Wizards Acquire DeJuan Blair in Sign-and-Trade with the Mavericks
The Washington Wizards and the Dallas Mavericks completed a sign-and-trade deal that will bring forward/center DeJuan Blair to the nation’s capital. As it was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski, Blair contract will be a three year deal worth $6M with a team option for the third year.
Last season under a minimum contract with the Mavericks Blair brought great intensity and great versatility as he was the first big man off the bench as he was able to play both the center and forward position. Blair is the third bench big men the Wizards have signed this offseason after Kris Humphries and Drew Gooden. He most likely will take over the role that was left by the departure of Trevor Booker.
With the Mavericks last season he averaged 6.4 points per game along with 4.7 rebounds per game. He played a pivotal role for the Mavericks in their first round series against the San Antonio Spurs as he provided strength and power down low however he was ejected from game four in the series after he kicked the Spurs center in the head during a scramble for the ball.
Blair is best known for his play in college at the University of Pitt as he brought their basketball program back to relevance with his power brand of basketball that made the Big East so famous.
The Wizards have made some moves in this offseason to ensure that they continue to take the next step forward as a team and bringing DeJuan Blair onto the roster gives the team a toughness that they lacked in previous years.
