The Wizards entered this summer knowing they would not have much salary cap space in the next few offseasons. A big new contract for Bradley Beal and a handful of other deals would keep the Wizards’ books full for the future. If they were going to improve through free agency, 2016 was the year to do it.
The Wizards had the money to sign Kevin Durant or Al Horford. They ended up with Ian Mahinmi and Andrew Nicholson. Now they sit at 3-9 with a season already mired in locker-room strife. They have a roster of talented role players, but their cap situation makes improving that group difficult.