The Washington Wizards managed to beat the 6 PM ET deadline to strike a deal with former first-round pick Corey Kispert to keep him in D.C. for the foreseeable future.
Despite Washington’s move to extend the forward, his future with the Wizards may not be as clear as many people think. The future of the Wizards roster is still up in the air as the front office continues to teeter between rebuilding or retooling.
That said, here are three things to take away from Kispert’s deal with Washington and why it makes sense for both sides.
Kispert gets paid now before team option next offseason
Kispert managed to sign his four-year, $54 million deal before entering the final year of his rookie-scale contract. But why sign the deal before a contract year where the Wizards could get him for a bargain? It’s easy. The forward showed enough through his first three seasons and in the preseason for the Wizards to feel confident to lock him up long-term before the market increases next year.
Washington Wizards F Corey Kispert has agreed to a four-year, $54 million contract extension, Mark Bartelstein and Andy Shiffman of Priority Sports told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/dbzTb77Epm
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 21, 2024
As for the Gonzaga product, striking the deal now is also a no-brainer for him. Kispert gets the payday securing his future salary allowing him to worry solely about basketball. Sure, he could have bet on himself and attempted to outplay his deal, but with his role still undefined under Brian Keefe, there’s no saying for sure that Kispert would play his way into a larger deal.
Kispert’s contract is a valuable trade asset.
The Wizards signed Kispert to a deal averaging $13.5 million per year for the next four seasons. Not only is this a big win for Washington’s payroll with the new CBA guidelines, but it also allows for the team to consider using the forwards contract as a trade asset in future deals.
Obviously, the Wizards aren’t expected to be contenders any time soon. So if general manager Will Dawkins decides in the future that he wants to make a move for a star on the trade market, he could package Kispert’s sizable, yet attractive contract to include in a deal. Or, he could package the forward in a deal to a lottery team to move up in the draft in the offseason if they don’t land a favorable pick.
Kispert carries a poison pill restriction until July 1st, 2025 but following that, the restriction is lifted and the versatile wing can be dealt with no downside.
The forward fits the timeline, but does he fit the future plans?
Kispert showed growth in the offseason, and he looks poised for a breakout season. At 25, the forward fits the timeline for the Wizards' future. He’s young enough to be a cornerstone, but old enough to serve as a veteran for younger players.
However, if Kispert doesn’t show signs of being a star or a glue player for the Wizards, they may not have the incentive to keep him long-term if an inquiring team calls or there’s too good of an offer on the table, the forward could be on his way out of Washington.
Nonetheless, as of now, Kispert seems to be a part of the Wizards' long-term plans. However, he’s not a lock to finish the four-year extension with the Wizards by any means.