5 biggest NBA offseason questions that still need to be answered

3. Why does nobody want to pay P.J. Washington?

Washington is a good player, he’s not hurting for adequate contract offers because of anything that has to do with his skill level. That much is clear.

What’s holding Washington up is his status as a restricted free agent. This means that any NBA team can make him an offer, but if he signs, the Hornets have about 48 hours to decide if they want to match the offer and keep him.

Because it’s pretty obvious to the entire league that the Hornets would match the majority of offers Washington could get — especially since the money available to teams has dried up significantly at this late stage — no one has made an offer.

Without an offer, Washington has no leverage to get the payday he desires from the Hornets, which is apparently in the range of $18-$20 million annually.

The Hornets apparently value him in the ballpark of $12 million annually.

Without incentive on either side to find a middle ground, where does this go? Washington probably signs a qualifying offer for one year worth $8.5 million. Washington would then become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024.

This qualifying offer path is abnormal. Historically, these players have received an offer sheet in restricted free agency or agreed to terms beforehand.

This would be especially abnormal AND risky for the Hornets because one of the other players they drafted recently — Miles Bridges — also decided to sign a qualifying offer (for entirely different reasons).

If the Hornets don’t pay up, they could lose Bridges and Washington — two talented young players — next summer.

For a team that does not draft well historically, that seems foolish and like a surefire way to upset your franchise centerpiece LaMelo Ball — even with the max contract extension he just signed.