The Washington Wizards entered 2026 with a projected $80 million in cap space for the 2026-27 season.
But after acquiring four players before the February deadline — including Trae Young and Anthony Davis — and winning the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, the Wizards sit just $11 million below the luxury tax.
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The current odds to be the No. 1 pick, according to Fandual Sportsbook, are as follows:
AJ Dybantsa: -450
Darryn Peterson: +380
Cameron Boozer: +1700
Here’s a breakdown of what the No. 1 pick means for Washington’s long-term cap sheet.
2026-27 Active Roster Cap
The maximum rookie-scale contract for the No. 1 pick is a four-year, $69,003,336 deal.
The contract represents 120% of the rookie scale, which is the most a first-round pick can sign for. The lowest a first-round pick can sign for is 80% of the rookie scale.
For reference, the Wizards signed Tre Johnson — last year’s No. 6 pick — to a four-year, $37,439,131 contract, which was 120% of the rookie scale. They did the same with Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George in 2024.
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So, based on previous transactions, expect the Wizards to do the same with this year’s top pick and pay 120% of the rookie scale ($15,208,260) to the No. 1 selection.
Should Washington pay the No. 1 at 120% of the rookie scale, that contract looks as follows:
