As the Washington Wizards took big steps forward this season — especially during the playoffs — Al Harrington became that veteran voice on the bench. A guy with trusted advice for young stars like John Wall and Bradley Beal. The kind of wise veteran every young team needs.
However, what Harrington wanted to be was an influence on the court as well, problem was his 34-year-old body was not going to allow that. He had to have another knee surgery early in the season and he was limited later. (He did have the one 11-point Game 4 performance against the Pacers, but that was about it of note.)
Harrington is an unrestricted free agent this summer who is deciding whether to stick around for another NBA season — and he could do that with the Wizards, he told the Washington Post.“It was up and down,” Harrington said to describe this past season. “I guess it’s just part of getting older in the league. … having that surgery and not knowing if I was going to be able to get back and contribute. It’s been an up-and-down road but it’s been fun and at the end of the day, I was able to prove that I still could play a high level. Don’t write me off just because I’m hurt. These young guys embraced me and even the veteran guys respected everything I said whenever I said something. That’s the utmost respect….
“(Wizards owner) Ted (Leonsis) got the pockets, so if he want to go in the luxury [tax] and all that, he can bring back every last one of us,” Harrington joked. “I think the core that we have here is great and as many guys as he can keep, I think the better. That’s a great locker room in there. … I’m really going to take some time off and then some time throughout the summer, I’ll start evaluating if I want to play or maybe do something else.”
Here is what this means: Harrington will stick around if he gets an offer from a contending team, or one he wants to play for. It’s that simple. If the Wizards or one of the contenders comes at him, he likely signs on for another year. If his offers are to help Milwaukee or Philadelphia as they rebuild, he is going to move on to the next phase of his life (whatever that might be, he’d make a good coach).
For once it’s not about the money, it’s about the fit.
Washington would be a good fit agin for one more go around, they do love him in that locker room.