Wizards Notes: Beal, Porter, LeBron
The Wizards didn’t have the flexibility to go out and make major moves in free agency this offseason, so after keeping their roster relatively intact, they had to bet on improvement from within for the 2017/18 season. As Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington writes, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter have been making good on that bet so far this season.
Bradley Beal, in the second year of a maximum-salary contract with the Wizards, is coming off a career season and has looked even better so far in 2017/18, averaging a career-high 25.7 PPG and .503 FG%. As for Porter, he’s in the first year of a max deal of his own, and he’s topping last season’s career year so far too, with new career-bests in PPG (18.3), FG% (.569), 3PT% (.525), RPG (6.9), and several other categories.
It still feels like the Wizards might meed a midseason trade to turn into a legit title contender, but with the Cavaliers looking vulnerable and the Celtics missing Gordon Hayward, the door is open for Washington to make a move in the East this year.
- This year’s cavalcade of LeBron James free agency predictions is underway, with former Wizards forward Paul Pierce suggesting recently on ESPN that D.C. would be an ideal landing spot for the four-time MVP in 2018. Hughes passes along the rationale for Pierce’s idea, which seems like a long shot.
No Structural Damage For John Wall
Tests conducted today on John Wall‘s injured left shoulder showed no structural damage, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical. The star guard is reporting soreness and is questionable for Sunday’s game with the Raptors.
Wall was diagnosed with a sprained shoulder after Friday’s game with the Cavaliers, according to Brian Windhorst on ESPN Now. X-rays taken Friday night were negative, but Wall had his arm in a sling as he left Capital One Arena.
Wall said the damage was done when he ran into the Cavs’ Channing Frye on a play in the fourth quarter. He told reporters he should have left the game after that happened.
The Wizards are relieved that they won’t be without their leader for an extended time. The four-time All-Star is averaging 20.5 points and 10.4 assists through eight games.
Kelly Oubre Earns Larger Role; Otto Porter Earning Paycheck
The Wizards have benefited from third-year swingman Kelly Oubre‘s energy so far this season and the 21-year-old is earning a more substantial role with the squad, Chris Gehring of the team’s official site writes.
- The Wizards paid big bucks to bring Otto Porter back and, to this point, LeBron James believes he’s earned his $107MM contract. “He’s worked on his game extremely well and he’s earned the big paycheck that he got,” James told Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington.
Southeast Notes: Simmons, Batum, Wizards
The Magic have jumped out to a 6-2 start this season despite the fact that much of the core they’ve featured this season is a carryover from last year’s team that finished just 29-53. The X-Factor that’s helping the team perform so much better in 2017/18 could very well be Jonathon Simmons, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders writes.
Simmons signed a three-year deal worth $20MM this summer and has earned the trust of head coach Frank Vogel early in his Magic career.
“He has earned the trust. You know, when we put the ball in his hands, typically, he makes good things happen,” Vogel said. “He’s a good decision maker, and he’s a threat going to the basket. I mean, he really attacks the rim and will get to the free throw line and will finish. He does a good job making the extra pass, too. I do have a lot of trust; he’s earned it very early with me in his stay [with the Magic].”
Through eight games with the Magic so far this year, Simmons has averaged 15.8 points and 3.6 rebounds.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- According to the man himself, Nicolas Batum could be cleared to practice in the next nine days. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, caught up with the Hornets swingman as he recovers from a torn ligament in his left elbow that has sidelined him since early October.
- The Heat have looked thin on the perimeter thanks to a rash of injuries at the position. In a question-and-answer with readers, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel discusses whether or not the team ought to have considered using the money spent on Kelly Olynyk to pursue a wing, like Rudy Gay.
- The Wizards parted ways with Carrick Felix earlier today but have no immediate plans to fill the vacant roster spot, Candace Buckner of the Washington Post tweets.
Wizards Waive Carrick Felix
The Wizards have cut shooting guard Carrick Felix from their roster, the team announced today in a press release. Felix will become an unrestricted free agent this weekend, assuming he clears waivers.
Felix beat out Donald Sloan for a spot on the Wizards’ roster to open the season, but his hold on that 15th and final slot was precarious, since his salary remained non-guaranteed. The 27-year-old didn’t end up playing any regular season minutes for Washington during his stint with the team. In fact, the one time he got on the court, he was suspended for it — the NBA banned him one game for leaving the bench during last Friday’s altercation between the Wizards and Warriors.
Because Felix’s contract was non-guaranteed, the Wizards will only be on the hook for a prorated portion of his minimum salary. By my count, Felix should receive about $132K for his brief stay in D.C. That figure takes into account the money he lost due to his suspension, though perhaps Bradley Beal will compensate him for that game, as he suggested a few days ago.
“I might help him out, man. It was all my fault, anyways,” Beal said of last week’s altercation. “I gotta help my guy out. We might start a Go Fund Me and help out my guy Carrick Felix. He’s gonna need some cash, for sure.”
The Wizards now have an open spot on their 15-man NBA roster.
Morris Serves Suspension, Ready To Play
Wizards forward Markieff Morris was ready to make his season debut in tonight’s loss to the Suns, but he had to serve a one-game suspension first, tweets Chase Hughes of NBC Washington. Morris, who has been sidelined since abdominal surgery in late September for a sports hernia, was suspended for leaving the bench in Friday’s game against Golden State.
- Also suspended after Friday’s altercation was Wizards guard Carrick Felix, who is less able to afford the loss of money or playing opportunities, Hughes writes in a full story. Felix earned a roster spot with Washington after being out of the NBA since 2014. His only previous experience was seven games with the Cavaliers. “I might help him out, man. It was all my fault, anyways,” said teammate Bradley Beal. “I gotta help my guy out. We might start a Go Fund Me and help out my guy Carrick Felix. He’s gonna need some cash, for sure.” Hughes notes that Felix served his suspension in Sunday’s rout at Sacramento, which could have provided his first game action of the season.
Wizards Won’t Exercise Chris McCullough’s Option
The Wizards won’t pick up their 2018/19 team option on power forward Chris McCullough, sources tell Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). The decision will result in McCullough becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency next July.
McCullough, 22, was selected with the 29th overall pick in the 2015 draft and spent most of his first two NBA seasons with the Nets before being sent to Washington along with Bojan Bogdanovic in a deadline deal earlier this year.
Even in Brooklyn, on a rebuilding squad, McCullough didn’t see much playing time, with the Nets frequently assigning him to the G League for further development. The young forward’s minutes dwindled further after he joined the Wizards — he only has only played 15 total minutes in three games since arriving in D.C. in February.
While the Wizards aren’t necessarily giving up on McCullough, they’ve decided not to guarantee his 2018/19 salary, which would have added $2,243,326 to team payroll. After exercising Kelly Oubre‘s option earlier this month, Washington is currently projected to carry approximately $116MM in guaranteed salary next year, putting the club at risk of ending up in tax territory again.
NBA Fines Beal, Green, Oubre; Suspends Two Wizards Players
The NBA announced on Sunday that Wizards players Carrick Felix and Markieff Morris have each been suspended one game without pay for leaving the bench during Friday’s on-court confrontation between Warriors forward Draymond Green and guard Bradley Beal.
Felix and Morris will serve their suspensions the next game each player is active and physically able to play.
Green ($25,000) and Beal ($50,000) were issued hefty fines for their roles in the skirmish. Beal’s fine is higher than Green’s because he initiated the fight. Green was issued a fine for failing to disengage from Beal, the league noted in the press release.
Wizards’ forward Kelly Oubre Jr. was also fined $15,000 for aggressively entering the confrontation.
It was a tumultuous week for the Warriors as Stephen Curry was fined $50,000 on Monday for throwing his mouthpiece at a referee in the fourth quarter of Golden State’s 111-101 loss to the Grizzlies last Saturday. Andre Iguodala was also fined $15,000 for abusive language toward a referee during the sequence.
Morris On Verge Of Return
- After undergoing hernia surgery, Wizards‘ big man Markieff Morris is nearing a return, Candace Buckner of The Washington Post writes.
2017 Offseason In Review: Washington Wizards
Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2017 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s moves from the last several months and look ahead to what the 2017/18 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Washington Wizards.
Signings:
- Otto Porter: Four years, $106.525MM (25% maximum salary). Fourth-year player option. Matched Nets’ offer sheet.
- Jodie Meeks: Two years, $6.745MM. Second-year player option.
- Mike Scott: One year, minimum salary.
- Devin Robinson: Two-way contract. Two years. $50K guaranteed for each season.
- Michael Young: Two-way contract. Two years. $50K guaranteed for each season.
Camp invitees:
- Carrick Felix: One year, minimum salary. Exhibit nine.
- Donald Sloan: One year, minimum salary. Exhibit nine. (Waived)
Trades:
- Acquired Tim Frazier from the Pelicans in exchange for the No. 52 overall pick.
Draft picks:
- None
Extensions:
- John Wall: Four years, 35% maximum salary. Designated Veteran Extension. Starts in 2019/20.
Departing players:
Other offseason news:
- Laurene Powell Jobs buying significant minority stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Wizards.
- Markieff Morris acquitted on aggravated assault charges; Morris out until November due to sports hernia surgery.
- Sheldon Mac to miss most or all of season due to torn Achilles.
- Will add G League affiliate for 2018/19 season.
Salary cap situation:
- Operating over the cap and over the tax line by approximately $4MM. Carrying approximately $123.5MM in guaranteed team salary. Portion of taxpayer mid-level exception ($1.902MM) still available.
Check out the Washington Wizards’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.
Story of the summer:
Restricted free agency was an all-or-nothing proposition for many players this summer, with multiple RFAs – including Nerlens Noel and Alex Len – remaining on the market for months before signing their respective qualifying offers. Others – like Shabazz Muhammad and Joffrey Lauvergne – had those QOs rescinded, forcing them to settle for minimum salary contracts.
On the other end of the spectrum, however, was Otto Porter. The top restricted free agent on the market, Porter reportedly received a maximum-salary proposal from the Kings before instead inking a max offer sheet with the Nets. That four-year offer, worth north of $106MM, also featured a 15% trade kicker and a fourth-year player option, making it as player-friendly as possible — and, in turn, not so team-friendly for the Wizards.
If the Wizards had decided that a price tag exceeding $26MM annually simply wasn’t worth it for Porter, it would have been hard to fault them for that. After all, even though Porter enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2016/17, posting a blistering .516/.434/.832 shooting line, he wouldn’t be more than the third option in Washington, with the team leaning heavily on John Wall and Bradley Beal to carry the ball-handling and scoring loads.
Letting Porter go to the Nets would have left the Wizards with a significant hole at small forward though, and the team wouldn’t have had the financial flexibility to acquire a viable replacement. So, stuck between a rock and a hard place, the Wizards moved swiftly to match Porter’s offer sheet and brought him back into the fold.
The move loomed large over the rest of the Wizards’ offseason, ensuring that the club would surpass the luxury tax threshold and would be unable to make any other major splashes. Even minor upgrades to the bench would be tricky for the cap-strapped Wiz. But after the franchise posted its highest win total (49) in nearly four decades, the front office wasn’t about to let its 24-year-old starting small forward get away for nothing.
