WASHINGTON -- Forward Andray Blatche re-signed with the
Wizards on Friday, as Washington opted to keep the restricted free
agent despite his recent run-in with the law.
Blatche signed a multiyear deal. Its completion was delayed
because of his arrest on Aug. 2 on sexual solicitation charges.
Blatche, 20, and another man were accused of trying to solicit sex
from an undercover police officer, and Blatche was also wanted for
failure to appear on a charge of driving without a license.
"I've talked to Andray. I think he feels bad about it,"
Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld said. "He understands it
shouldn't have happened. He'll learn from it."
Blatche's agent, Eric Fleisher, said his client's arrest
affected only the timing of the negotiations.
"He's a good kid," Fleisher said. "Everybody knows he's a
good kid."
Entering his third season with the Wizards, Blatche has averaged
3.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in 85 career games, including 13
starts. He averaged 3.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 56 games last
season.
Blatche was a second-round draft pick out of high school in
2005, but he missed training camp after he was shot in a carjacking
attempt in the Washington suburbs. He split time during the 2005-06
season between the Wizards and Roanoke of the NBA Developmental
League.
Fleisher said other teams showed interest in Blatche, but none
were ready to "take the next step" and make an offer because the
Wizards had the right to match any deal.
The Wizards had targeted re-signing Blatche and guard DeShawn
Stevenson as two of their offseason priorities, and they've
accomplished both.
"He is a young and promising talent who has shown that he can
be a solid contributor to our team," Grunfeld said.