For a team that’s expected to be one of the worst in the Eastern Conference next season, the Washington Wizards have been very active this summer, making moves left and right.
Obviously, the 2024 NBA Draft was a huge night for them, as they brought in three players who should be a big part of their core moving forward—Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George.
They also made a big-time trade with the Portland Trail Blazers. They shipped out Deni Avdija, bringing back Malcolm Brogdon and picks. It was a surprising move but one that could help them in the future.
The Wizards also stayed active in free agency. They inked Jonas Valanciunas and Saddiq Bey to three-year contracts. Reports have also indicated that they will sign Taylor Funk to their third two-way spot.
Wizards need to cut down roster by two players before next season
But with all of the moves the Wizards made this summer, there is one huge reason why they will be forced to make more—they have too many players on the roster.
As things stand, the Wizards have 17 players on the roster, but the maximum they are allowed to enter next year with is 15, meaning they will have to find a way to get rid of two guys. And this is after they already re-signed Anthony Gill.
Going through some of their potential options, Sarr, Carrington, George, Valanciunas, and Bey seem safe. They aren’t going to core anywhere. The same can be said for Bilal Coulibaly.
Jordan Poole probably wouldn’t have a trade market, and he was solid at the end of last year, so they probably aren’t going to end up moving him this offseason, either. Plus, they just re-signed Gill and Richaun Holmes this summer, so they will likely be on the team.
That leaves Brogdon, Kyle Kuzma, Corey Kispert, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Eugene Omoruyi, Marvin Bagley III, and Jared Butler as guys they could get rid of.
Brogdon and Baldwin seem like the most obvious choice for the Wizards to move on from, but anything is possible, and perhaps Washington may choose to take a different direction.
But one thing is for certain: The Wizards need to trim down their roster by two before the start of next season.