Hello and welcome to the Evening News.
As the offseason continues, we’ll keep you updated every night.
What’s happening today?
Wizards finalizing 5 year, $80 million extension for Wall
Last night, Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Wizards were making significant progress with John Wall on a contract extension. 
Today, Michael Lee of the Washington Post reports that the extension that will keep Wall in Washington until 2019 should be completed by the end of next week.
While Wall hasn’t quite taken the league by storm as dominantly as many expected, he has undeniably developed into one of the league’s better point guards. At just 22 years old, a full two months younger than reigning Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard, Wall still has the potential to become an elite point guard.
The Wizards have been negotiating with Wall’s agent, Dan Fegan, since last week and both parties are working furiously to get a deal done. In actuality, the Wizards have until October 31 to extend Wall before he will be set to become a restricted free agent next summer.
Wall missed the first 33 games of the regular season last year and his Wizards stumbled out to a 5-28 start because of it. When he returned in January, he guided Washington to a 24-25 finish to the season. He also averaged a career high 18.5 points per game and a career low 3.2 turnovers per game.
When asked by Sporting News’ Sean Deveney if he ranks himself among the league’s top point guards, Wall answered confidently:
“I believe so. I think the point guard position is the best in the league, so you’re going against the best wherever you go. I feel like I am right up there with the best of them. I feel like when I am healthy, I stack right up there with them. I put myself in that category.”
Rose says he is league’s best player
Despite missing all of last season recovering from an ACL injury, Derrick Rose still believes he is the best basketball player on earth.
When CNN’s Pedro Pinto asked the 24-year-old who he thought the best player in the NBA was, Rose responded quickly: “Derrick Rose.”
Tom Thibodeau told ESPNChicago.com last week that he knew Rose was itching for the start of basketball season:
“His overall strength is terrific. He’s put a lot of work into his body. I know he’s anxious to get out there and play. He’s played some pickup but not a lot, but he feels great, and that’s the most important thing.”
While Rose believes he is the best player in the league, he admits that the King is still the most versatile :
“I would have to say LeBron,” Rose answered when asked who the toughest player in the league was to defend. “A 6-foot-8 guy that’s 250 [pounds]. What do you think?”
