THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Power forward Etan Thomas signed an offer sheet from the Milwaukee Bucks yesterday morning, the first day players were allowed to sign contracts.
The Washington Times first reported he would sign the offer sheet in Tuesday’s editions.
The Washington Wizards have until July 29 to decide whether they will match the Bucks’ offer of $37-40 million over six years.
Although the Wizards can offer Thomas more money, a longer contract (seven years) and annual raises at a rate higher (12.5 percent) than any other team, the Bucks — who don’t have anyone as physical on their frontline as the 6-foot-10, 260-pound Thomas — may have made matching the offer difficult for Washington.
A league source with knowledge of the situation said the Bucks may have added a trade clause to the contract similar to one in former Wizard Christian Laettner’s contract that would require a 15-20 percent bump in salary if Thomas is traded.
The Wizards have said they want to keep the 26-year-old Thomas, who posted career highs this season in points (8.9), rebounds (6.7) and blocks (1.6). Thomas is on record as saying he wants to remain in Washington.
If Thomas does not return, the Wizards will have approximately $39.5 million committed to salaries. The salary cap for next season was announced at $43.87 million, meaning they would have a little more than $4 million to spend on the thinning ranks of big-bodied free agents.
— John N. Mitchell
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