2022-23 WASHINGTON WIZARDS SALARIES
UFA: non-restricted free agent RFA: restricted free agent
Financial situation in relation to the salary cap
- The Luxury Tax threshold is set at $150,267,000 this year.
- The NBA Salary Cap is set at $123,655,000 this year.
With $154,600,345 contractually committed for this 2022-23 season, the Wizards are in the Luxury Tax. At some point they will have to downsize and make choices at the roster level.
It looks like the payroll of a contender, or at least a serious underdog with two huge salaries for the stars of the team (especially Bradley Beal), and an additional 27 million on the duo Kyle Kuzma – Will Barton. But we are talking regarding the Wizards, twelfth in the East last season and not really destined to play the leading roles this year. In short, we have a little trouble reading the strategy of GM Tommy Sheppard. Where is this roster really going?
Players under guaranteed contracts for the 2023-24 season:
- Bradley Beal
- Monte Morris
- Delon Wright
- Johnny Davis
- Daniel Gafford
- Anthony Gill
- Isaiah Todd
Two starters (Beal and Morris), second five players (Wright, Davis, Gafford) and a few guys who will spend more time sitting than standing. At least the star won’t move but we will have to secure other starters to hope for better than a twelfth place in the East. Note, we can probably add Kristaps Porzingis to this list since he will logically take his player option at 36 million dollars for the 2023-24 season.
Three players to watch this season:
Exactly, speaking of Porzingis. His duo with Doncic in Dallas looked great on paper, but never worked out for a variety of reasons. As a result, we were treated to a slightly surprised trade in February. Here is the Latvian giant pushed out and sent to Washington. To form a new duo with another balloon eater, Bradley Beal. Not sure it works either, but we’ll wait and see because they haven’t played together yet due to Bealou’s injury last year. The coming season will therefore serve as a kind of test for the DC franchise, and for Porzingis. He will pocket nearly $34 million over the season. Not bad. At the end, a player option awaits him for 2 million more.
Similar situation for the former Laker except that his player option will not come with a raise. Not insignificant detail because with his “small” salary of 13 million per year, Kuzma will clearly aim higher on his next contract and might decide to look elsewhere. Nevertheless, at 27 and following having had his best NBA season in Washington (17.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 average assists), Kyle Kuzma may have finally found his place on the court: a player capable of being a third option in scoring, who brings his presence on the rebound and a correct defense. To be seen, but he will surely have suitors.
The situation is clearer regarding Will Barton. Traded this summer from the Nuggets to the Wizards, he is in his last year of contract. A solid complement player since he landed in Denver in 2014, he will bring valuable experience to position 3. The opportunity for him to show himself before entering the Free Agency 2023. Many franchises would like a capable winger to offer 14 points, 4 assists and 5 rebounds per game for eight years.
