TITLE: Wizards Exercise 2026-27 Team Options for Six Young Players
SLUG: wizards-exercise-2026-27-team-options-for-six-young-players
CONTENT:
The Washington Wizards confirmed they will pick up 2026-27 team options on six players still on their rookie contracts, locking in approximately $38.3 million in salary for that season.
Who’s included
The decisions, reported by The Athletic’s Josh Robbins, cover the following players and option years:
- Alex Sarr – third-year option, $12,370,680
- Bilal Coulibaly – fourth-year option, $9,240,012
- Cam Whitmore – fourth-year option, $5,458,310
- Bub Carrington – third-year option, $4,900,560
- AJ Johnson – third-year option, $3,237,120
- Kyshawn George – third-year option, $3,108,000
Draft pedigree
Coulibaly (No. 7) and Whitmore (No. 20) entered the league in the 2023 draft. Sarr (No. 2), Carrington (No. 14), Johnson (No. 23), and George (No. 24) were selected in 2024.
Current roles
Sarr and George have started the season strongly. George leads the club with averages of 20.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals while shooting 53.8 percent from three. Sarr is posting 19.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.0 blocks per night.
Carrington and Whitmore are also part of the regular rotation. Johnson, acquired from Milwaukee in the Khris Middleton–Kyle Kuzma trade, has appeared only in late-game situations, and Coulibaly is still recovering from offseason thumb surgery.
What’s next
Because their fourth-year options were exercised, Coulibaly and Whitmore can negotiate rookie-scale extensions starting July 2026 and would become restricted free agents in 2027 if no new deals are reached. Washington will face additional option decisions next fall on the 2027-28 seasons for Sarr, Carrington, Johnson, and George, provided they remain on the roster.
The NBA deadline for teams to finalize 2026-27 rookie-scale option choices is Friday.
Source: Hoops Rumors
