Oberto Agrees to Sign With Wizards By Michael Lee Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, July 24, 2009 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. The 6-foot-10 Oberto spent the past four seasons in San Antonio and started on the Spurs' 2006-07 championship team. He also won an Olympic gold medal as a member of Argentina's national team in 2004. He averaged 2.6 points and 2.6 rebounds last season. Sacramento, Phoenix, Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Lakers also were interested in Oberto, who was released by Detroit earlier this month after being involved in a three-team trade that sent Richard Jefferson to the Spurs. After completing a pre-draft trade to acquire guards Randy Foye and Mike Miller, the Wizards were left with second-year center JaVale McGee and fifth-year forward Andray Blatche to back up center Brendan Haywood next season. Both players are younger than 23. Although both McGee and Blatche played well at the NBA Summer League last week in Las Vegas -- McGee's performance earned him an invitation to a select minicamp this weekend for young, potential Team USA prospects -- the Wizards amped up their pursuit of the 34-year-old Oberto in recent days. "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." The presence of former Spurs assistant Mike Wells on Coach Flip Saunders's staff may have also helped woo Oberto to Washington. Oberto had been hopeful for a return to San Antonio until that door was shut on Thursday when the Spurs signed veteran center Theo Ratliff. 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. ad_icon Reached by phone on Thursday, McGee, who averaged 17.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in four summer league games, said he was excited about participating with the USA Basketball minicamp in Las Vegas, where he will practice and scrimmage for three days. "I was surprised by it," McGee said of the invitation from Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball's national team director. "This is one of the most elite programs. I never really put any thought about being here. I just want to work harder to be a better player."
Haywood/Oberto/Magee Jamison/Blatche Butler/Mike Miller/Maguire Foye/DeShawn Stevenson/Nick Young Arenas/Mike James/Crittenton Still lacking some big man depth, but The Wizards could be a top 4 team in the East Next season if they all miraculously stay healthy.
Nice move for the Wizards. I was disappointed that we weren't mentioned as one of the teams INTERESTED in him though.
DM and Adelman want a team that can run more,Oberto wouldn't fit with that style. There are exceptions,Battier can't run either and Luis's foot speed is only somewhat better.I doubt if they will be moved.
Watch it! I've been saying this every season since forever and it hasn't happened. I want them to be good but just acknowledging the possibility is the kiss of death.
They needed a PF, instead of a C. Against the smaller 2nd string lineups, the PF could slide to C. It would also allow Jamison to slide to the SF position against bigger lineups.
I've never understood the excitement/hype about Oberto. I'm not sure what damage he did overseas, but Scola seems to be a better all-around player. WIth the Spurs, Oberto resorted to flopping and being a big softy. Oh well, a new team can change everything.
You are right about Scola. Luis is the better player. More talented. But Oberto´s basketball IQ is higher. Pop referred to him as " the ugliest productive player I've ever been around". Oberto is not athletic, but he is smart. He is also past his prime. The leader of the Argentine NT, for a long long time. Even with Manu and Luis over there.
Surprised he didnt sign back with the spurs maybe he thought he would get little to no playing time with the acquisitions of blair, mcdyess and ratliff. that being said if Saunders can get the wizards together they have a really good squad that that can compete in the east if they stay healthy and most importantly stay on the same page with each other. they have 3 stars in jamison, butler and arenas some good young talent in young, foye, mcgee, blatche, crittenton some vets in mike miller, stevesen, james, haywood and now oberto. they C rotation of Haywood and Oberto isnt the greatest but Haywood is more than a serviceable center in the league and so is Oberto. I think in the east against teams that do not have Shaq or Dwight they should fare ok. Also if McGee (who I really like) develops on from his rookie year with some added bulk he can be a real nice surprise for them. I dont ultimately think they will make it out of the east but if Saunders really can get them all on the same page together i wouldnt be shocked at all to see them in the conference finals or at least giving one of the east big 3 teams a scare in the playoffs next year. I feel a lot of people are sleeping on the wizards, but a lot will depend on their health and also if Arenas is 100% finally. I will be watching them play this year thats for sure.
The hype probably was because the Rockets was in a bind at the center spot with the injury to Yao. With the signing of Andersen, Oberto became a thing of the past. Assuming the Rockets ever considered him.
I'm just glad he didn't go back to the Spurs. It's getting annoying how these players get traded and return back to their original team after being waived/bought out. Hopefully, the next CBA addresses this issue.
