According to HoopsHype reporter Michael Scotto, Washington Wizards' interior player Richaun Holmes is expected to exercise his $12.9 million player option on his contract next season and will not opt into free agency.
Before the trade deadline this season, the Wizards made a deal with the Dallas Mavericks, who sent Holmes to the Wizards and traded Daniel Gafford from the Wizards. With the Mavericks lacking a first-round pick, they brought in the Oklahoma City Thunder as a third party in the deal. The Thunder sent their 2024 first-round pick to the Wizards and traded the 2028 Thunder and Mavericks for a first-round pick swap from the Mavericks. After joining the Wizards, Holmes played a total of 17 games for the team, averaging 18.7 minutes per game, averaging 7.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game, shooting 55.7% from the field, 33.3% from three-point range and 84.6% from the free throw line.
In fact, after joining the Wizards, Holmes's performance with significantly increased playing time is still quite bright, he still has a good ability to score under the basket on the offensive end, he can also provide rebounding support on the defensive end, and he can also use his physical talent and athleticism to provide some help in defense and basket protection. Holmes still looks a little more powerful than everyone thinks, and he still has the ability to provide a lot of help and support to the team in the NBA.
Before coming to the Wizards, Holmes' situation was already very unoptimistic. In the 2022-23 season, he was largely out of the rotation when he played for the Sacramento Kings. After being traded to the Mavericks this season, Holmes' situation has not improved, and he still has no way to make the team's rotation. It is believed that this is also an important factor in the Mavericks' final choice to send him to the Wizards. Even if Holmes' situation has improved since joining the Wizards, it is indeed a bit unconvincing considering the Wizards' record this season.
But on the other hand, Holmes' exercise of the player option also means that the Wizards' backup center for next season has already been decided. Although Holmes's performance has dropped significantly from his peak, with his performance in the second half of the season, he should still be barely qualified to be an average rotation player. The Wizards' mission in the draft is clear, they need to find a way to get Alex Sarr. In this way, the Wizards' weakest No. 5 position has suddenly become very plump.