WASHINGTON, D.C. - Washington Wizards restricted free-agent shooting guard Nick Young is unsigned at this point, even though the Wizards have said they would like to keep him. Perhaps this is why. Young's price tag is currently very high and he is asking for a deal that pays him $9 million a season, several sources told Michael Lee of the Washington Post.
Why the delay for Young? According to two high-ranking Western Conference officials and a high-ranking Eastern Conference official, Young is seeking an annual salary in the range of $9 million per season – and few teams have the funds or the willingness to pay him right now.
"I do hear his price tag is pretty high," one Western Conference official said.
When asked for his take on Young's request, one league executive told Lee, "It’s okay to ask, as long as you don’t mind the answer being no."
Young led the Wizards in scoring with a career-high 17.4 points-per-game average, but the play of Jordan Crawford late in the year, combined with Young's struggles with rebounding and passing, have many fans thinking it's time to move on.
Coach Flip Saunders was asked about Young's status prior to Friday's preseason opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, and he said he thinks Young will ultimately be back in Washington.
"I would think, when it's all said and done, this is where he'll be," Saunders said. "We'll have to wait and see."