Eric Maynor returns east to join Washington Wizards

On Monday, unrestricted free-agent Eric Maynor agreed to a multi-year contract with the Washington Wizards.

July 2, 2013; 1:10 PM • by Aaron Williams

After spending four NBA seasons in the Western Conference, Eric Maynor is finally moving a little closer to home. On Monday, Maynor agreed to a two year contract with the Washington Wizards with a player option for the 2014-15 season. The contract is estimated to be worth around $4 million.

Eric Maynor was selected 20th in the 2009 draft by the Utah Jazz. He left VCU with a degree in Sports Management, a school record 1,953 points, and one of the most memorable shots in school history: “The Dagger” with 1.8 seconds remaining to beat Duke in the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

He was then traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder where he backed up turnover prone, shoot-first, All-Star Russell Westbrook. Maynor caught headlines in the 2011 Western Conference Finals when coach Scotty Brooks benched Westbrook for Maynor in the fourth quarter of Game 2. After missing a good part of the 2011-12 season with a torn ACL, Maynor returned but eventually lost his backup role to Reggie Jackson.

One of the better pass-first point guards in the league, Maynor quickly found himself in a much better situation backing up Rookie of the Year Damien Lillard for the Portland Trailblazers. Maynor’s stats went from 2.8 PPG and 2.0 APG in 10.6 MPG with the Thunder during the first part of the 2012-13 season to 6.9 PPG and 4.0 APG in 21.2 MPG with the Trailblazers. Maynor became an unrestricted free agent at midnight on July 1st, but he almost instantaneously found a new job.

Washington offers Eric Maynor an incredible opportunity. The further he gets from his ACL injury, the better he looks on the court. Maynor will likely back up John Wall in Washington, but more importantly, he will find himself living east of the Mississippi for the first time since he wore Black & Gold.