We are two days away from the start of free agency and the Washington Wizards are poised to continue to be active in the market. After trading away Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis, the latest reports suggest that veteran guards Monte Morris and Delon Wright are also available for trade. Kyle Kuzma’s future with the team remains uncertain but he is unlikely to return as the Wizards are preparing for their rebuilding phase.
The Washington Wizards have a deep but unbalanced roster. There is a significant logjam at the guard positions while they are lacking size in the frontcourt. This will certainly be one of the priorities during the offseason. While guards like Morris and Wright get to their new destinations, the Wizards will likely add to their frontcourt depth.
Depending on Morris, Wright, and Kuzma’s situation, the Wizards will likely have the non-taxpayer mid-level exception available to use in free agency. This is around $12.4 million annually. The Wizards can choose to use all of this on one free agent, split into multiple players, or not use it at all.
However, it behooves the Wizards to use at least some of it to add to their roster to maximize the potential of their young players. Obviously, the Wizards should avoid giving big, multi-year contracts to older players that will hamper their salary cap flexibility. It does make sense, however, for them to sign undervalued players to tradeable contracts.
The goal here is to find players who fit the Wizards’ needs, roster, and timeline, while also being tradeable. The ideal scenario for Washington is to find players who can contribute to the development of their young players next season, and then trade them for positive assets come the trade deadline or next offseason.
Fortunately for them, there are plenty of players who fit the description. Let’s look at some forwards who the Wizards can afford and use.