D.C. native is expected to get a one-year deal The Wizards are close to agreeing to a contract with free agent guard Roger Mason Jr. that would bring the D.C. native back for his second NBA stint in his hometown, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
No players can be signed until free agency begins Friday — after the new NBA collective bargaining agreement is ratified by players and owners. The deal is expected to be for one year. Mason earned $1.4 million with the New York Knicks last season.
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Such a move adds depth to the Wizards’ roster at shooting guard and adds another veteran presence to the locker room. The Wizards have extended a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Nick Young, who would be Washington’s presumed starter in the backcourt alongside John Wall, with Jordan Crawford serving as a backup at both guard positions.
According to a source, Mason also received interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston, Golden State and New Orleans.
Mason, a 3-point specialist, played in 26 games for the Knicks last season, averaging 2.9 points off the bench. He has been to the playoffs five seasons in a row with three different teams, a streak that began with back-to-back postseasons as a member of the Wizards from 2006 to 2008. Mason, a Virginia and Good Counsel alum, averaged 9.1 points and shot 39.8 percent from 3-point range for the Wizards in 2007-08.
Similar to Mason, the Wizards also have shown interest in bringing back free agent small forward Maurice Evans, a much-needed veteran presence who averaged 9.7 points and 2.8 rebounds after arriving in a trade with Atlanta. The addition of Mason and Evans, both via nominally priced, short-term deals, would give Washington strong character in the locker room, which has long been sought, and preserve salary cap space to allow the Wizards to pursue bigger free agents next summer.
