Sources: Wizards close to signing Thornton
The Washington Wizards are closing in on the signing of Marcus Thornton to bolster their injury-hit backcourt, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Wizards are in the process of waiving veteran guard Gary Neal, who is expected to miss at least three more weeks with quad and hip ailments, to create a roster spot to sign Thornton.
Thornton negotiated a buyout with the Houston Rockets before the March 1 deadline to ensure that he would be playoff-eligible for his next team.
The Miami Heat also had strong interest in Thornton but couldn’t sign him for luxury-tax reasons after point guard Beno Udrih, whose contract the Heat bought out in February, went unclaimed on waivers.
Thornton joins trade-deadline acquisition Markieff Morris and recent signee J.J. Hickson as high-profile newcomers for the Wizards, who awoke Wednesday in 10th place in the Eastern Conference at 30-33, 2½ games out of a playoff spot.
Guard Bradley Beal did not travel on the Wizards’ three-game road trip this week because of a sprained pelvis.
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