LAS VEGAS — The Washington Wizards are in the process of finalizing a sign-and-trade deal that will bring DeJuan Blair to D.C., CSNWashington.com has confirmed through a two people with knowledge of the situation.
The Wizards had been in discussions to acquire Blair earlier in the week from the Dallas Mavericks, but details had to be hashed out to make it work and stay out of the luxury tax.
The details aren’t clear yet, but the Wizards have trade exceptions of $2.1 million and $1.2 million that could be used to help facilitate the deal with Dallas which also had salary cap issues to work out on its end.
Blair was chosen 37th overall in the 2009 draft by the San Antonio Spurs, bypassed by the Wizards who took Jermaine Taylor five picks ahead of him.
At 6-foot-7, Blair is a bit undersized to play in the middle but he has proven to be a competent backup. He fell out of favor with the Spurs after spending the middle two of his four seasons there as a starter. As a backup, Blair rebounded last season with the Mavericks, who went to the playoffs as a No. 8 seed and pushed the eventual champion Spurs to seven games in a first-round series.
Blair has career averages of 7.5 points, 52.9 percent shooting and 5.6 rebounds.
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The Wizards have extended a one-year qualifying offer to Kevin Seraphin for $3.8 million to keep him as a restricted free agent. However, landing Blair would mean there’s no room for Seraphin in the rotation — particularly at that price tag — with Marcin Gortat, Nene, Drew Gooden, Kris Humphries and now Blair occupying the frontline.
The Wizards are expected to secure Garrett Temple to a one-year, veteran minimum contract later Wednesday or possibly Thursday.
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