Washington Wizards: The pros and cons of a Ian Mahinmi buyout

Open up a roster spot

If nothing else, ridding of Mahinmi opens up room for someone else. A young prospect perhaps that’s waiting to be called upon, or one of the guys sitting at the end of Washington’s bench.

The Miami Heat used two of their roster spots at the end of last season to sign Kendrick Nunn and convert Duncan Robinson’s two-way deal. Both of them are now contributing on their revamped roster that has a legit path through the Eastern Conference to the NBA Finals.

It’s hard to say the Washington Wizards will have the same luck, but they’ve been successful in developing the talent they have taken on over the last year or so: Moritz Wagner, Isaac Bonga, Thomas Bryant specifically. All are contributing now, but started out as just entry-level gambles.

More Exposure for Center Prospects

One problem the Wizards no doubt dismissed as a future possibility was having too many centers at this point in the season. Just months ago, Washington was missing its entire rotation.

Now, they’ve converted the Anžejs Pasečņiks‘ deal, and given him a roster spot. Wagner and Bryant have returned from longterm injury, and Mahinmi remains the starter.

Going into next season, another question the Washington Wizards will have to address is if either of the aforementioned three can serve as a starting center. Mahinmi is entering free agency, and after all he’s taken from Washington, it’s hard to see them getting robbed blind twice.

Pasecniks has potential, Bryant is locked in longterm but has seen little time at the starting position, and Wagner–well he’s the wild card. But Washington won’t have much more time before they have to figure out where each of those pieces fit.

Waiving Mahinmi may speed up the process.