The Wizards have a Bilal Coulibaly decision to make.
The 22-year-old is eligible until Oct. 19 to sign a rookie-scale extension that would keep him in Washington through at least the 2030-31 season. Both sides have one week to finalize those terms, and if they don’t, Coulibaly will become a restricted free agent this summer.
History says Coulibaly isn’t going anywhere. But should the Wizards extend him?
Past extensions under Dawkins
Will Dawkins has handed out two rookie-scale extensions in his three seasons as the Wizards’ general manager. The first — a four-year, $55 million contract given to Deni Avdija ahead of the 2023-24 season — is widely considered one of the league’s best deals. Avdija enjoyed a career season and is now thriving with the Portland Trail Blazers.
The second — a four-year, $54 million contract given to Corey Kispert ahead of the 2024-25 season — doesn’t carry the same weight as Avdija’s extension, but it did set the precedent that Dawkins prefers proactive extensions over reactionary moves in restricted free agency. The recent Jalen Duren debacle should tell you exactly why Dawkins believes in early extensions.
