Seemingly saving the best for last, the Washington Wizards have officially announced the signing of shooting guard Jodie Meeks as Otto Porter Jr.’s official return is a formality announcement away. Meeks is the second announcement after the team introduced power forward Mike Scott on Sunday. The guard spoke to the media via conference call on Thursday.
“They had a really good season last year,” Meeks said when discussing why he chose Washington. “Losing gets pretty old after a while. … I wanted to find the best situation for myself. I think this will be a perfect fit for both sides. … Coach Brooks has been coaching for a long time. Back in OKC, I saw how he utilized shooters off the bench and he gives players a lot of freedom and that’s what I like.”
“Jodie will improve our backcourt rotation and fill a need with his scoring and shooting,” team president Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement. “He is an eight-year veteran who has been a reliable player throughout his career, and we look forward to him bringing that stability to our bench.”
Two things stand out there, Grunfeld is terming Meeks as reliable despite him missing 125 games over the past two seasons due to a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot and two sprained ligaments in his thumb on his shooting hand, both of which required surgery. Moreover, Grunfeld is essentially admitting that stability is needed for Washington’s bench, which is stating the obvious but more than he usually tends to do when it comes to negative aspects about his team.
“I would say I am 100 percent now,” Meeks shared. “That the Good Lord that I am past that hopefully so now it’s summer time and my body feels great.”
Meeks (6-4, 210) spent last season with the Orlando Magic and averaged 9.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting .409 from three-point range in 36 games (10 starts). The veteran scorer has a career three-point mark of .376 and has shot over .400 from long range in three of the past four seasons.
Meeks has appeared in 454 games (204 starts) and has averaged 9.8 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting .881 from the free-throw line over his eight-year career with Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit and Orlando. He has also appeared in 20 career playoff games (six starts) with the 76ers, Lakers and Pistons. His best season came in 2013-14 when he averaged a career-high 15.7 points and shot .401 from three-point range in 77 games for the Lakers.
“I feel like I can still come in and contribute and play some significant minutes. [My role] will pretty much be what I have been doing my whole career: come off the bench, obviously behind Brad, and show a lot of veteran leadership, knock down open shots, and play hard.”
The former Kentucky star was actually John Wall’s host on a recruiting visit when the future first overall pick was still deciding where to attend college so the two have known each other for years. While in Vegas for the team’s Summer League, Meeks and Wall reacquainted themselves over a workout that Tim Frazier, Markieff Morris, and Mike Scott also took part in. The workout was not mid-season form, but more about maintaining skills.
“I thought Tim played very well last year,” Meeks said about his likely future backcourt mate. “Sets the tempo very well. Think he had a couple triple-doubles off the bench, if I am not mistaken. That’s impressive to say the least. Really great guy. Pass first point guard just like John. As shooters, you love that.”
Turning 30 next month, Meeks will be the oldest non-big so although Wall and Beal have grown as leaders, he can bring a bit of locker room experience to the table as well.
“Kind of crazy that I am one of the oldest,” Meeks began. “Just take what I’ve learned coming up, always be positive in the locker room no matter what is going on with the team, the organization, or whatnot. I don’t plan for any negative things to happen. Always be a professional, show up to work before practice, stay late, always put work in and help the young guys develop and show them how to be a professional.”