Daniel Gafford agrees to three-year, $40.2 million extension with Wizards

The Washington Wizards and center Daniel Gafford have agreed to a three-year, $40.2 million contract extension, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

The extension will pay Gafford an annual average salary of $13.4 million

Gafford has two years remaining on his rookie contract, including a club option for the 2022-23 season. His new extension will run through the 2025-26 season. This season he will make $1.78 million.

The Wizards acquired Gafford last season from the Chicago Bulls ahead of the trade deadline. The 6-foot-11 center averaged 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 23 games with the Wizards.

The 23-year old Gafford is slated to start this season for the revamped Wizards. With Thomas Bryant still recovering from a torn ACL, Gafford will be backed up by Montrezl Harrell, who the team acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason.

Both Bryant and Harrell are in the final year of their contracts. But, the Wizards have identified Gafford as potentially their center of the future moving forward.