4:04pm: The Wizards have officially amnestied Blatche, the team announced in a press release.
3:35pm: The Wizards will use the amnesty clause to waive Andray Blatche, according to TNT's David Aldridge (via Twitter). Michael Lee of the Washington Post confirms Aldridge's report, and adds that an official announcement is expected to come soon (Twitter link).
Blatche had three years and about $23.38MM remaining on his five-year deal with the Wizards, including about $7.12MM in 2012/13. That amount will be wiped off the team's cap, although Washington will still be required to pay it. If Blatche is claimed off amnesty waivers, or clears waivers and signs with another team as a free agent, the amount owed to him by the Wizards will be slightly reduced.
Blatche is only a year removed from posting 16.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and a 16.9 PER in 64 games for the Wizards at age 24. However, his numbers fell off precipitously in 2011/12, to 8.5, 5.8, and 10.6 PER respectively. Questions about conditioning and character issues surrounded the 6'11" forward, and the team worked multiple times to trade him, but was ultimately unable to find a taker.
Still just 25, Blatche may appeal to a few teams as a potential bounce-back candidate, but his poor 2011/12 figures to scare away plenty of clubs as well. The minimum bid for Blatche on amnesty waivers would be about $3.73MM total for his remaining three years, if my calculations are correct. I wouldn't be surprised if he cleared waivers and became an unrestricted free agent.
With the 2012 amnesty deadline set to pass at midnight tonight, check out our amnesty provision tracker to see which teams still could take advantage.
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Hawks could use a good back-up PF. Devin Harris, Lou Williams, John Jenkins, Blatche and Zaza off the bench would be a hell of a second team
yeah he would be good in atl .. i think he would be better with a good team with a good head coach like the spurs,celtics,jazz
jazz dont have a good coach imo
yeah i didnt write that .. …
i didnt write that
collins is a good coach, and the sixers have needed a big for 12 years… he would be at least worth a small, short contract. He and Kwame and dominate the inside (fart noise)
houston will take him.
yeah didnt write that either