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The Washington Wizards' biggest priority this offseason was re-signing All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal, and they came to terms on a massive five-year deal worth $251 million right as 2022 NBA free agency began. The Wizards have been busy otherwise, too, making a few other moves to shape the roster around Beal and Kristaps Porzingis.
That includes a trade with the Denver Nuggets that sent out Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith for Will Barton and Monte Morris. Washington also agreed to a deal with Delon Wright to fortify the point guard spot. And don't forget Johnny Davis was selected with the No. 10 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
These aren't groundbreaking moves, but the Wizards did what they could to help themselves in the backcourt after entering the offseason with a clear need at point guard. Washington's rotation is pretty full at this point, but there's at least one more thing Tommy Sheppard can do this offseason.
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Move Wizards still must make after first weekend of 2022 NBA free agency
Try to clear out the forward logjam
The Wizards have a bunch of options to play at the forward/wing positions. While it's certainly not bad to have depth, it also wouldn't be bad to try to alleviate some of the logjam after using so many first-round draft picks on these types of players in recent years. That includes Rui Hachimura (No. 9 in 2019), Deni Avdija (No. 9 in 2020) and Corey Kispert (No. 15 in 2021). Washington also has Kyle Kuzma and now Barton as well, essentially swapping him and KCP.
Kuzma is an interesting case here. He was extremely productive for the Wizards this past season after coming over from the Los Angeles Lakers in the Russell Westbrook trade. Kuz averaged 17.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 45.2% from the field and 34.1% from 3-point range.
However, Kuzma will be an expiring contract in 2022-23, and it's unclear what his future plans are as he enters his prime. If Washington thinks he might look to go elsewhere as a free agent, perhaps the front office tries to cash in on him now and get a decent haul in return. There have been trade rumors involving Kuzma's name, though nothing all that specific and potentially just due diligence.
Again, Kuzma was one of the Wizards' best players this past season, and trading him might not be the best signal for Beal unless it's for a clear upgrade. Kuzma also has a childhood connection to Morris and a college connection to Wright.
If there's no Kuzma deal, Washington could explore trade options for any of those other players mentioned. The Wizards don't want to just give away any of these guys, but they could make a trade that helps them both now and in the future given the plethora of former first-round picks in their rotation. Perhaps they try to find help at another position. Maybe they consolidate players for a legitimate upgrade. Or they could focus more on future draft capital. There are options here.
Even with Beal back and these other moves, the Wizards don't look the part of a contender right now unless another high-level player is brought in or there's major development from the young guys. They should be keeping all options open as they try to build a winner around Beal.
