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.
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.
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:
