All-Star point guard John Wall opted to remain with the Washington Wizards rather than join a “super team” with the Los Angeles Lakers in the future. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Wall signed a four-year contract extension worth $170 million with the Wizards under the designated player veteran exception (DPVE). The contract includes a player option for the final year and a 15 percent trade kicker. David Aldridge of TNT said Wall will earn a total of $207 million through 2023. The extension will kick after Wall's existing five-year deal expires in 2019.
With the signing, the Wizards can now heave a sigh of relief as they keep the 26-year-old Wall through the prime of his career. Under the DPVE, Wall will earn $37.8 million during the 2019-20 season, $40.8 million in the 2020-21 season and $43.8 million and $46.8 million in the last two years of the deal.
Wall had a career year last season
Last season, Wall averaged a career-high 23.1 points, 10.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game as he led the Wizards to a 49-win season, their highest since the 1978-79 season, and a spot in the second round of the playoffs where they lost to the Boston Celtics in seven games. Wall’s performance earned him a spot in the All-NBA third team, allowing him to earn a supermax extension from the Wizards.
A first overall pick by the Wizards in the 2010 Draft, Wall became the second player in NBA history to average at least 25 points and 10 assists while playing at least 10 games in a single playoff season. The other was Russell Westbrook, who averaged 26.0 points and 11.0 assists in 18 games in last season’s playoffs.
Wall took time before signing extension
In June, Washington Post's Tim Bontemps reported that the Wizards were planning to offer Wall a maximum contract. However, Wall told the Wizards that he needed time to evaluate all of his options before signing the long-term deal. While Wall was contemplating on the extension, sports columnist and podcaster Bill Simmons floated the possibility that Wall may join the Los Angeles Lakers, forming a “Super Team” with LeBron James, DeMarcus and Paul George in 2018.
According to Simmons, George is expected to join the Lakers in 2018 after his contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder expires while James is expected to follow suit when he opts out of the final year of his deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wall and Cousins, for their part, are close friends and have plans to play together at some point in their respective careers.
