The Wizards have a decision to make on Bilal Coulibaly, and it should be a disciplined one.
With Washington now expected to hold off on any meaningful contract extension talks with Anthony Davis until the season begins, the focus shifts to another extension candidate in Coulibaly. The 22-year-old is eligible for a rookie-scale extension after completing three seasons, putting him in the same basic contract window as other first-round picks who are ready for their next deal. So far, the only player from his draft class to sign on the dotted line is San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
Coulibaly’s case is much less expensive than Davis’, but it still matters. He’s Washington’s best perimeter defender and is often the one sent to chase the opposing team’s top scorer. The problem is that his résumé still comes with real gaps: he has never played more than 63 games in a season, and his career 3-point percentage sits at 31.3%.
Washington can handle this one in two ways. The team could extend him this summer, or it could let him play out the final year of his rookie contract and push the matter to restricted free agency next summer. That would give the 6-foot-7, 195-pound wing a chance to see what the market says, while still leaving the Wizards the right to match any offer sheet he signs elsewhere.
If the Wizards want a roadmap, they already have one. Deni Avdija got a four-year, $55 million extension in 2023, three years after being drafted No. 9 overall.
Corey Kispert followed with a four-year, $54 million deal in 2024, also three years after being selected, this time at No. 15.
Those were role-player contracts, and Coulibaly fits that lane too. He could spend most nights coming off the bench next season, especially with Davis, Trae Young and AJ Dybantsa now taking up a big share of the available minutes in the rotation.
The cap has climbed since the Avdija and Kispert deals, so Washington should be prepared to go a bit higher this time. Even so, there has to be a ceiling. Four years and $60 million should be the line, because Coulibaly still needs to show more on offense and prove he can stay on the floor.
If he wants more than that, the Wizards should make him earn it next season. If he takes the deal now, Washington gets a young, athletic defender on a bargain-friendly contract.
In Other News...
Nuggets Enter Tough Race For A Proven Scorer They Could Need
DeMar DeRozan has suddenly become one of the more intriguing names still available, and the market around him has already started to take shape. After being waived by Sacramento, the veteran scorer is drawing interest from several teams that could use his half-court shot creation, including the Wizards, who have been keeping tabs on a player with the kind of dependable offense that tends to matter late in the season.
Washington is not alone in that pursuit. Miami, Denver and Cleveland have also been linked to DeRozan, with the Heat currently viewed as the likeliest landing spot, which only makes the race more interesting for any team hoping to sneak in and change the picture. A proven scorer like this rarely sits available for long, and the next move may come quickly as clubs weigh fit, need and how aggressive they want to be. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards Just Added Intrigue To A Real Backcourt Roster Battle
The Wizards have added another name to a backcourt picture that is already going to be worth watching once camp opens. Washington and free agent guard Alondes Williams have agreed to terms, according to his agent Daniel Hazan, bringing back a player who has spent time with multiple NBA and G League teams and has shown enough in the minors to keep getting another look.
Williams also has a little recent familiarity with the roster, which makes this more than a simple camp flyer for Washington. He had a brief rotation stint with the Wizards earlier this year, and he flashed enough in that stretch to remind the team why he remains an intriguing guard to bring into the mix as the competition for backcourt spots starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]