Washington Wizards: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
By Ben Yokoyama
Sign Jordan McRae
The day the 2018-19 season ended, the Washington Wizards quietly made two moves: they tore up 28-year-old Jordan McRae’s two-way contract and gave him an NBA deal and signed guard Tarik Phillip of the G League’s Memphis Hustle.
McRae, an electric shooting guard, does not have a guaranteed deal. However, his standard contract is a huge step up both monetarily and in stature for the All-G League first teamer.
McRae’s 30.3 points in the G League prove that his pure scoring ability is worth a shot off the bench in the pros. For years the Wizards have been desperately seeking bench scoring and the former Tennessee Volunteer could be part of the solution.
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For that cheap price, they can use him as a good bench piece that will complement a pass-first point guard like new signee Ish Smith.
The shooting guard has little to offer on the defense side of the ball. The signing of Isaiah Thomas, who also is a weak defender with great offense, gives the team two very similar players. Though Thomas is just 5’9” while McRae is 6’5”, they fit into the offense in a similar way.
It will be tough for both players, who will likely come off the bench, to fit into a lineup together.