To no surprise, the Washington Wizards have matched restricted free agent Otto Porter Jr.'s max offer sheet from the Brooklyn Nets to the tune of four-years and $106.5 million. The max contract will keep the small forward in the Nation’s Capital until at least 2020 as the fourth year is a player option. Porter cannot be traded this season and has a future 15 percent trade kicker. With limited room to maneuver under the salary cap otherwise, retaining the shooter’s services were a no-brainer to keep the young core together.
“Otto has developed into a vital part of our young core, which is why we made it clear that our priority was to keep him here to maintain continuity and build on the success of this group heading into next season and beyond,” team president Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement. “His versatility, basketball IQ and three-point shooting combine to make him a great fit for us on the floor while his character and work in the community show why we’re so pleased to have him as a cornerstone of our franchise.”
"After two years at Georgetown and four years with the Wizards here in Washington, D.C., I’m excited to be staying home,” said Porter. “I want our great fans to know that I will continue to work hard to improve my game in all areas and I hope to make an even bigger contribution to the Wizards’ success in the future.”
The Wizards put on the full court press on Porter shortly after midnight on July 1 with agent David Falk in attendance as the team's top decision makers made an aggressive offer short of the maximum. Grunfeld and company did not want to overpay for Porter if they did not have to, but they maintained throughout the free agency process that they would be willing to match any offer Porter gets and that they did. Even if you do not believe Porter is a max player, Washington currently has three on the roster.
For the first time in recent memory, Washington will be entering the luxury tax, which is now a norm to compete in today's NBA. The Wizards still have the $5.192 million tax payer mid-level exception, but do not have a roster spot to use it on, following the signing of Jodie Meeks via the bi-annual exception and Mike Scott to the veteran's minimum. Washington will have to pay approximately $11.4 million in luxury tax on top of their $126.5 million team salary.
Before the All-Star break, Otto Porter was shooting an insane 46.6 percent from beyond the arc, which I believe would have warranted a max contract offer from Washington in order to keep him in DC. But, Porter shot just 34.1 percent from deep post All-Star break in the regular season and a mediocre 28.2 percent (11-for-39) in the playoffs.
Despite late season drops from the three-point line, which could be indicative of teams pressing out of him much harder in the second half of the season. Porter had career highs in points (13.4), rebounds (6.4), field goal percentage (51.6%), three-point percentage (43.4%), steals (1.5), and blocks (0.5) per game.
The way his coaches and teammates spoke about Porter immediately after the end of the season, it is really no surprise that he is back with Washington.
“Love Otto, love Otto,” Scott Brooks said. “Had a good year with Otto, really getting to know him. Great kid, team guy, makes a lot of winning basketball plays. He’s not a guy that you can give you 25 a night, but he’s a guy that can give you great minutes and give you winning minutes. His outside shooting has improved to become a knock down shooter. Did not know that about him going into the year, but am excited that he has become that. Can guard multiple players, which is another strength of his. I’m excited to be able to coach him and get to see his development this year, he’s one of our guys that really developed this year as the season went on from November through May.”
“He fits great, does a great job, knows his role,” John Wall said. “Doesn’t complain about anything, comes in puts in work every day. On the court, he gives everything he has.”
“We love him here,” Bradley Beal said. “He’s a key piece. He can shoot the ball tremendously well. He made a lot of strides this year for us on both ends of the floor. He’s going to constantly get better. He’s 6-9, I wish I was 6-9. 6-9, long and can shoot the ball, athletic, and can rebound with the best of them. He’s a true talent and I’m hoping we get him back.”
“His three-point shooting,” Markieff Morris said was the biggest surprise from Porter. “I didn’t think anyone knew he could shoot the ball that well. Me and Otto, we complement each other well on the court. He’s more like me, laid back, quiet type. Guy that just comes in and gets his work done. Great teammate. Great guy to have on the team. I hope he gets the max, I think he deserves the max.”
One would ponder a guess that fellow restricted free agent Bojan Bogdanovic will be seeking employment outside of Washington now, but I wonder if the Wizards would see the Paul George and Jimmy Butler-less Eastern Conference as a reason to push even high above the tax line to retain an above-average shooter.
Washington's depth chart currently sits at the following:
PG: John Wall, Tim Frazier, Tomas Satoransky
SG: Bradley Beal, Jodie Meeks, Sheldon Mac
SF: Otto Porter Jr., Kelly Oubre Jr.
PF: Markieff Morris, Mike Scott, Jason Smith, Chris McCullough
C: Marcin Gortat, Ian Mahinmi, Daniel Ochefu
Many will complain that this year's roster is maintaining the status quo of last year, but I would argue that there is a pretty clear improvement. Instead of your backup backcourt being Trey Burke and Marcus Thornton, you have Tim Frazier and Jodie Meeks. That alone may be able to turn a couple of early season 2016 losses into victories.
Re-signing Porter and keeping the starting five core intact is not the sexy move that a fan base craves, but the lack of cap room, a result of last summer’s moves, made it the only way forward. And it is indeed a way forward. With another year under Scott Brook’s tutelage, getting rid of the 2-8 start, and normal development of several players under the age of 28, the Washington Wizards should be a 50-win team and a top three seed in the East.