Washington Wizards: 3 players not likely to return in 2020-21

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: Davis Bertans #42 of the Washington Wizards celebrates with Ish Smith #14 and Thomas Bryant #13 after a play against the Utah Jazz during the game at Capital One Arena on January 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images /

1. Davis Bertans

The Wizards have every intention of keeping Davis Bertans when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. They just might not be able to afford him.

The Latvian forward has developed into a good scorer and an elite shooter. In his first season in Washington, he’s averaging 15.4 points per game, easily a career-best for him. He’s shooting 42.4 percent from three, which is actually down a smidge from last season when he was still with the San Antonio Spurs. That can be forgiven, however, as he’s averaging 3.7 makes from three per game, tied for fourth in the NBA.

No primer is needed to explain the importance of an elite 3-point shooter in the modern NBA. It took a while for Bertans to come into his own in the league, but at just 27 years old, he could be a valuable shooter on any team for the next several years.

That’s the problem for Washington. How much are they going to be willing to pay to keep Bertans in the nation’s capital? Bertans is making $7 million this year and will command an average salary of over double his current rate in unrestricted free agency.

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Washington might have just enough money to squeeze out a new deal for Bertans. There’s just as good a chance another team in the NBA with salary-cap space decides to pay premium money for Bertans, which he’ll have a hard time rejecting.

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