Mike Bibby’s tenure in Washington is over after 29 minutes and two points in two games.
The Wizards waived the veteran guard Monday afternoon after agreeing with him on a buyout of his contract.
Bibby, 32, was acquired from Atlanta last week just before the NBA trade deadline, and reports surfaced almost immediately that he wasn’t happy with joining the Wizards and would seek a buyout.
With the March 1 deadline for players to be waived and still be eligible to play on a playoff team fast approaching, the Wizards granted Bibby’s request. Bibby had to forfeit the entirety of the $6.2 million salary he was set to earn next season, but only a $1 million portion of that salary will remain as a salary cap hold for Washington next season due to the way charges work for a two-year buyout.
Bibby should be okay financially, since he’s earned more than $100 million during his NBA career. But his decision to forfeit so much salary could also be an indicator of fear that an NBA lockout next season might have denied him the chance to earn the money anyway.
Bibby is looking to sign with a playoff contender for the remainder of the season. Miami, where his brother-in-law, Eddie House, is on the roster, is a leading contender. Portland and Boston could also be possibilities.
The move is a coup for the Wizards, who have essentially turned Kirk Hinrich into a trio of first-round draft picks (Kevin Seraphin, who Washington drafted last year with a pick that Chicago threw in order to get the Wizards to take Hinrich last summer, Jordan Crawford and Atlanta’s pick in this year’s draft) and a savings of more than $5 million.
To replace Bibby at the backup point guard, the Wizards have re-signed Mustafa Shakur, and this time he’ll stay around until the end of the season because he’s already been with Washington on a pair of 10-day contracts.
