Former Indiana Pacers center Ian Mahinmi. (Photo : Getty Images)
The Washington Wizards have agreed to sign free agent center Ian Mahinmi to a four-year, $64 million contract as the team missed out in acquiring Al Horford from the Atlanta Hawks this summer.
According to the Washington Post, the Wizards "came into this summer hoping to land a star" as they targeted Horford following reports that Kevin Durant is not even planning to meet with them and hear their sales pitch this free-agency period.
They were able to make it to Horford's last three choices, battling it out with Atlanta and Boston for the Dominican Republic native's signature after he crossed out Houston and Detroit in his options, but the team eventually missed out on the former Hawks leader as he accepted a four-year, $113 million max contract with the Celtics.
Washington was able to bounce back and settle for the 29-year-old Mahinmi, who is going into the ninth season of his career. He was the 28th overall pick by the Spurs in the 2005 NBA Draft and had also played for San Antonio and Dallas prior to his four-year stint in Indiana.
Mahinmi was also a part of the Mavericks' 2011 championship team as a backup to then starting center Tyson Chandler.
The Frenchman averaged career-highs in almost all significant statistical categories last season with Indiana, recording 9.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 25.6 minutes of playing time per night in 71 games as a starter.
His impressive production continued in this year's playoffs as he averaged 8.1 points, 5.1 boards, 1.1 dimes, 0.7 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 24.6 minutes per game - again all career-highs - during their seven-game exit against the Toronto Raptors.
The 6-foot-11, 250-pound center is set to officially sign his Wizards contract on Thursday, July 7, which is the day the league-wide moratorium on signing and trading of players will be lifted, as per ESPN.
The report noted that Mahinmi "is the first new player added to the Wizards since the start of free agency, although they did agree Friday to a $128 million, five-year contract that will keep shooting guard Bradley Beal with the team".
Beal was a restricted free agent this summer and after receiving some interest from rival teams, decided to stay in Washington to retain the team's dynamic backcourt duo with point guard John Wall.
