Washington Wizards: John Wall can sign a hefty extension this summer
Things keep improving on John Wall’s end of things after a strong 2016-17 season, as he’s due for a hefty extension with the Washington Wizards.
After having a career season for the Washington Wizards, point guard John Wall is due for a hefty contract extension. However, under the current landscape, the Wizards’ front office should be cautious in their approach.
Wall was superb in his seventh season in the NBA. He averaged 23.1 points and 10.7 assists, both career-highs, along with 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. Wall became the fourth player in NBA history to average at least 23 points, 10 assists and two steals in a season.
He was a Third-Team All-NBA selection, making him just the fourth player in franchise history to earn the honor (joining Bernard King, Juwan Howard and Gilbert Arenas). The honor also made him eligible for the Designated Player Veteran Extension this summer.
With two years left on his current deal, Wall is eligible to sign an extension for four years valued at $168 million. The contract wouldn’t be valid until the 2019-20 season, which gives the Wizards ample to solve some depth issues.
It’s no secret Wall was unhappy with the way the Washington Wizards’ bench performed in the NBA Playoffs. The bench averaged just 23.8 points per game, ranked last among all playoff teams.
In their decisive Game 7 with the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the bench was outscored 48-5. The Wizards starters outscored Boston’s 100-67, in comparison.
Getting bench support
While the starters carried the Washington Wizards to a 49-33 record, the bench was unable to hold up its end of the deal. Even after acquiring forward Bojan Bogdanovic from the Brooklyn Nets, the Wizards bench struggled mightily when Wall and backcourt mate Bradley Beal needed rest.
While an extension would be good for Wall’s pockets, he’s still unsure about signing an extension. He still wants to see a long-term plan in place from the Wizards’ front office before committing to a contract extension.
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The Washington Wizards will have some work to do this offseason in bolstering their roster. They can still add a veteran on the interior but first, they have to re-sign Otto Porter Jr. and Bojan Bogdanovic to contracts.
Porter and Bogdanovic are both restricted free agents. Porter has the potential to receive a max deal worth $128.2 million, but his performance in the playoffs could have set things back a bit.
Bogdanovic could remain loyal and re-sign with the Wizards, but teams with the ability to offer him a lucrative deal can put Washington in a financial hole.
Point guard Brandon Jennings is also an unrestricted free agent. However, it’s highly unlikely the team will have enough cap room to re-sign him for more than a mid-level exception (MLE).
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A John Wall extension would do wonders for the future of the franchise. However, adding winning pieces around him will have to come first before he signs any type of extension.