The Wizards have two primary objectives entering free agency, writes Josh Robbins of The Athletic: Re-signing Bradley Beal, and finding a starting-caliber point guard. Beal is expected to decline his $36.4MM player option to become an unrestricted free agent, and he indicated in both March and May that he was leaning toward re-signing with Washington.
The Wizards can offer Beal a five-year contract worth a projected $247MM+, while the most a rival team could offer him in free agency would be a projected $183.6MM over four years.
On the point guard front, Robbins notes that Washington won’t have any cap space entering free agency, so the team will be limited to the mid-level exception, projected to be worth $44.5MM over four years, and the bi-annual exception, projected to be worth $8.3MM over two years. Given the relatively modest tools at the Wizards’ disposal, Robbins believes finding a trade or a sign-and-trade (Tyus Jones?) might be the only viable pathways to finding a legitimate starter at point guard.
Some trade options that Robbins mentions include Monte Morris and Malcolm Brogdon, among others. He also says the Wizards could try to pry away a member of Orlando’s crowded backcourt, listing Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs as players worth calling about.
Here’s more from the Southeast:
- The Heat selected Serbian forward Nikola Jovic with the No. 27 pick of the draft, and Pat Riley, the team’s president of basketball operations, said he views Jovic as a well-rounded offensive player with room for growth. “I think the overall skillset. When you talk about a player being a complete player, that’s what we’re talking about. How good is that completeness will come with development. What is a complete player, someone who can pass, who can dribble, someone who can run pick-and-rolls and shoot the ball. He’s a long-range shooter, a mid-range shooter. He scores well with the layup. He’ll take the ball and dunk it over somebody. He has those kinds of offensive skills that he can get better at. And then he’ll found out some new things that he’ll be taught where he’ll say, ‘Wow, I can do these things.’ That comes with development,” Riley said, per Heat.com.
- Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald explores the options the Heat have to try and re-sign P.J. Tucker. Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke glowingly of Tucker after the season ended, so clearly the Heat value Tucker, but he just turned 37 and the Sixers are considered the frontrunner to sign him in free agency, according to Marc Stein. Chiang writes that if Miami offers Tucker the full mid-level exception, as the Sixers are rumored to be offering, the Heat would be hard-capped at the tax apron of $155MM, and they’d be limited in what they could offer restricted free agent Caleb Martin. Chiang says trying to sell Tucker on his starting role and the success he had with the team might be one route to take, mentioning a slight discount using his Non-Bird Rights (about $26.5MM over three years). However, Tucker has shown an inclination to earn the most he possibly could previously in free agency, so that seems unlikely to work.
- The Magic‘s draft secrecy could provide long-term benefits, according to Terry Gilliam Jr. of The Orlando Sentinel. The Magic kept their intention to draft Paolo Banchero hidden until right before he was selected No. 1 last Thursday, which was all according to plan. “It helps you do business better,” president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman told Gilliam. “Whatever partners you’re trying to engage with — whether it’s an agent, another team or whomever — they trust you more if they know you can be discreet with managing your information. It’s a smart way to do business. It’s a part of our strategy of success.”
Great pick by the Heat!
Beal’s new contract will easily be among the worst contracts in the NBA. Book it.
Maybe in a few years, in the short term however I don’t see him falling off that much. Beal’s just turned 29 today.(Happy Birthday!) He was injured last season so it definitely had an affect his performance but it’s not a leg injury so he should recover well. Before last season he was a top 20 player.
Only time will tell
If saying “book it” is not a jinx. I think Beal will get numbers but Wiz will be hampered.
Wiz have to make sure theyre getting someone who Beal accepts. TyusJ, MonteM and Brogdon, prolly okay, not sure about the Magics.
Tell Weltman that word (of Banchero) did leak out, and that his predraft statements were openly mistrusted… Including HR writers… and HR posters, hello.
All Weltman’s actions did was show his willingness to mislead, tho not his ability to effectively.
I do not see strategic advantage to his dismissals of inquiries, nor in staying in his slot.
As far as Banchero vs Smith vs. Holmgren goes, I think it’s arrogant to say you know for sure who’s best. It’s a tie.
Best strategy was, get to the third spot and take what’s left. Which, Weltman did not say he tried. He said anything could happen while Smith was getting the most “votes” (or bets or predictions).
the only tie was between smith and holmgren. paola is a CLEAR notch below those 2, ESPECIALLY on a team like the Magic DESPERATE for players who aren’t bricklayers. then when you add in he is the only 1 of the 3 not great like the other 2 (he’s not even good) & the fact he’s completely indifferent & come from a silver spoon background, this was an AWFUL draft pick.
Still not much of a fan of the Heat pick, although there were only a couple of other guys on the board at that moment, so it’s not awful or anything…I just think for what the situation is with PJ, and also still needing another option at that position, EJ Liddell made the most sense.
The Heat are going to ha e to work a lot with Jovic in multiple areas. You can tell he grew from being smaller b/c you can see there are times he isnt used to using his length at the rim offensively. They need to work on his left hand finish. They need to work on him being a ball stopper. He has to bring more energy defensively, as that has been an issue. His defensive stance is way too high. He has shown some potential as a help defender in certain situations, but there are also times where his awareness isnt there, and his athleticism isn’t great. He let’s way too many guys just blow by him. I’m not actually sure what position he plays, but he might be a useful spot up shooter for now
Summer league is going to be a big deal for Jovic to see what he has improved since his season ended, and also what they’ve been able to show him just this week. They’re going to give him opportunities to be himself, and playmake for now. I want to see what positions he is in defensively, howuch he stops the ball, and what kind of energy he brings…I do really love the confidence he plays with
Beal is worth $15mil/year. Straight trash. A loser.
Drummond and Middleton are worth more WS than this loser.
strategy of success? you don’t have a strategy of success when you have 2 clear options for the #1 pick… and you take neither. the ONLY guy of the 3 with zero motor, indifference on defense, & the least ability to hit a trey of the 3 … on a team DESPERATE for shooting. puh-leeze. but yay magic on an amazing covert operation! let’s show everyone – agents, players, etc – how smooth we are at not showing our hand! not even working out a player for the FIRST OVERALL DRAFT PICK. LMFAO. i thought there was no way i’d hate this weltman clown as much as rob hennigan. i guess he’s trying to challenge that level of incompetence.