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The Washington Wizards' salary-cap situation is murky, which means they probably won't make any big splashes in free agency. That said, there are some needs on this team that can be filled, so Ernie Grunfeld must look for bargains that can fit into the few exceptions the Wizards have to use. We'll explore all free agents that could take the mid-level exception or less in this ongoing series. Next up: Jarrett Jack.
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Team: Golden State Warriors.
Type: Unrestricted free agent.
This past year: Found a home in Golden State and was among the top candidates for the Sixth Man of the Year award that eventually went to the Knicks' J.R. Smith. He played less minutes and used fewer possessions than in his final year for a lowly Hornets squad, but he was instrumental to a playoff team in his role. His ability to handle the ball allowed Mark Jackson to use Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson as catch-and-shoot players, opening up the team's playbook and making them more difficult to defend. Jack also emerged as a crunch-time scorer that could hold the young guards' hands in tight situations when needed.
Why he's fit in well: Jack's ability to handle the ball would allow Randy Wittman to design sets with John Wall and Bradley Beal doing different things. Primary ball-handlers always value players that can take some of the dribbling burden off their hands, and that makes Jack extremely useful.
Why he might not: Jack lacks good court vision and has a tendency to hog possessions, something that has hurt Golden State in crunch tag throughout the playoffs.
Likely price tag: I would be very surprised if Jack signs for any less than the full mid-level exception, and I could see scenarios where he earns an even bigger payday.
Verdict: Jack has firmly established himself as an extremely valuable piece to a winning team, but he is probably out of the Wizards' price range. Signing him would almost certainly mean losing Martell Webster, and that's assuming Jack will actually take the full mid-level exception. Jack has already told the Warriors that he wants to stay, and I expect them to work out a long-term agreement.