The refrain has been the same each of the past six summers: This will be an important offseason for Andray Blatche’s development with the Wizards.
But as the second half of the NBA year gets underway, it’s clear that song shouldn’t be played again in Washington. The easiest way to fix it is to make Blatche the second Ernie Grunfeld-signed player to be waived via the amnesty clause negotiated in the latest NBA collective bargaining agreement.
Recommended Stories
The first, of course, was Gilbert Arenas, who is currently shopping himself to teams after being let go as soon as it was humanly possible in December by Orlando. The Magic are paying him a tad less than $62 million (due to the lockout) not to play. Amnesty shaved that salary off the Magic’s cap, but it says a lot about how much it was worth to Orlando for Arenas to stay away.
The Wizards didn’t feel that way about Rashard Lewis, even if they’re only getting 7.8 points and 3.9 rebounds a game for the $22 million they’ll pay Lewis this year. That’s more than nothing, along with avoiding the trouble that would’ve been created to reach the required salary cap minimum had amnesty been used.
The CBA only gives the Wizards one chance with amnesty, but they won’t have to use it on Lewis. With just $10 million of his $23.8 million salary in 2012-13 guaranteed, Washington can simply buy him out this summer.
The Wizards can then turn to Blatche, who despite the disgust from fans should be around since his declining production, growing list of injuries and historic lack of conditioning make him nearly untradeable.
Grunfeld has performed miracles before, as he did with Arenas, and there’s no doubt he’ll try his best before the March 15 trade deadline.
But this time, the Wizards should simply be prepared to eat the $23 million over three years left on the contract that Grunfeld put in front of Blatche two years ago — in what was also the first major act under owner Ted Leonsis.
At that point, Blatche can get a fresh start, but more importantly, a new tune will finally greet the Wizards’ offseason.
[email protected]
