The Washington Wizards entered the preseason with 17 players after signing 14-year veteran Taj Gibson to a guaranteed one-year, $3.2 million contract in September. On Tuesday, needing to trim its opening-night roster down to an NBA-max 15 players, the Wizards waived Gibson and Australian NBL standout Xavier Cooks.
The Wizards are paying Gibson $3.2 million to not be on the team. Gibson’s release is surprising not just because of the money but the fact that Washington lacks size behind starting center Daniel Gibson and stretch forward Kyle Kuzma.
Waiving Gibson, the Wizards will take a dead cap hit of just over $2 million, as the NBA will reimburse $1 million toward the cap. The Wizards will eat all of the $1.7 million for Cooks’ release.
The Wizards opted for youth and higher-ceiling players by letting go of Gibson and Cooks. Cooks is 28 years old, and the chances of him blossoming into a surprising impact player are very low.
Taj Gibson is 38 and has 14 years in the league. Last season, he averaged 3.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in 49 games for the Wizards. But his impact seemed to be more of a leader for the frontcourt and the team than his spotted minutes.
However, the Wizards do have 15-year veteran Danilo Gallinari. Washington acquired Gallinari from the Boston Celtics in the Kristaps Porzingis. Many expected Gallinari to be a buyout candidate, but that doesn’t seem to be the case any longer.
Not trading Delon Wright is also surprising. Wright is a trade candidate since the Wizards reshaped its roster this summer. Instead, he’ll be on the opening-night roster, serving as a reserve guard.
The Wizards want to make a push for the playoffs with a youth movement surrounding the core of Jordan Poole, Kyle Kuzma, and Bilal Coulibaly. Maybe the Wizards should have spent the money to buy out second-round draft pick Tristan Vukcevic.
Gibson is now a free agent once he clears waivers. Does he have enough to play elsewhere or maybe help a young team needing a veteran presence?
