The San Antonio Express reports
The Washington Wizards have made a contract offer to former Spurs center Fabricio Oberto, traded to the Detroit Pistons as part of the package that brought Richard Jefferson to the Spurs in a three-team, pre-draft trade with the Milwaukee Bucks last month.
Terms of Washington’s offer to Oberto aren’t known. He was released by the Pistons after the deal was completed.
It’s very likely to be a minimum contract offer … considering Oberto’s previous season, age, and the Wizards luxury tax situation.
Oberto would be an excellent signing for the Wizards. They need more big men, they need more reliable bench players, and they need more rebounding, and they need more smart team defenders. Oberto is also one of the best passing centers in the NBA, and he’ll be a great fit in Flip Saunders’ offense. Oberto is somebody who would be a rotation player for the Wizards, and could be a very useful bench player for Washington next season.
I think this is a great move from the Wizards. Hopefully, Oberto signs there.
Update — Oberto Signs
The Washington Post reports
Fabricio Oberto has agreed to sign with the Washington Wizards, a decision that provides a veteran big man for the team and helps balance a roster heavy with back-court talent. Oberto was home in his native Argentina when he had his agent, Herb Rudoy, call Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld and inform him on Thursday that he would accept a one-year deal worth the biannual exception of $1.99 million.
Oberto’s agent explained his reasons for joining the Wizards
“He thinks they have a chance to have a terrific team,” Rudoy said in a telephone interview on Thursday.
Oberto “analyzed the teams that were interested in him and he felt that in Washington — one, he had a good chance to play; two, they have a new, experienced coach and they have terrific players, which is what he was used to in San Antonio. He figured it out. He thinks it is a great opportunity for him to continue winning.”
Wizards payroll
The Wizards now have 14 players on their roster and are likely done making offseason moves with a payroll of about $78 million and an estimated luxury tax penalty of almost $8 million slated for next season.
I’m somewhat surprised that the Wizards signed a contract for more than the minimum because of their luxury tax situation, as detailed just above, but Oberto is good value at $2 million.
Very good signing by the Wizards. Fabricio Oberto will help their big man depth and balances out their roster, player wise, from being overloaded in the backcourt to having options at every position.
Wizards Depth Chart
- Guards – Gilbert Arenas, Randy Foye, Mike James and Javaris Crittenton
- Wings – Caron Butler, Mike Miller, DeShawn Stevenson, Nick Young and Dominic McGuire
- Bigs – Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood, Andray Blatche, Fabricio Oberto and JaVale McGee
The Wizards have a lot of depth. Good chance they use Mike Miller, Randy Foye, Andray Blatche, Nick Young and Fabricio Oberto off the bench as part of their regular rotation … going 10 deep with Stevenson playing short minutes as a starter.
