Courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
JULY 12, 4:41pm: The deal is official, the Wizards announce.
JULY 7, 4:25pm: The Wizards and unrestricted free agent Alan Anderson have reached an agreement on a contract, David Aldridge of TNT reports (Twitter links). Anderson will receive part of Washington’s mid-level exception, which the team held in hopes of signing David West, Aldridge adds. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (on Twitter) notes that the contract will be a one-year, $4MM pact.
The Nets had reportedly made keeping the forward a priority, but instead lose the 32-year-old to Washington, where he’ll join a team more likely to contend in the Eastern Conference. Anderson bypassed his player option for 2015/16 worth $1,333,484 with the Nets, and was reported to be seeking an annual salary of $3MM-$4MM from a contending team. This deal certainly checks off both of those boxes for the veteran, with the Wizards a team on the rise, and a franchise in need of help at the wing with the departure of Paul Pierce to the Clippers.
Anderson appeared in 74 games for the Nets last season, including 19 as a starter. He averaged 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, with a slash line of .442/.348/.812. His career numbers through 287 games with the Hornets, Raptors, and Nets are 7.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 1.2 APG.
The Nets will miss him. If they trade Joe Johnson and don’t bring back an experienced wing player in exchange, they could face some problems on the court this year.
The Wizards will be much improved this year, in my opinion, with their added depth on the wing