With this deal, the Wizards checked out one of their top two summer priorities: finding a reliable solution at the sentry post. The other is to re-sign the cornerstone of the franchise Bradley Beal to a long-term contract.
Bale turned down the $36.4 million player option for the 2022-23 season on Wednesday, according to his agent Mark Bartelstein, and became a free agent for the first time in his career. Ranger can now re-sign with witches for a maximum contract of about $250 million over five years or join a different team, either through a free agency or a signing and trading deal.
Staying with The Wizards is financially prudent for Beal, who turns 29 on Tuesday. The largest contract any other team could offer the goalkeeper is worth about $185 million over four years.
If he returns, he will be dressed up along with a trusted ranger who will check lots of Washington’s chests. the athlete The first to report on the Morris trade.
27-year-old Morris wasn’t the missing piece to complete the virtual “Big Three” featuring Bill and Christaps Porsingis. But he has three assets that make him an excellent fit for the Wizards: He’s a capable defender, he’s more interested in keeping the team organized and assists than scoring, and he owes just over $18.9 million over the next two seasons. For a team that could soon be tied with a massive contract to Beal and owes Porzingis about $70 million over the next two years, that’s a friendly salary.
Morris, Barton, and coach Wes Onseld Jr. also had a previous relationship from their years with the Nuggets. When Unseld returned to Denver in December For the first time since taking the reins, Morris was one of a handful of players who walked past Washington before the game to salute the former Nuggets assistant. Morris approached Unseld with a grin and extended an arm before hugging the coach and making him double with laughter.
Unseld was part of the Denver crew that drafted Morris in 2017 and signed him to a two-way contract that season, splitting his time between the NBA and the J-League. He made his way to start 74 games last season while Jamal Murray was rehabilitating an ACL injury—a hard-won path for professional players that the people in the Washington front office appreciate. Wizards Brass also noted Morris’ leadership skills.
The goalkeeper averaged 12.6 points and 4.4 assists last season. And while he’s not considered a top scorer, he can put the ball in the hoop: His real shot percentage of 58.3 was eighth among point guards last season, and he tied with Dallas’ Galen Bronson.
As a bonus, Morris and Washington striker Kyle Kuzma has relationships that stretch back to elementary school.
Barton, a Baltimore native, is 31 and can swing well behind Bell on the depth chart. He averaged 14.7 points in over 30 minutes in a game last season and fired 43.8 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from a three-point range.
Wizards front office members love its versatility. Barton can create his own scoring opportunities or set up others and come off the bench or start as needed.
Washington still needs to find depth behind Morris in sentry position because Raul Neto and Thomas Satoransky are ready for free agency. The team hosted a pair of potential prospects at a three-day mini-camp over the weekend at Kris Dunn, the fifth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, and Pierria Henry, the American-born goalkeeper who has become a standout player in the Euroleague over the past few years.
Meanwhile, veteran point guard Smith, Heading to his thirteenth teaman NBA record.