The Washington Wizards are in discussions with forward Kristaps Porziņģis about a contract extension. The team is looking to keep Porziņģis on board long-term and potentially offer him a max contract. However, there are concerns about making a significant financial commitment to someone with a history of injuries.
Porziņģis and Wizards in Talks for Extension
According to sources, the Wizards have opened discussions with Porziņģis about a new contract. They are hoping he will opt out of his $36 million player option for the 2023-2024 season and sign a longer-term deal with the team. If Porziņģis opts out, the Wizards can offer him a max contract of four years and $180 million.
Porziņģis has had an impressive season with the Wizards, playing in 65 of the team’s 76 games. He is averaging 22.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. However, the team is still just 34-42 and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.
Concerns About Injuries
While Porziņģis has been productive this season, there are worries about his injury history. He has suffered several significant injuries over the course of his career, including a torn ACL that caused him to miss most of the 2018-2019 season.
Despite these concerns, the Wizards appear willing to take the risk on Porziņģis. They see him as a crucial part of their three-person core alongside Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma.
Kuzma’s Future Uncertain
Kuzma’s future with the team is also in question. He is on track to decline his $13 million player option for the 2023-2024 season and become an unrestricted free agent. Kuzma has had a career-high in points per game this season, but the Wizards cannot extend his contract.
Building Around Beal
The Wizards are committed to building around Beal, who signed a supermax extension with the team in 2019. The hope is that Porziņģis and Kuzma can help the team contend in the Eastern Conference.
However, there are concerns about whether doubling down on this core is a smart long-term move for the franchise. The team has struggled to make the playoffs and has not meaningfully competed for some time.
Deadline Approaching
The deadline for Porziņģis and the Wizards to come to an agreement is in late June. The team will need to decide whether they want to take a risk on Porziņģis or potentially let him walk in free agency.
In conclusion, the Washington Wizards are holding early discussions with Kristaps Porziņģis about signing a new contract extension. While he has been productive this season, injury concerns and a poor record raise questions about the long-term viability of this core trio. However, the Wizards are committed to contending with Bradley Beal as their superstar cornerstone.
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