The Wizards made a big splash in free agency, deciding to commit to power forward Davis Bertans to the tune of $80MM across five years. Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington observes that expectations have increased for Bertans, but wonders if that means the way the Wizards use him will change.
Hughes posits that Bertans will remain a bench scorer but that the club will expect his scoring barrage from a breakout 2019/20 season to continue for the length of his deal.
“To me, if we win games, I’m happy,” Bertans said recently of how he feels about his role with the club going forward. “It doesn’t matter if I’m playing 25-to-30 minutes or I’m not. Last season, I didn’t start most of the games, but I did finish most of the games. In some ways, that’s more important.”
There’s more out of DC:
- An incoming Wizards player has tested positive for COVID-19, but has yet to arrive in D.C., per Ava Wallace of the Washington Post (Twitter link). Notable new additions to the roster include rookie forward Deni Avdija, reserve center Robin Lopez, stretch four Anthony Gill, point guard Raul Neto, and new two-way player Cassius Winston.
- Wizards head coach Scott Brooks is in the final year of the five-year, $35MM deal he signed with Washington in 2016, Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington notes. Brooks sounds hopeful about an extension. “It’s no secret how much I love this team, the community, the ownership group. Those things will be taken care of at the right time. I’m excited, I’m fired up about coaching this team,” Brooks said.
- With John Wall set to play his first games with the Wizards in two years, Brooks indicates that the club will play it safe with its starting point guard’s workload for the 2020/21 season, but notes that the former All-Star is “ready to go,” per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Brooks raved, “He has his speed and strength and his shot looks great.”
- During a virtual news conference today, Brooks also discussed his interest in developing such a young club, per Ava Wallace of the Washington Post. “You have to have the talent and skill set, which we have, but there’s a lot of new pieces,” Brooks said.
$80mil for the sixth man.
Just. Wow.
It’s no worse than the $70M extension Atlanta gave Schroder in 2016.
Or tyler up in golden state
If you can shoot well, you’ll get paid
Will Wall show up in game shape, or do what he always does and play his way into shape?
If it’s the latter, I’d bet his career is over. If it’s the former? Could be interesting.
So we’re just not reading the linked articles anymore? It literally says he’s in shape in the article.
I’d say will Wall be closer to All-Star Wall from the past or just OK-PG Wall.
If he’s closer to first option than lineup with Beal, Bertans, Hachimura & RoLo doesn’s sound bad. They won’t win a chip but might be just fun to watch.
If wall isnt in shape I would just have him play a different position. You need to be endurance for a guard.