As the NBA offseason goes on, teams continue to look ahead and plan for the long-term. Among them, the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and Charlotte Hornets are taking distinct paths as they navigate their rosters and draft picks. The Wizards are in a good spot, but that’s largely due to the Wizards’ wealth of valuable assets. On the other hand, the Jazz are doggedly pursuing a tanking rebuilding effort. At the same time, the Hornets are left in limbo following a disappointing season.
The Wizards impress with a stunning 26 draft picks through 2032, featuring 10 first-round picks. This wealth of options makes them ideal candidates for any future player acquisitions or trades that require them to deal a core player. Moreover, Washington has a number of fiscal tools at its disposal. They will utilize the non-tax midlevel exception worth $14.1 million, a biannual exception of $5.1 million, and the second-round and veteran minimum exceptions to bolster their roster.
Second-year forward Bilal Coulibaly and rookie big man Alex Sarr have become high-end prospects and possible cornerstones in their own right, giving the Wizards hope moving forward. Their eventual progress will be important as the Wizards try to surround them with a competitive roster. With nearly $70 million in expiring contracts, including those of key players like Middleton, Smart, and Holmes, the Wizards project to have around $80 million in cap space by the 2026-27 season.
“There’s the laying-the-foundation phase. There’s the building it back up, and then there’s fortifying what you build,” – Will Dawkins
The Utah Jazz have made it official that they are committing to a bottoming-out strategy after almost three years of being terrible. The front office is prioritizing the upcoming draft and how to navigate their five picks as they aim to reshape their roster. With more than $70 million in cap space already projected for 2026, the Jazz have set themselves up perfectly to contend in the long-term.
All-Star Lauri Markkanen is now locked in with the team for the next four seasons. His presence provides the great comfort of stability during this turbulent time of change. Collins, Clarkson, and Sexton all enter the final year of their respective contracts. Their performances this season will be most important for making future decisions. The Jazz have a 14% chance to land the first overall pick in the 2024-25 NBA draft.
“What’s different this year is that we’re starting to build a good depth base. They just happen to be really young,” – Justin Zanik
For the Charlotte Hornets, the evaluation process is still very much ongoing after suffering through a third straight 50-loss campaign. While the team has been clearly working towards a long-term strategy, the opacity surrounding it could limit further development down the road. The 2025 draft will offer the next chance for the Hornets to shore up their weakened roster and fulfill their most dire needs.
Josh Okogie’s $7.7 million salary becomes guaranteed if he remains on the roster past June 30, adding another layer of complexity to the Hornets’ decision-making process.
“I have zero interest in making the playoffs for a year and then being out for the next four or five and then in for two and out again after that,” – Jeff Peterson
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