Kristaps Porzingis to earn shocking next contract

Ahead of the 2022 NBA trade deadline, the Washington Wizards completed a trade with the Dallas Mavericks that many people saw as trading bad contracts in a pay dump. The Wizards acquired Kristaps Porzinigs, who was unsuitable as Luka Doncic’s co-star, and a second-round pick in exchange for Davis Bertans and Spencer Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie struggled to return from ACL surgery after signing a lucrative free agent contract.

For the second time, it can be argued that the Mavericks lost a trade involving Porzingis. While DInwiddie’s contract is only partially guaranteed for the 2023-24 season, Bertans is guaranteed through 2025 and is a fringe rotation player at Dallas.

Porzingis, meanwhile, had returned to the Unicorn All-Star form he displayed a few years ago with the New York Knicks. He averages 22.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks in 32.8 minutes per game. The points, rebounds and blocks all lead the team.

Although the production is excellent, the most important thing for Porzingis is that he has remained healthy. He played in 29 of 33 games and has yet to sit out consecutive games. His level of performance could lead him to do something no one thought he would consider doing in the off-season.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kristaps Porzingis & Washington Wizards Updates

According to Michael Scotto from HoopsHype, there is a chance that Porzingis will decline the player option he has for the 2023-2024 season and become free agency. If he does, he could land another lucrative long-term deal.

“Two NBA executives who spoke to HoopsHype believe Porzingis could waive his $36 million player option and enter a free agency with the potential to land a new long-term contract from Washington or another team in the like three years, $90 million or four years. year, $120 million given his current health and play this season.

How quickly the story can change for a player. Porzingis looked like a shell of himself in Dallas, unable to find his rhythm or stay healthy enough to play alongside Doncic. Now he’s performing at the All-Star level with Washington and could land another major contract this summer.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kristaps Porzingis & Washington Wizards Updates

Washington could choose to make some roster changes if the team continues to struggle to win games, but expect them to hold out a bit longer. Porzings, Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma are one of only three trios of teammates to average more than 20 points per game this season. They’ve only played 19 games together, so there’s room for improvement as this is a better roster than their recent 10-game losing streak and going 12-20.