The Washington Wizards made a big move to acquire Trae Young ahead of this season’s trade deadline. That acquisition, combined with a projected $45-$50 million in cap space this offseason, has many wondering if Washington will push to add talent this summer. Wizards president Michael Winger said that path isn’t necessarily locked in.
“We’re not necessarily hitting the gas pedal,” Winger said. “Whatever we do with that cap space – it might evaporate in the next two weeks, we just don’t know.”
Washington has reportedly let teams know that they are still willing to take on unwanted contracts in exchange for draft assets and young talent. Khris Middleton’s expiring $33 million contract could be involved in that type of transaction.
As far as acquiring young talent, Winger also said that there is a clock, if an extended one, on the Wizards younger players.
“We’re coming upon a time in the next 6-18 months where we have to declare which of our youngest players can make material contributions to our eventual contention and which will make their most meaningful contributions somewhere else,” Winger said.