2024 Wizards Offseason Preview: Key dates and decisions

Patience defined the 2023-24 season for the Washington Wizards, enduring 67 losses in year one of their long-awaited rebuild. Michael Winger and Will Dawkins took over nearly a year ago and have gone to work, shipping out the old regime in search of new light.

As chaotic as last offseason was, this go around should look way different. Washington no longer has star players in search of new squads, nor do they have a daunting first-rebuilding year ahead. However, Winger and Dawkins do have difficult decisions at hand, including a head coach search and top-6 draft pick.

So, when will these moves be made, and how will this new regime handle year two of the rebuild? I dive into that and more in the words below.

Key Dates: 2024-25 offseason

May 12: NBA draft lottery

Wizards odds:

1: 14.0%

2: 13.4%

3: 12.7%

4: 12.0%

5: 27.8%

6: 20.0%

The lottery is drawn in order from 1-14, so the first overall pick is determined before any other pick. This way, whoever gets drawn will have their lottery balls removed from the next selection, or in other words, not count if selected.

If the Wizards don’t hear their name called in picks 1-5, they automatically get the 6th overall pick.

May 12-19: NBA Draft Combine

With three picks in this year’s draft, and the potential to add more, Washington should have plenty of scouts in attendance, including GM Will Dawkins and President of Monumental Basketball Michael Winger. At the NBA Combine in Chicago, top-end talent will showcase why Washington, as well as other lottery teams, should select them in the upcoming draft.

June 26-27: NBA Draft

Washington’s picks are as follows:

• A Top-6 first-round pick (lottery odds listed above)
• Pick #26 (via LAC) - from Daniel Gafford midseason trade with Dallas
• A second-round selection - could be either #51, #52, or #53 (via PHX) - depends on coin flip with two teams tied with Phoenix record-wise
• Washington does not have its own second-round pick

June 29: Last day to waive Landry Shamet before his 2024-25 salary becomes fully guaranteed

Landry Shamet has two years remaining on his deal, with the final year (25-26) being a team option. However, the 2024-25 season is non-guaranteed, meaning the Wizards can waive Shamet before June 29 and owe him nothing. If they do decide to waive Shamet, he becomes an unrestricted free agent and can sign elsewhere. However, if they decide to keep him on the roster, he’ll serve as an $11 million cap hit for 2024-25.

June 30: Teams can begin negotiating with free agents not on their team

July 6: Free agency officially begins

I doubt the Wizards are active in this phase. With an already young squad and not many roster spots available, filling out the rotation with established vets via free agency doesn’t make much sense. Dawkins might elect to bring in a veteran or two to mentor the younger players, but I don’t foresee Washington being big-time buyers in this year’s market.

One thing to note: This is the date when teams can officially complete sign & trade deals. If the Wizards elect to move on from PG Tyus Jones, July 6 would be the first day they could do it. Same goes for any other player.

July 12-22: NBA Summer League

With tons of young players, including a possible three draft picks this June, Washington should have a ton of interest in its Summer League squad. A big storyline will be the availability of second-year guard Bilal Coulibaly. Already rehabbing a wrist fracture suffered in early-March, Coulibaly said he would pass on Summer League if given the change to play for his native country, France, in the Olympics. If Coulibaly isn’t selected for Team France, and his wrist is fully healed, expect him to suit up for the Wizards in Las Vegas come July.

Additionally, expect Tristan Vukcevic to play once more. Vukcevic showed out in Vegas last summer, and will hopefully do it again. Alongside Vukcevic, Washington’s 2024 draft picks should see playing time as well.

October 1: Training camp begins

October 22: Regular season begins

Washington likely has zero national TV games yet again, so I’d expect them to kick off the 2024-25 campaign on Oct. 23 instead.

Let us know what key dates/events you are most looking forward to this offseason in the comments below!