Yesterday was the NBA’s trade deadline and it was a relatively disappointing day for those wanting to see some big moves. There were talks up until the final seconds about swapping players but ultimately only a few deals were done.
DeJuan Blair was one of those players who thought he might be on a new team after the deadline, but ultimately the San Antonio Spurs couldn’t find the right offer.
Blair has been reportedly unhappy with his role on the team for a while and was hoping he might get some more minutes somewhere else. After the deadline passed, Blair’s agent, Happy Walters, tried to stay optimistic about his client’s future but was clearly a little frustrated.
“Obviously I am disappointed that we were not able to get a trade done,” said Walters. “But I trust Pop and RC and I know they tried their best and have Dejuan and the Spurs best interests at heart. When Pop needs Dejuan, he'll be ready to contribute as he always has been."
Blair will be a free agent at the end of this season, so it’s highly probable that he’ll be joining a new team this summer anyway. I’m surprised the Spurs weren’t able to get a deal done, seeing as how even a late second-round pick would be better than nothing, which is what they’ll be getting if Blair finds a new team in the offseason.
I guess the Spurs were just content to roll with the team they have now. With the best record in the NBA, why shouldn’t they be? DeJuan Blair will just continue his role as one of the last guys on the bench, get a few minutes here and there and wait for his time to come next season.
I do feel a little bad for the guy, stuck in some place he doesn’t want to be. But hey, at least he has a solid chance to get an NBA championship out of it.