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Summary

Unfortunately for Mahinmi, the giant four-year, $64 million contract that he signed in 2016 will be coming to an end after this season. Mahinmi will be taking a huge paycut, and I would be surprised if he can get anything above the minimum.

 

The veteran big man struggles greatly offensively, as he has no ability to stretch the floor and is not skilled enough to finish inside at an effective rate. While he was able to provide value defensively in his prime, those days are likely over as he enters his mid-thirties.

 

Teams may still give Mahinmi a chance if they have a need for a backup or third center, as Mahinmi has proven he can stay on the court without getting killed on either end.

 

Cap Considerations

Mahinmi will be an unrestricted free agent with full Bird rights. As his cap hold ($23.2 million) greatly exceeds the salary he will get in free agency, his cap hold is not really relevant. The Wizards will almost certainly go into the summer prepared to renounce Mahinmi and remove his cap hold in order to maximize their cap space (if they operate under the cap). However, the Wizards are likely to operate over the cap, and if they choose to re-sign Mahinmi, they could do so using Bird rights, or even bring him back on a minimum contract.

 

Teams other than the Wizards will have multiple ways to sign Mahinmi as even teams without cap space could possibly use any of the Non-Taxpayer, Taxpayer, or Room Mid-Level Exceptions to sign him. I would also not be surprised if Mahinmi can only get the minimum next summer.

Potential Teams: Timberwolves, Raptors, Celtics, Wizards, Suns

Predicted Contract: 1-year, $2.6 million ($1.6 million cap hit) with the Timberwolves

Actual Contract: N/A

As of the start of the regular season, Mahinmi remains unsigned.

Last updated: 12/31/2020

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