The Washington Wizards pivotal offseason inches closer by the day with the team's tough regular season approaches the end.
Washington will have plenty of tough decisions to make over the next couple of months as it seems safe to say the roster the Wizards roll out on opening day next season will look entirely different than the team that ended the year under Brian Keefe on Sunday.
Looking ahead to the NBA Draft and free agency, Washington will have plenty of new players incoming, including a top draft pick that very well could be a franchise-altering talent such as Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper.
The team will have to make the right moves in order to set their team up in the proper position to build around their cornerstones now and in the future.
That said, here's a look at 6 veterans who the Wizards must cut ties with along the way.
Jordan Poole
Jordan Poole went from being benched to leading the Wizards into battle on a nightly basis and giving them a chance to win. The Michigan product may not have proven to be the superstar Washington has been looking for, but he did prove the critics wrong and silenced the noise about him being the worst contract in the NBA.
Poole is talented and while he isn't going to be the top option for a team, he could very well be a key piece on a championship roster. Unfortunately, his fit in Washington moving forward just doesn't make sense for either side, which is why it's time for the Wizards to cut ties with the explosive scorer.
Malcolm Brogdon
Malcolm Brogdon joined the Wizards last offseason in a draft night deal that sent Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for the veteran guard and draft compensation that ultimately landed Bub Carrington in Washington.
The veteran guard served as an experienced leader for Brian Keefe's squad this season during his limited time as he continously dealt with injuries. Now, he heads into the offseason as an unrestricted free agent with all signs pointing to Washington and Brogdon both moving on from each other.
Khris MIddleton
This is where things get interesting for the Wizards. Washington made the move to offload Kyle Kuzma's contract at the trade deadline, but in turn, they brought in Khris Middleton, who has a high-dollar contract of his own.
At the time of the deal, the Wizards seemed to hope that they could go the Oklahoma City Thunder route and allow for Middleton to prove he still had plenty left in the tank, shut him down and then deal him away to a playoff contending team this offseason.
Unfortunately, Middleton couldn't stay on the court which did nothing but decrease his trade value for the Wizards. And with a $34 million player option looming, Washington is going to have a tough time finding a trade partner for the former SEC standout if he opts into the deal as he's expected to.
Regardless, the team has to find a way to move on from Middleton at all cost.
Marcus Smart
Marcus Smart is another vet that Washington made the move to land ahead of the deadline. The guard spent majority of his career with the Boston Celtics, where he made a name for himself as a defensive standout.
As a former Defensive Player of the Year, Smart's value likely will stay high, especially with the flashes he has shown for Washington during his limited time down the stretch.
Although the Wizards could benefit from bringing the guard back, they have to look at the bigger picture, which is opening up more minutes for their young guys and capitalizing on what value Smart does have on the trade market.
Corey Kispert
Washington signed Corey Kispert to a four-year contract extension at the start of the season. The Gonzaga product has shown flashes of his ability to be a reliable player off the bench with his shooting ability and capable defense.
And while his play with the Wizards has shown he's a capable role player, his fit on the Wizards long-term just doesn't make sense. At 26, Kispert doesn't fit Washington's timeline moving forward and he's proven that he may not be much more than just a glorified 3-and-D role player.
Not to mention, with his age and play, Kispert could land the Wizards a solid return in any potential trade, while also opening up more minutes for the team's young players.
Richaun Holmes
Richaun Holmes is 31-years-old. Not only does his age make him a key candidate for the Wizards to cut ties with, but his contract in coorelation to his role on the team just doesn't make sense. On the books for $13 million next season, Washington has to find a way to move on from Holmes.