Story By: Erin Zollars
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
It didn’t seem like that long ago that John Wall came into this building to address the media on him being the Number 1 Draft Pick in 2010, today he thanked the Wizards for making it happen again, this time for $170 million to stay in D.C and finally go after that championship that has eluded them since the 76-77 season.
“I’m happy here,” Wall said to the gathering. “I’m happy to see all y’all amazing people supporting me for the next six years. This is the team I want to be with for the rest of my career, so hopefully we can get that done.”
For Wizards fans having John, Brad and Otto for the foreseeable future is a good thing and knowing what this combo can do is bringing something special to the court again this fall and winter.
Wall’s agent and management team negotiated into the deal a trade kicker, which essentially works as a form of a no-trade clause because few teams likely will have the cap space to absorb his escalated salary beginning in 2019. Also, Wall received the ever-so-important player option in the final year of the extension, meaning he could elect to test free agency following the 2021-22 season, when he will be 31 years old.
This begins the process of building a winning team for the 2017-18 season started today and Wall insured those in attendance that they are not done with the performance from last season.
“When this team drafted me in 2010, I wanted to come here and build a future for this team. I think you can see the commitment every time I step on the court,” said Wall.
