Wizards Exercise Options on Wall, Booker, Seraphin, Crawford, Vesely and Singleton

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has exercised the fourth-year contract options on John Wall, Trevor Booker, Kevin Seraphin and Jordan Crawford while picking up the third-year contract options on Jan Vesely and Chris Singleton. Wall, Booker, Seraphin, Crawford, Vesely and Singleton are now signed through the 2013-14 season. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released.

“We have been able to bring in and develop this core group of talented, mature young players over the last several years, and we’re pleased to have them all signed through next season,” said Grunfeld. “Combining them with the veterans we’ve added gives us a solid foundation that can be competitive now while allowing us to continue to build towards future success.”

Wall was selected first overall by Washington in the 2010 NBA Draft. Last season, the 6-4 guard appeared in all 66 games and averaged 16.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.4 steals in 36.2 minutes per contest. He became the sixth fastest player in NBA history (124 games) to reach the 2,000 points/1,000 assists plateau. In 135 career games, including 130 starts, Wall has averaged 16.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.6 steals in 37.0 minutes per contest.

Booker was selected 23rd overall by Minnesota in 2010 before his rights were traded by the Timberwolves to Washington on draft night. In 50 games (32 starts during the 2011-12 season) the Clemson alum averaged career-highs with 8.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 25.2 minutes per game. He averaged 10.6 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting .518 from the floor over his last 29 games of the season. In 115 career games, including 46 starts, Booker has averaged 6.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per contest while shooting .539 from the field and .639 from the stripe.

Seraphin, originally drafted 17th overall by Chicago in 2010, was traded to Washington along with Kirk Hinrich and cash considerations in exchange for the rights to Vladimir Veremeenko. Last season the native of Cayenne, French Guiana, appeared in 57 games while averaging 7.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 20.6 minutes per contest. In 21 games as a starter, he averaged 14.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. In 115 career games, including 22 starts, Seraphin has averaged 5.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 15.7 minutes.

Crawford was selected 27th overall by New Jersey in 2010 before his draft rights were traded to Atlanta along with the draft rights to Tibor Pleiss in exchange for the rights to Damion James on June 24, 2010. He was then traded to Washington along with Mike Bibby, Maurice Evans and first-round draft pick in exchange for Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong. In 2011-12, the Xavier product appeared in 64 games (32 starts) and averaged career-highs with 14.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 27.4 minutes. In 106 career games, including 50 starts, Crawford has averaged 13.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 26.2 minutes.

Vesely was drafted sixth overall in 2011 by Washington. The Ostrava, Czech Republic native appeared in 57 games as a rookie, including 20 starts. He posted averages of 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per contest. The 6-11 forward shot .537 from the field and .532 from the line on the season, including 8.5 points and 7.0 rebounds over the last 15 games of the season.

Singleton was selected by Washington with the 18th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. The Florida State alum appeared in all 66 games, becoming the first Wizards rookie to appear in every contest since the 1981-82 season. He averaged 4.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 21.7 minutes per game.