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NBA Free Agency 2017: 20 best players available

By John Buhler

Mar 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) in the second half of the game against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Clippers won 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) in the second half of the game against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Clippers won 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 7, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
14

Otto Porter Jr.

Small Forward, Washington Wizards

One of the most intriguing players hitting his restricted free agency is Washington Wizards small forward Otto Porter Jr. After struggling in the NBA initially, Porter has stepped up his game to a high-end starting swingman in a league that just doesn’t have many of them.

Porter averaged 13.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 80 games for the Southeast Division Wizards in 2016-17. He was one of the biggest reasons that Washington nearly reached the Eastern Conference Finals this spring. Washington has already paid point guard John Wall and shooting guard Bradley Beal in their restricted free agencies. Is Porter going to get his?

Naturally, Washington would love to have Porter back on a second contract. He was the No. 3 overall pick out of Georgetown in the 2013 NBA Draft. However, Porter is a prime candidate to be offered a max contract by a terrible team just to force Washington’s hand.

Projecting forward, yes, Porter could be worth that type of high-end coinage here soon. The problem is that Washington’s bench is all sorts of rancid and the Wizards won’t win big if the second unit continues to run like a leaky faucet. Porter will get paid, but will Washington take it on the chin financially to overpay him to bring him back for the next four years?

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