Ahead of the 2022 NBA trade deadline, the Washington Wizards completed a trade with the Dallas Mavericks that many people saw as swapping of bad contracts in a salary dump. The Wizards acquired Kristaps Porzinigs, who wasn’t fitting as the co-star to Luka Doncic, and a second-round pick in exchange for Davis Bertans and Spencer Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie was struggling to return from ACL surgery after signing a lucrative contract as a free agent.
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’ contract is guaranteed through 2025 and he is a fringe rotation player in Dallas.
Porzingis, meanwhile, had returned to the Unicorn All-Star form that he showed with the New York Knicks a few years ago. He is averaging 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.
While the production is excellent, the most important thing for Porzingis is that he has remained healthy. He has played in 29 out of 33 games and has yet to sit out consecutive games. His level of performance could lead to him doing something no one thought he would even consider this offseason.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, there is a chance that Porzingis declines the player option that he has for the 2023-24 season and enter free agency. If he does, he could secure another lucrative long-term deal.
“Two NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype believe Porzingis could opt out of his $36 million player option and enter free agency with the potential to secure a new long-term contract from Washington or another team along the lines of three years, $90 million or four years, $120 million given his current health and play this season.”
How quickly the narrative can change for a player. Porzingis was looking like a bit of a shell of himself in Dallas, unable to find his rhythm alongside Doncic or stay healthy enough to play. Now, he is performing at an All-Star level with Washington and could cash in on another big contract this summer.
Washington could opt to make some changes to the roster should the team continue struggling to win games, but expect them to ride things out a little longer. Porzings, Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma are one of only three trios of teammates averaging 20+ points per game this season. They have only played 19 games together, so there is room for improvement as this is a better roster than their recent 10-game losing streak and 12-20 indicate.
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