Michael Winger took over The Wizards less than a month ago. He’s already cut out for Bradley Bell, and he’s intent on trading him in for another paid former co-star.
Porzingis has a player option worth $36 million for next year, while Marcus Morris owes $17 million in the final year of his contract. Bradley Bell’s trade removed more than $200 million in future salary from Washington’s books, though The Wiz will have to recoup additional salaries – Possible Danilo Gallinari’s deal done – to make Porzingis’ trade work.
There’s also unspecified compensation in a draft pick that could potentially go to the Wizards, but Winger’s plan seems clear. He wants to give Washington a clean slate. Winger has no obligation to players acquired under the old system, which means that even recent first-round picks like Johnny Davis and Corey Kisbert shouldn’t feel any sense of security in DC.
For a team that has only one playoff win in the past five years, why should the new president be obligated to keep any of the incumbents? The Beal-Porzingis-Kyle Kuzma team won 35 games last year and finished 12th in the East. In 2021-22, it was the same record, same finish.
Kuzma has to consider his free agent’s options when he sees the moves his team is making. The Wizards don’t seem particularly interested in any long-term contracts or any of their current players, and it looks like Kuzma will have to find a new deal elsewhere.