What the Bulls need to do this offseason

Now that the 2023-24 NBA regular season is over, we’re turning our attention to how each team should approach the offseason, including the draft and free agency. It starts with the 10 teams that have been jockeying for lottery position and the best chance of making the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft. Two more teams have joined them after losing in the play-in tournament, and two more will be in offseason mode starting Friday night, followed by the 16 teams who participate in the 2024 NBA playoffs.

We’re breaking down the potential moves for each franchise, including a look at the state of each roster, finances, priorities for each front office, extension candidates to watch, team needs and future draft assets.

Key: ETO= Early Termination Option | P= Player Option | R=Restricted | T=Team Option

Jump to a team:

ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WSH

Eliminated in play-in tournament

2023-24 record: 46-36

Draft picks in June: No. 13/14 and No. 45

Note: Sacramento is tied with Golden State. The tie will be broken by the NBA if both teams end up in the lottery. The Kings’ first-round draft position will be set by the May 12 draft lottery.

Free agents: Malik Monk, Alex Len, JaVale McGee, Kessler Edwards (R), Jordan Ford (R) and Jalen Slawson (R)

State of the roster: Entering the offseason, there will be questions of whether or not the current team has plateaued. The Kings returned the same starting five from last season when they were the 3-seed in the West, but lost in the play-in tournament this season. The top-ranked offense from last season finished 13th this year (the Kings did improve from 24th to 16th in defense). The counter argument is that the Kings finished two wins shy of their total from a season ago despite losing starting shooting guard Kevin Huerter and Monk, a Sixth Man of the Year candidate, to season-ending injuries in late March.

General manager Monte McNair now has a decision to make on roster continuity. The Kings would return their top six players if Monk re-signs, to go along with a bench that includes Keon Ellis, Davion Mitchell and Trey Lyles. They will also add a late lottery pick, the lone benefit of missing the playoffs. The Western Conference is projected to only get stronger next year with a healthy Memphis team and the emergence of Houston. Winning 46 games again could put the Kings in the same position they are in now or possibly out of the play-in altogether. The Kings have an established star duo in Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox, but how far this team goes without making a change is dependent on the growth of Keegan Murray, who averaged a career-high 15.2 points but saw his 3-point shooting decline from 41.1% as a rookie to 35.8% this season. Murray is extension eligible starting in the 2025 offseason. The Kings could explore trades but outside of the Sabonis-Tyrese Haliburton swap in 2022, general manager Monte McNair and his front office have been conservative. Sacramento can trade up to four first-round picks and outside of Sabonis, Fox and Murray, have nine players earning between $2.1 to $18 million. Huerter has two years left on his contract ($16.8 and $18 million) and underwent surgery in March to repair a torn labrum. He ended the season shooting a career-worst 36.1% from 3 while averaging the fewest minutes in his career. Harrison Barnes continues to be the most consistent and durable Kings player. For a second straight season, Barnes played in all 82 games, averaging 12.2 points and shooting 38.7% from 3. He has two years left on his contract ($18 and $19 million).

Offseason finances: Last offseason, the Kings elected to use cap space to extend Barnes, renegotiate the contract of Sabonis and bring back Lyles. The three decisions have Sacramento with $154 million in salary (including the first-round pick) entering the offseason — $17.7 million below the luxury tax. If the roster stays intact, including re-signing Monk, Sacramento could exceed the tax for the first time since 2003-04. Outside of bringing back Monk, the Kings’ available resources include the $12.9 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception and $4.7 million biannual exception. However, using more than $5.1 million of the midlevel exception would hard cap Sacramento at the $178.7 million first apron. The Kings also have a second-round exception available.

Top front office priority: Outside of Fox and Sabonis, no player provided as much value as Monk. Before spraining his right MCL and missing the rest of the season, Monk ranked first in points and assists and second on 3-pointers made among all reserves. His 25 games with at least 20 points off the bench this season were 11 more than any player. He ranked only behind Fox and Sabonis in fourth quarter minutes and points among Kings players. The Kings were 4-5 in the games he missed at the end of the regular season. Because Monk signed a two-year contract in 2022 and now has early Bird rights, the Kings can offer no more than a four-year, $78 million contract. His $17.4 million first-year salary would leave the Kings over the luxury tax with 13 players under contract. Teams with cap space and in need of shooting include Detroit, Orlando and Philadelphia.

Extension candidate to watch: Fox has two years left on his contract ($34.8 and $37.1 million) and Sacramento has the option to add three more seasons and up to $165 million in new money. The $51.2 million first-year salary of the extension would start in 2026-27. If Fox is named All-NBA this season, he’d be eligible for a four-year, $267.5 million extension. Fox finished the season averaging a career-high 26.6 points. If Fox does not sign an extension by Oct. 21, he would be eligible to sign a four-year, $229 million extension next offseason or a five-year, $346 supermax extension if he is named All-NBA in 2024-25.

Other extension candidates: Chris Duarte, Mitchell and Huerter (as of Oct. 1).

Team needs: Rim-protector and a defensive-minded guard to play alongside Monk. Per Second Spectrum, opponents had an effective field goal percentage of 64.3% against Sabonis on shots taken within 5 feet. That ranked in the bottom third of players who attempted more than 300 shots within 5 feet of the basket.

Future draft assets: Sacramento is allowed to trade its own first starting the night of the draft. The Kings owe Atlanta a first-round pick that is top-12 protected in 2025 and top-10 protected in 2026. Including the 2024 pick, Sacramento is allowed to trade four first-round picks. The Kings are also allowed to swap firsts in five seasons (2027 to 2031). The Kings have seven second-round picks available.

2023-24 record: 39-43

Draft picks in June: No. 11

Odds for the No. 1 pick: 2%

Free agents: DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams (R), Lonzo Ball (P), Andre Drummond, Javonte Green, Torrey Craig (P), Henri Drell (R) and Adama Sanogo (R)

State of the roster: Back in February, president of basketball operations Arturas Karnišovas made the calculated decision to keep the roster together, despite Chicago staring down a play-in spot for a second straight year.

“The ‘shake-up’ doesn’t guarantee you success,” Karnišovas said after the trade deadline. “The words like rebuild are thrown around. I think this group gives you the best chance to compete. It doesn’t guarantee success, but we are a competitive bunch.”

The Bulls started the season 5-14, but they went 19-13 between that start and the trade deadline. But after Feb. 8, the Bulls went 14-16 and ranked 27th in defensive efficiency. Once again the Bulls enter the offseason without a playoff appearance. The front office now has hard questions to ask on how a “competitive” team can compete for more than a play-in spot. There are decisions on the future of free agents DeRozan, Drummond and Williams. The Bulls could let all three walk and embrace a full-scale rebuild. But rebuilding is not in Karnisovas’ DNA.

“Since I came here to Chicago, I wanted to have a competitive team,” Karnisovas said. “We came up with a formula in 2021. We had somewhat of a success, took a step back with some injuries. My objective doesn’t change. I’d like to compete and I’d like to compete with the best teams.”

Re-signing DeRozan and Drummond would put Chicago in the luxury tax for only the second time since 2002-03, unless the Bulls can offload the $138 million owed to Zach LaVine, who had season-ending surgery on his right foot in February.

Offseason finances: The futures of DeRozan and Williams dictate what flexibility (or lack of) the Bulls will have in the offseason. Including their first-round pick, the Bulls have $134 million in salary, well below the $171 million luxury tax threshold. The Bulls could have cap flexibility if they do not re-sign their own free agents and Ball’s salary is removed. Ball, who has missed the past two seasons with knee issues, has until June 29 to opt in to his $21.9 million salary. Expect Chicago to guarantee Alex Caruso’s $9.9 million salary before the June 29 deadline ($3 million is already guaranteed). Which exceptions Chicago has available ($12.9 million non-taxpayer midlevel or $5 million taxpayer midlevel) will be dependent on the salaries of their own free agents.

Top front office priority: Ball, DeRozan and LaVine. Ball’s rehabilitation timeline will play a role in how much financial flexibility Chicago has going into the offseason. Ball has not played in an NBA game since January 2022 and has undergone three separate surgeries on his left knee. Coach Billy Donovan told reporters in March that Ball is working out in a controlled environment and the next step is for him to get cleared for contact. In the event that Ball does not recover and the injury is determined to be career ending, Chicago would be allowed to remove his $21.9 million salary. The Bulls have until June 30 to extend DeRozan for three additional years and up to $129 million. DeRozan will turn 35 in August but continues to be one of the league’s more durable players. Since entering the league in 2009-10, DeRozan has played in 92% of regular season games, missing a total of just 17 games in his three seasons in Chicago. DeRozan continues to be one of the best closers in the NBA, ranking behind only Stephen Curry for most clutch-time points this season. LaVine told the media in March that he is ahead of schedule on returning from the foot surgery that ended his season. He averaged the second fewest points in his career (19.5) and Chicago was outscored by 12.2 points per 100 possessions when LaVine and DeRozan shared the court together per Cleaning the Glass. The market for LaVine this offseason is unpredictable, and finding a taker for his $43 million salary in 2024-25 could present a challenge. Starting April 15, the new apron rules restricts teams from taking back more money in a trade if the incoming salary would put them over either the first or second apron. Teams in the second apron are also not allowed to aggregate contracts sent out. ESPN projects at least nine teams (Celtics, Nuggets, Warriors, Clippers, Lakers, Heat, Bucks, Timberwolves and Suns) to fall in this category. The Bulls, however, could benefit if cap space teams such as Detroit miss out in free agency.

Extension candidate to watch: Caruso’s $37 million contract signed in 2021 is considered one of the great value deals in the NBA. The guard is considered one of the top wing defenders in the league. He earned first team All-Defensive honors in 2023 and is a likely candidate to repeat this year. He finished the season ranked first in deflections, sixth in steals and 15th in total charges taken. The Bulls were outscored by 7.2 points per 100 possessions with Caruso off the court. He is eligible to sign a four-year, $78.8 million extension starting on July 6.

Other extension candidates: Ball.

Team needs: Frontcourt depth and perimeter defenders. The Bulls gave up the seventh-fewest offensive rebounds but could lose Drummond in free agency. The lone big on the roster is Nikola Vucevic. Chicago allowed the second-most 3-pointers made by a team after Feb. 8.

Future draft assets: The Bulls are allowed to trade their own 2024 first-round pick starting on the night of the draft. They owe a first-round pick to the Spurs that is top-10 protected in 2025 and top-8 protected in 2026 or 2027. They are owed a first-round pick from Portland that is top-14 protected over the next four years. If the first is not conveyed, the Trail Blazers will send a 2028 second. The Bulls have three second-round picks available.

Atlanta Hawks

(R), Garrison Mathews (T), Wesley Matthews, Trent Forrest (R), Vit Krejci (R), Seth Lundy (R) and Dylan Windler (R)

State of the roster: There is a famous quote often misattributed to Albert Einstein: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” That would apply to the Hawks if general manager Landry Fields elects to bring back the same roster after Atlanta missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The Hawks can point to injuries (seventh-most missed games) to explain why the roster won five fewer games than last season, but they were 24-32 even before Trae Young’s torn ligament in his left hand in late February, but Fields and the ownership group elected to keep this group together at the deadline.

“You don’t ever want to get caught up in this term called ‘resulting,’ ” Fields said right after the deadline. “And for us, a lot of times you look at results, and that’s where the judgment comes in. From our standpoint, development is a key feature of who we are and we are watching players continuously grow. It may not completely cause the results today that we want, but we also know that those results are coming.”

The results, however, are regressing. The Hawks are 46-56 since Quin Snyder took over last February. The $67 million backcourt of Young and Dejounte Murray continues to struggle playing together. Starting in 2025, Atlanta has no control over its first-round pick for the next three years. And the Hawks will be over the luxury tax next season if the roster stays intact. Paying the tax for a play-in team should be a nonstarter for ownership. The positive is that Atlanta is in a position to retool the roster, not rebuild completely if the objective is to move Murray or even Young. Atlanta has a young core of players in Bey, Onyeka Okongwu, AJ Griffin, Kobe Bufkin and Jalen Johnson. The Hawks will also add a pick in the lottery and another first if the Kings reach the first-round.

Offseason finances: The Hawks avoided the luxury tax this season, electing to trade starter John Collins last offseason in a salary dump move. This summer, Atlanta once again is pressed not only against the $171 million tax threshold but also the $178.7 million first apron. Including both first-round picks (if the Kings’ pick conveys), Atlanta has $171 million in salary. Barring a trade, the Hawks will exceed the first apron they re-sign Bey, who tore his left ACL in March. Atlanta will likely tender him a one-year, $8.4 million qualifying offer by June 29, making him a restricted free agent. Atlanta does have some flexibility with the non-guaranteed contracts of Mathews and Bruno Fernando. Atlanta has until June 29 to exercise Mathews’ $2.2 million team option and to guarantee Fernando’s $2.7 million contract. Because of their finances, the Hawks will only have the veterans minimum exception available to use in free agency. They have a large $23 million trade exception that expires July 7.

Top front office priority: Fields was honest in February when asked about Murray and Young playing together.

“The sample size is getting larger and larger and larger and assuming you’re looking at specific lineups, and defensive and offensive ratings, which can always be debated as well,” he told reporters. “I can’t lie to you, the numbers speak to themselves on that.”

Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta was outscored by 6.0 per 100 possessions this season when both players were on the court together. The Hawks had a 120.7 defensive efficiency rating in their shared minutes, fifth worst among more than 225 duos to play 1,000 minutes together. The most-used lineup of Young, Murray, Bey, Johnson and Clint Capela had a net rating of minus-15.3. When both Young and Murray were off the court, Atlanta had a defensive efficiency that would have ranked second. The Hawks went 12-11 and ranked 15th in offensive and 18th in defensive efficiency in the games Young missed with his ligament injury. Murray is entering Year 1 of a four-year, $120 million extension. His $24.8 million cap hit is $20 million less than a max player. Murray had 11 games with 20 points and 10 assists, all with Young out of the lineup. Young has two years left on his contract ($43 million and $46 million) and can become a free agent in 2026.

Extension candidate to watch: The Hawks have up until Oct. 21 to extend Johnson. The forward averaged career highs in points (16.1) and 3-point percentage (35.3%). Overall, Johnson has increased his scoring average from 5.6 last season to 16.1 this season. That is the second-largest increase among players to play at least 50 games in both seasons, trailing Cam Thomas. Johnson ranked in the bottom-10 in field goal percentage on all jumpers last season but saw an increase this year, going from 29% to 39%. Since Fields joined the front office in October 2020, Atlanta has signed a player to a rookie extension in each of the past three offseasons (Young, Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter and Okongwu). Young is eligible to sign a three-year, $157 million extension up until Oct. 21.

Other extension candidates: Capela, Mathews and Fernando (as of Oct. 2)

Team needs: Perimeter defenders and rim protection. The Hawks ranked 17th in 3-point percentage allowed and 25th in points in the paint allowed.

Future draft assets: The June draft is the last time that Atlanta has control over its own first-round pick until 2028. The Hawks will send their 2025 and 2027 picks to the Spurs as part of the trade that brought Murray to Atlanta in 2022. San Antonio also has the right to swap firsts in 2026. The first allowable year the Hawks can trade a first is in 2029. Atlanta has six second-round picks available.

2023-24 record: 46-36

Draft picks in June: No. 52 (via MIL)

Note: The Warriors are sending their own first to Portland if it is 5-14. They would retain it if the pick moves into the top four in the May 12 draft lottery.

Odds to retain their own first: 3.4%

Free agents: Klay Thompson, Gary Payton II (P), Dario Saric, Usman Garuba, Lester Quinones (R) and Jerome Robinson

State of the roster: The recent four-time NBA Champions are officially at a crossroads. The only thing guaranteed is that star Stephen Curry and coach Steve Kerr will be back when the regular season tips off in late October. Curry is viewed as untouchable and has two years left on his contract. Kerr recently signed a two-year, $35 million extension.

The task now for Kerr, owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. is retooling what was once a championship roster while on a budget. Golden State spent a record-high $384 million in payroll, only to finish 10th in the Western Conference and lose in the play-in. Lacob has been outspoken about Golden State ducking the tax next season. “Our Plan 1, or 1A, is that we’d like to be out of the tax, and we think that we have a way to do that,” Lacob said on “The TK Show” with Tim Kawakami. “That kind of is the plan, not just under the second apron. … We don’t want to be a repeater.”

Since the 2013-14 season, Lacob and his ownership group have spent $677 million in penalties and have been in the tax four out of the past six seasons. Keeping the roster together is certainly doable. The Warriors have 11 players under contract, and their lone key free agent is Klay Thompson. Remaining below the $171 million tax threshold is a different story. Not including Thompson, Golden State is $2.7 million above the threshold. There could be a belief that another year of development from Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, along with bringing back the core three of Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green, would put Golden State back among the elite teams in the Western Conference. The Warriors had the fourth-most wins after the All-Star break (19-10) and went 10-2 to close out the regular season. But the “run it back” option could be fool’s gold and also prove expensive. For only the third time since 2013-14, the Warriors finished the season ranked outside of the top 10 in points per 100 possessions allowed.

The scenario that will not happen is Golden State hitting the rebuild div.

“We’re never going to bottom out, ” Lacob told ESPN’s Baxter Holmes in February. “I won’t settle for that. We’re not doing that.”

Offseason finances: From now until June 30, the Warriors are not allowed to send out cash in a trade, take back more money in a trade or aggregate outgoing salary. The three restrictions would be lifted if they get under the apron. The Warriors have up until June 24 to guarantee Kevon Looney’s $8 million contract (there is $3 million guaranteed) and until June 28 for the $30 million owed to Chris Paul. If both players are waived, Golden State enters July with $137 million in salary — $34 million below the luxury tax and $54 million under the second apron. The futures of Thompson, Paul and Looney will determine which free agent exception is available. If the Warriors finish in the second apron after the 2024-25 season concludes, their 2032 first-round pick would not be allowed to be traded.

Top front office priority: If the goal is to save money, Paul and his $30 million non-guaranteed contract will likely get waived by June 28. It would be the first time Paul would become a free agent in his career. If the goal is to improve the roster, then Golden State should explore flipping the contract or even keeping the veteran. Paul led all reserves in assists per game and finished in the top-15 among all players. If Paul is traded, his salary cannot be aggregated with another contract on the roster and Golden State is not allowed to take back more money. Because the contract is non-guaranteed, the protection would need to match the salary Golden State receives.

For only the second time in his career, Thompson is set to become a free agent. But things were much different in 2019, when the Warriors were coming off a Finals loss in which Thompson tore his left ACL. There was no threat of him leaving or the Warriors going in a different direction. Thompson is 34 years old and came off the bench this season for the first time since his rookie season. He averaged 19.8 points and shot 42.8% on 3-pointers in 14 games as a reserve. Thompson ranked second on the team in points per game after the All-Star break, shooting 45.4% from the field and 41.2% on 3-pointers. Thompson is eligible for a four-year, $221 million extension, but it is not realistic to expect that. There are three options for Golden State and Thompson. They can reach a compromise on a short-term contract at considerably less money (two years and $60 million for example). Thompson could enter free agency and sign with a team that has cap space. The notable playoff teams with room include Orlando, Oklahoma City and Philadelphia. Golden State would have inexpensive options in Podziemski and Moses Moody to replace him. Or both sides could work out a sign-and-trade. However, high spending playoff teams like the Lakers and Clippers are not allowed to acquire Thompson because of the hard cap restriction.

Extension candidates to watch: Kuminga showed his potential in a March 20 win against Memphis, scoring 26 points (18 in the paint) and making an impact defensively with three deflections and holding the Grizzlies to 3-of-11 shooting as the closest defender per Second Spectrum tracking.

“I thought it was maybe the best game I’ve ever seen him play at both ends,” Kerr said. “He was playing with intensity defensively, he got deflections, he was guarding the ball.”

The Memphis game alone will likely not deliver Kuminga a five-year, $225 million rookie max extension this offseason, but the 21-year-old’s overall development from a rotational player (he played a total of 61 minutes in the playoffs last season) to starting 46 games should have Golden State discussing a long-term investment. He averaged career highs in points (16.1) rebounds (4.8) assists (2.2) and field goal percentage (52.9%).

Moody started nine games, averaging 12.6 points and shooting 39.5% on 3-pointers in those starts. The Warriors were 28-18 when Moody played more than 15 minutes this season. An extension for Moody should be in the $13-14 million range. However, if Thompson leaves in free agency, Moody is best served to play out the season, considering his role will expand.

Curry is extension eligible but because of the Over-38 rule, Golden State is allowed to only add one more season. A one-year, $62.6 million extension would keep Curry in a Warriors uniform through 2026-27.

Other extension candidates: Thompson (through June 30), Paul, Payton and Looney (as of July 9).

Team needs: Backup point guard if Paul is waived, a stretch 4 who can complement Green and versatile wings who can get out and run. The Warriors ranked 20th in points off turnovers and 28th in fast-break points.

Future draft assets: The Warriors are allowed to trade their 2025 first-round pick starting on the night of the draft. They have a maximum of two firsts allowable to move (2025/2027 or 2026/2028) in the next seven years. Golden State can also trade its 2030 first but only if it falls in between 1-20. The Wizards will receive the Warriors’ 2030 first if between 21-30. They are allowed to swap their own first in the next seven years. The Warriors have two second-round picks available.

Eliminated after regular season

trade. Brooklyn’s 2024 second-round pick belongs to Memphis (it was originally traded to Houston in a separate 2021 trade).

Free agents: James Harden in 2021.

Offseason finances: The trade to acquire veteran center all but eliminated the Rockets’ plan to have cap space. Houston will enter the offseason with $121.7 million in guaranteed salary but is over the $141 million cap because of $25 million in non-guaranteed contracts (Tate, Jeff Green and Victor Wembanyama put together one of the best rookie seasons in NBA history, but despite the emergence of a top-15 player, the Spurs finished tied for their third-fewest wins in a season in franchise history. The youngest roster in the NBA (nine players under 23) ranked ninth in the fewest number of games missed due to injury and used only 22 different starting lineups this season. For comparison, the used 51 different starting lineups this season. The inexperience played a role in San Antonio’s 13-28 record in clutch games. The Spurs have 12 players under contract next season, and the clock to improve the roster started the night Wembanyama was drafted, not when the season ended on April 14. When Wembanyama was off the court, San Antonio allowed 117.3 points per 100 possessions compared to 111.2 when he was on the court. The Spurs were 3-8 in the games he did not play. “I don’t pretend to know what we’re going to do,” coach Gregg Popovich said in March. “We have a lot of possibilities ahead of us, whether it’s [having] money in the bank or draft picks or being creative tradewise. All those things are on the table. But aren’t they for every team? I don’t know why we’re any different. We’re just younger.” But the Spurs are not like every other team. They have a 20-year-old franchise player and nine tradable firsts in the next seven years.

Offseason finances: San Antonio is not like fellow rebuilding team Detroit when it comes to cap space. No player on the roster earns more than $30 million, but because of their high lottery picks, San Antonio has less than $25 million in room. Unless the Spurs are going to clear out significant salary, do not expect them to be a major player in free agency. If the Spurs have only their own first, the maximum room they can create is $24 million, which would mean waiving Fred VanVleet, Monte Morris and for draft compensation. The heavy lifting continues this offseason but under different circumstances. There is no $200 million Beal contract to unload. Instead the focus is on hiring a new coach, making two first-round picks, re-signing point guard Tyus Jones and the continued development of their young players, notably and the players selected in June.

Offseason finances: The Wizards prioritized acquiring draft assets (a first and two seconds) at the deadline in exchange for taking on salaries (Holmes and ) that extend into the 2024-25 season. Now with $115 million in guaranteed salary, $17.6 million of non-guaranteed contracts and an additional $14 million of first-round draft holds, Washington is projected to be over the salary cap. ‘s $11 million non-guaranteed deal becomes guaranteed if he is not waived by June 29. Holmes has until June 29 to opt in to his $12.9 million salary. Vukcevic’s team option deadline is also June 29. The Wizards should have the flexibility to remain below the $171 million luxury tax if they re-sign Jones and use their $12.9 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception. They also have the $4.7 million biannual exception. Washington has five trade exceptions: $12.5 million, $12.4 million, $9.8 million, $5.4 million and $3.5 million.

Top front office priority: To be blunt, the hiring of the next head coach is the most important transaction in the history of the Wizards. It will define Winger’s so-far short tenure. But what defines the right hire? A strong player development background? If the Wizards keep both first-round picks, they will have seven players under the age of 23. Someone with head-coaching experience? The ability to manage the locker room? The new head coach has to connect with and . Both players are under contract through 2026-27 and there has to be buy-in with both. We can point to the recent hirings and eventual turnarounds in Orlando, Sacramento, Minnesota, New Orleans, Oklahoma City and Houston. The difference is there is no De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, , Zion Williamson or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the Wizards’ roster. Instead the selling point is patience and a partnership. The patience comes with the realization that the current roster will turn over multiple times before there is stability. The Wizards finished in the bottom three in defensive efficiency and have 12 players under contract. The partnership is a multiyear plan of creating winning habits and identity on the court. The new head coach and front office will have a decision to make with Jones. The veteran had career highs in points (12.0), assists (7.3), field goal percentage (48.9%) and 3-point shooting (41.4%). Jones averaged 1.0 turnover or less for the ninth consecutive season, but he missed the last month of the season with a back injury.