Richaun Holmes, a former draft pick of the Philadelphia 76ers, may be the odd man out for his ball club next season.
The Wizards have made some puzzling moves this offseason, especially when they traded for CJ McCollum and Marcus Smart. The franchise is definitely on a youth movement at present, but those additions are simply wayward from their current direction.
The 31-year-old, who previously played for the 76ers from 2015 to 2018, could soon find himself going elsewhere. There is a logjam at center in Washington, and it is evident that Holmes has no solid backing to get more court time next season.
Holmes signed a two-year extension with the Wizards last year, and at this rate, there is probably only a slim chance that he re-ups in Washington. He is buried in their current depth chart, and it is difficult to envision a realistic scenario where he barges his way into the regular rotation.
Former 76ers big man Richaun Holmes is the odd man out in Washington
Last season, Holmes appeared in just 31 outings for the Wizards in the recently concluded season, logging just 17.2 minutes of court time on a nightly basis. Nevertheless, he managed to turn in solid numbers, registering 7.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per outing while shooting a blistering 64.7 percent from the floor.
He still has the makings of an effective energizer bunny off the bench, but in Washington, that may not be the case. His serving of court time could be just as limited as when he played for the 76ers, especially now that he is playing behind Alex Sarr and Kelly Olynyk, whom the team acquired this offseason via the McCollum trade.
It is very likely that the Wizards front office will try to trade him next season. He has an expiring contract, and his salary will be approximately $13.3 million, making him a good salary matcher if Washington aims to snag a young commodity from other teams.
The former 76ers big man had a good career, but if he ends up getting buried in the depth chart for the entire season, he could find it difficult to land elsewhere when his current deal ends next year. Still, he remains a mobile big man who can finish above the rim with ease while not being a liability on defense. Hopefully, he manages to turn in a good individual campaign in 2025-26.