Wizards, Kristaps Porzingis discussing contract extension

The Washington Wizards have engaged in "serious discussions [on]a new deal" for Kristaps Porzingis, according to Shams Charania of TheAthletic.

Porzingis has a player option worth $36,016,200 for next season.However, if the sides can agree to this extension, he would opt outand sign a new long-term deal with Washington.

Charania notes that the maximum offer the Wizards can make toPorzingis is four years, $180 million. The two sides have untillate June to reach an agreement.

This season, Porzingis is averaging a career-high 23.2 points togo along with 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 blocks, 2.1 threes and0.9 steals, while shooting 49.8% from the field, 38.5% fromthree-point range and 85.1% from the free-throw line.

Porzingis landed in Washington prior to the 2022 trade deadlineafter the Dallas Mavericks dealt him for Spencer Dinwiddie andDavis Bertans.

While extending Porzingis seems to be a priority, the Wizardsalso have to make a decision on Kyle Kuzma's future with theorganization.

Kuzma has a player option for next season (worth $13,000,000),but he intends to opt out and become an unrestricted free agent.With that said, Charania notes that "there is mutual interest in anew deal."

This season, Kuzma has averaged career-highs in points (21.2),assists (3.7), three-pointers (2.5) and steals (0.6), while alsoaveraging 7.2 rebounds and 0.5 blocks on .448/.333/.730 shootingsplits.

The Wizards acquired Kuzma from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021as part of the Russell Westbrook blockbuster trade.

Porzingis and Kuzma are both 27 years old and playing arguablytheir best basketball.