | Cap Space | $105,054,563 |
| John Wall | 27 | $19,169,800 | Bird Rights | $159,705,650 |
| Ian Mahinmi | 31 | $15,944,154 | Cap Space | $48,055,846 |
| Austin Rivers | 25 | $12,650,000 | Cap Space | $24,475,000 |
| Markieff Morris | 28 | $8,600,000 | Bird Rights | $16,600,000 |
| Jason Smith | 32 | $5,450,000 | Cap Space | $10,675,000 |
| Jodie Meeks | 30 | $3,454,500 | Bi-annual Exception | $6,744,500 |
| Tomas Satoransky | 26 | $3,129,187 | Cap Space | $6,129,187 |
| Kelly Oubre | 22 | $3,208,630 | 1st round pick | $5,301,670 |
| Martell Webster | 31 | $830,000 | $1,660,000 | |
| Team Totals | $123,882,447 | $467,908,977 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/28/2018.
Draft 2018:
Round 1:
With the 15th pick, the Wizards selected Oregon guard Troy Brown
Rookie Preview: Troy Brown offers youth and versatility with major upside
Round 2:
With the 44th pick, the Wizards selected guard Issuf Sanon of Ukraine
Free Agency – Offseason Mandate:
Jason Smith and Jodie Meeks have two players still to make decisions on their options. Washington is once again hamstrung by their salary situation and will likely need to make a trade if they want to add depth to their roster. Could fans witness the potential for Bradley Beal to be moved in order to re-unite Wall and Cousins?
More from Thunderous Intentions
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
The other two core players who could find themselves part of trade rumors to help reconstruct the Wizards depth are their wingmen Otto Porter and Kelly Oubre. Markieff Morris is another player who the Wizards would get bites on. The Morris twins demonstrated grit in the postseason which many teams will covet.
Outside of these three, there isn’t much flexibility the Wizards can offer. Not unless you project Tomas Satoransky to be a starting point guard. He certainly did an excellent job in the absence of John Wall, but his contract is still in his rookie negotiations, leaving not much latitude to bargain with.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is the underperforming Ian Mahinmi and another two seasons of close to $16 and $15.5 million remaining.
Bookmark this:
That wraps up all 30 teams’ positions as they prepare for the moratorium and NBA Free Agency. Again, please make a point of bookmarking this primer and utilize it frequently to help you through this process.
Reference Notes:
All salary tables pulled from basketball reference
Information for the team and player option updates, qualifying offers, financial exceptions, and all things salary via basketball reference, Sportrac, and HoopsRumors
Audience statistics per ESPN
Power Ranking to end 2017-18 season as per NBA
Power Ranking entering offseason/free agency as per ESPN
Vegas odds to win 2018-19 title as of June 26 (as per OddsShark