3 questions facing the Washington Wizards after the All-Star break

When do extension talks for Troy Brown Jr. begin?

Last year’s first-round pick hasn’t taken the “sophomore leap”, but is certainly improving. Troy Brown Jr. has cemented himself as a future piece in Washington, and they no doubt want to keep him in Washington.

On the year, the sophomore forward is averaging 10.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. He’s emerged as one of the best defenders on the NBA’s worst defense, which has to stand for something. Brown had a career-high 26 points in a December win over New York:

His stance within the second unit has become nearly irreplaceable. He’s shooting the ball a lot better than last season, passing well, and is an incredibly underrated off the glass.

So, the question becomes, when do you begin extension talks? The Wizards exercised his team option for next season back in September, but he has another looming for the following year. Could they decline it, and offer him a new, multi-year deal?

If Washington doesn’t lock him in ahead of next season, then they’ll have just one more year to do so, just ahead of the looming 2021 free agency market. Which is the next time a real star player like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Anthony Davis will be available in the offseason.

If Wall and Beal progress as the front office hopes, they’ll want to be apart of those conversations in the summer of 2021 too. And overpaying Brown because they waited too long to extend his contract, well that could certainly spoil those plans.

An extension for the second-year forward is the least pressing of these three issues. But if the Wizards wait too long, instead of buying low now, they may end up deciding between the cap space required to bring in a third star, or retaining Brown.

The Washington Wizards front office has to start looking to the future–now. The second half of this season will have multiple implications on not only next year, but the rest of their John Wall-Bradley Beal tenure, and window for contention period.

Assessing these three issues might be the best starting point in their gearing up for next season. One that’s dedicated to winning now, and about as do-or-die as an NBA year can be.