When John Wall inked a new deal for 5 years and $80 million with the Wizards two years ago, some were skeptical as to whether or not Wall deserved that kind of money. These days, that deal seems like a bargain.
Now, with the rising salary cap and the NBA’s new TV deal, there’s more money to go around. Players are going to start making a lot more money, and we’ve seen that already this summer. A good example of this is Enes Kanter’s new deal. If Kanter had asked for a $70 million deal last summer, Execs would have laughed at him. This summer, however, the Blazers offered him that deal, and the Thunder matched it.
Another example, the one that Wall brought up, is Reggie Jackson’s deal. Jackson signed the same deal that Wall did two summers ago — 5-years, $80 million. Ask basketball fan outside of Reggie Jackson’s family who the better player between the two is, they’ll tell you it’s John Wall. Wall is an elite guard in this league, and Jackson isn’t. You know it, I know it, and John Wall knows it. Wall spoke on the subject, telling CSNWashington’s J Michael:
“People talk about me getting $80 million, now you got people getting $85 million that haven’t made the All-Star (Game) or anything like that,” Wall said Tuesday while watching his summer league team compete vs. the Dallas Mavericks at Thomas & Mack Center. “I guess they came in at the right time. That new CBA kicked in and they’re good now. Reggie Jackson gets five years, $80 million. I’m getting the same as Reggie Jackson.”
Obviously, Wall is better than Jackson, and it isn’t Wall’s fault that he’s not making more. After all, his current deal was a max contract when he signed it. There’s just more money to go around now. Don’t worry John, you’re sure to make up the difference by signing a gargantuan contract when you hit free agency in 2019.
