Rather than let a rich contract extension sit on his desk and turn brown, John
Wall decided to get the green. And it is a big pile of it.
He has agreed to the four-year, $170 million extension from the Washington
Wizards under the Designated Player Veteran Exception, which makes him one of
the highest paid players in the NBA. What’s more, the Wizards now have their top
three players under contract for at least the next four seasons, with Wall
following Bradley Beal and Otto Porter.
Wall also announced the deal himself on social media.
Wall’s extension, which was offered to him nearly two weeks ago, doesn’t begin
until after his current five-year contract ends in two years. He’ll fetch $207
million total through 2022-23.
Just weeks ago the Wizards matched a four-year, $106 million offer sheet to
retain Porter and keep him from the Brooklyn Nets. And last year was the first
under Beal’s contract, which pays him $127 million over five years.
By locking up their best players, the Wizards are hoping to keep a young nucleus
intact and make a run in the Eastern Conference. It’s a consolation prize for
the Wizards after losing out on a chance to get local guy Kevin Durant to sign
as a free agent; Durant never seriously considered Washington in the end and
left OKC for the Warriors.
