Pitt’s Bub Carrington has signed with the Washington Wizards.
PITTSBURGH — Former Pitt Panthers guard Carlton “Bub” Carrington has officially started his NBA career by signing a rookie contract with the Washington Wizards, as reported by George Michalowski of Pittsburgh Sports Now. Josh Robbins of The Athletic had previously reported that Carrington had signed his rookie scale contract.
A rookie scale contract is the set salary a team must pay its drafted rookies, with the amount varying based on the player’s draft position. Players can sign for up to 120% or as little as 80% of the rookie scale salary. For the No. 14 pick, which Carrington was, the rookie scale salary is $3,712,400 for the first year, $3,898,000 for the second year, and $4,083,800 for the third year. At 120% of the scale, his salary would be $4,454,880, $4,677,600, and $4,900,560, respectively. At 80% of the scale, it would be $2,969,920, $3,118,400, and $3,267,040.
The Wizards acquired the No. 14 pick, Carrington, in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, which also brought them Malcolm Brogdon, a 2029 First Round pick, and two second-round picks. The contract is likely to include a fourth-year option, with a salary increase of 48.1% from the third year. At 120% of the rookie scale, this would be $7,257,729, and at 80%, it would be around $4,838,486.
Carrington, a standout at Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, scored over 2,000 points and had an impressive senior season, averaging more than 26 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals per game, with shooting percentages of 49% from the field, 38% from three-point range, and 86% from the foul line.
Ranked as a unanimous four-star recruit in the Class of 2023, Carrington was highly rated by 247Sports, Rivals, On3, and ESPN. He committed to Pitt on June 15, 2022, choosing them over several other schools.
During his freshman season at Pitt, Carrington made an immediate impact, scoring 18 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists in his debut, becoming the first Panther to achieve a triple-double in their first game. He started all 33 games, averaging 33.2 minutes, 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. He scored in double digits in 23 games and played a key role in Pitt’s late-season surge.
Carrington had standout performances in March, including a career-high 27 points in a win over Boston College and 23 points in a victory over NC State. His consistent play earned him All-ACC Rookie Team honors.
Despite initially stating he would stay at Pitt, Carrington later declared for the 2024 NBA Draft. He impressed at the NBA Draft Combine with strong performances in various drills, including a 3.28-second 3/4 court sprint and top shooting marks.
Carrington is the first Pitt player selected in the First Round since Steven Adams in 2013 and the first Pitt player drafted since Lamar Patterson in 2014. He is also the first Pitt player ever drafted by the Wizards.
