- The Washington Times - Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Eric Maynor has backed up some pretty good guards during his career in the NBA. He thinks he’s adding another to the list in John Wall of the Wizards.

Maynor, who is from Fayetteville, N.C., played his college ball at Virginia Commonwealth in Richmond. He’s played behind Deron Williams in Utah, Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City and 2012 rookie of the year Damian Lillard in Portland.

Now he’ll provide support to Wall after signing a two-year, $4.12 million deal with the Wizards.

“[Playing with Wall will be] the same way as when I was in Oklahoma City with Westbrook,” Maynor said Wednesday at Verizon Center. “Him and Westbrook [share similarities], so I’m excited to play with him, and I’m looking forward to being a part of the Wizards.”

Last season, the Wizards never found the right fit behind Wall, and the team struggled when Wall was sidelined for 33 games with a knee injury. Out of the 22 games A.J. Price started in Wall’s place last season, the team won six.

Maynor is well aware of how the team fared last year, but is optimistic of the potential of the young team.

“They [were] real good when [Wall] came back,” he said. “That played a part in my decision, just knowing that they got a bunch of young guys, they’re talented and I’m looking forward to it.”

With Maynor on the roster, Washington thinks it has solidified its backcourt with a veteran talent. Maynor has career averages of 4.5 points and 3 assists. He missed much of the 2011-12 season after suffering a major knee injury but returned to play 64 games last season with Oklahoma City and Portland.

“Eric is a solid player who has thrived playing behind some of the league’s best point guards,” said Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld in a press release. “He will bring stability and experience in that role and add leadership and character off the floor.”

Maynor knows he can take some of the younger guys under his wing and make the team stronger on and off the court. He said he can bring a “big leadership role” to the team, and that is something Washington’s young core could use.

As for his abilities on the court, he describes himself as a true point guard. “I’m going to get guys involved. [I’m a guy that] plays hard and is all about winning.”

This offseason, Maynor plans to get stronger and work on his spot up shooting. He knows that if he, Otto Porter and Bradley Beal can consistently make open shots, driving lanes will be ample for Wall to attack the basket.

“[I’ll] come in, I’m going to work hard and it’s going to show,” said Maynor. “They already got a bunch of guys over here that work hard, but we can all put it together and go from there.”

The Wizards finished 29-53 last season, but Maynor said losing is a thing of the past.

“This is the type of team that’s going to be on the rise,” he said.

The Wizards also re-signed guard Garrett Temple. who finished last season with averages of 5.1 points and 2.4 rebounds. He made 36 starts. The terms of Temple’s deal have not yet been released.

• Brandon Theo Dorsey can be reached at Bdorsey@washingtontimes.com.

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