/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55571721/usa_today_9968107.0.jpg)
UPDATE: The Wizards will reportedly match Porter’s offer sheet and keep him in Washington. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it’s good to hear.
Wizards had hoped to work out something more cap friendly with Otto Porter, but they intend to match Nets offer, sources tell @TheVertical.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) July 5, 2017
The original post is below.
One way or another, Otto Porter will be a max player next season. He has signed an offer sheet with the Brooklyn Nets, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports:
The Wizards will have until July 8th to decide on whether or not to match and retain Porter on those terms, or let him sign with the Nets.
Now that Porter has signed the offer sheet, Washington can’t negotiate a sign-and-trade deal with Brooklyn. Their only options now are to keep him or let him walk.
For Washington, this should be a pretty easy decision. They already have 14 players under contract and are above the salary cap. If he walks, Washington’s only options would be to work out a deal with Bojan Bogdanovic, or try to find someone on a deal for the mid-level exception. Neither option gives the Wizards an upgrade in the short or long term.
Even though this move will push the Wizards into the luxury tax and limit their ability to make moves in free agency for some time, it gives Washington their best chance to build on last season’s success, and convince John Wall to sign the four year extension the team offered him earlier this month.