After a surprisingly strong back end of the season and a first-round playoff exit for the Washington Wizards, many fans are wondering what this team will look like next season, specifically in regards to bigs and wings. But the Wizards also have a role to fill in the point guard position. General Manager Tommy Sheppard has been quoted multiple times in the past month, alluding to big changes coming to the Wizards roster.
Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard: "This is not a run it back team. We have to get better."
— Chase Hughes (@chasedcsports) June 3, 2021
Don’t expect to see more of the same the next time the Wizards take the flor. The only point guards under contract for next season are Russell Westbrook and Cassius Winston. Ish Smith and Raul Neto performed admirably in the last year of their contracts. However, based on the stance that Sheppard has taken and the expected contract requests from free agents, it seems unlikely that all of the Wizards’ point guards will be returning next season. With two years left on Russell Westbrook’s large contract and a lack of trade rumors at this time, it seems equally unlikely that we will see the departure of half of the Wizards’ dynamic duo.
The Washington Wizards will be searching for a backup point guard during the offseason. But where is the best place to find one?
How the Wizards go about finding Westbrook’s backup will depend on a few factors, mainly free agency and the draft. They won’t have a ton of money to spend on free agents, and — since they’re picking outside of the lottery at #15 — probably won’t be in a position to select some of this year’s top prospects. So let’s take a look at their options…