All-Star G John Wall and the Wizards "have agreed" to a $170M, four-year extension starting in '19, the latest example of the NBA's new CBA helping teams "hold on to their star players," according to Fendrich & Krawczynski of the AP. The expensive extension comes "shortly after the Wizards matched" a $106.5M, four-year, max-contract offer F Otto Porter Jr. signed with the Nets. Wall and Porter join G Bradley Beal to "give the Wizards a young core of talent" (AP, 7/22). In DC, Tim Bontemps wrote the Wall extension is a "seminal moment for a franchise that has spent most of the past four decades in the basketball wilderness." By convincing Wall to "spend the rest of his prime in Washington, the Wizards have officially graduated from the league’s laughingstock to a franchise that most would be envious of." Wizards Owner Ted Leonsis "committed to paying the luxury tax" by keeping Porter as a restricted free agent and, in doing so, "committing to the Wizards in a way he never had before." It "clearly resonated with Wall and convinced him to agree to stay long term with the Wizards." For many years, the Wizards have been "searching for the kind of long-term stability they now have." This should be a "day to be celebrated in Washington." For a franchise "devoid of seminal moments, this most definitely is one" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/22). Also in DC, Todd Dybas wrote Leonsis has "decided in the last nine days to pay" Wall and Porter maximum contracts. He has "committed roughly" $403M to Wall, Porter and Beal "in the last 12 months." This is "public confirmation of the plan." Dybas: "Draft, develop, pay." The Wizards "tried it in in the past," but it was a "broad failure" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 7/23).
