The Vertical Front-Office Insider Bobby Marks, a 20-year executive with the Nets, examines the off-season plans for teams that didn’t make the postseason.

THE PLAN GOING FORWARD

Audit the Season

High expectations in October ended in disappointment.





Step one of the aftermath of missing the playoffs has already started with Scott Brooks replacing Randy Wittman as head coach.

With no draft picks this June, the Wizards would be best served to take the next month not working out prospects but breaking down the season, layer by layer. Every facet of the Wizards’ basketball operation needs to be analyzed, including players, coaching, medical staff and roster direction.

Every team does this, but Washington will need to take it to another level this offseason.

Find a wingman for John Wall

Bradley Beal and Otto Porter have each shown flashes of being John Wall’s top complement. However, Beal (health, minutes restrictions) and Porter (development) have not shown enough consistency.



John Wall needs a consistent running mate. (AP) More

In a perfect world, Beal can shake the injury bug, and Porter can take another big step this summer. But until Washington can solidify either spot, Wall will continue to struggle on his own.

Get creative with Beal’s contract

The Wizards’ most important decision this summer will not rest on their projected cap space, but finding a comfort level with Beal, a restricted free agent.



Beal, when healthy, is one of the top shooting guards in the East and a terrific complement to Wall. But he has missed more than 70 total games in the last four seasons, 40 because of a right-leg stress reaction.

Wizards management must find the right contract terms with Beal, who was once thought of as a max-contract player.

Similar to the contract parameters of Brook Lopez of the Nets, Washington needs to protect itself contractually in case Beal misses extensive time with the right-leg injury.

Although the ball is in the Wizards’ court now, the pressure starts once Beal entertains offers from other teams.

Expectation level with cap space

Smaller successful moves should be what Washington aims for this summer.



Once billed as the summer of Kevin Durant, Washington could have close to $28 million in cap space this July, but it needs to have realistic expectations going forward.

TEAM NEEDS

With five players under contract and no draft picks, Washington has plenty of holes to fill.



Figuring out if the starting lineup fits should be the first goal, but replenishing a bench that loses every key backup will be just as important.

SUMMER CAP BREAKDOWN

Dead money

Martell Webster, $833,333 (stretch provision)



Guaranteed $44,258,521 Non/partial $4,527,431 FA cap holds $54,269,135 First-round holds $0 Minimum holds $0 Dead money $833,333 Total $103,888,420 Salary cap $92,000,000 Cap space None ($11,888,420 over cap)

PROJECTED CAP SPACE

Washington is likely to have close to $28 million in cap space this summer once free-agent cap holds (other than Beal's) are renounced, or if their free agents sign with another team.



Until then, Washington technically is considered to be over the cap.

JUNE DRAFT PICKS

First round: To Phoenix



Second round: To Atlanta

FUTURE PICKS

First round

Own all first round picks starting in 2017.





Key rights to: Aaron White (Pick No. 49, 2015); Tomas Satoransky (Pick No. 32, 2012)

PREVIOUS SUMMER AGENDAS: Nets | Pelicans | Timberwolves | Lakers | Knicks

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