NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason targets for the Washington Wizards
By John Buhler
Otto Porter Jr.
Small Forward, Washington Wizards
Washington’s 2017 NBA free agency will come down to one thing: Will the Wizards be willing to pay top-dollar to re-sign restricted free agent small forward Otto Porter Jr.? This has been part of the Wizards’ offseason for the last few years, having had to do so with Wall and Beal before him. However, Porter is not Wall or Beal as a basketball player.
That could allow Washington to seriously consider letting their former No. 3 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft walk for nothing. Obviously, that would be massively unpopular for the Wizards, as Porter has really emerged as a strong starter for them out on the wing.
Like with Bogdanovic, Porter will command a lucrative eight-figure salary in restricted free agency. It will be up to the Wizards brass to match it or not. Theoretically, the Wizards could swap out Bogdanovic for Porter in the starting lineup and tread water. However, that would limit the Wizards’ overall ceiling as a basketball team. One could easily argue that Porter has yet to reach his NBA ceiling, as he is only 24 years old.
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Porter averaged 13.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game for the 2016-17 Wizards. This was by far and away his best season as a professional. By paying whatever it takes to re-sign him, Washington can at least convince its fan base that the Wizards are conference finals caliber. Washington should again have one of the better starting fives in the Eastern Conference next season. That bench will still likely be a major hinderance to their playoff success.