Spurs' Blair headed to Russia

San Antonio big man DeJuan Blair has signed with Russian team Krasnye Krylya Samara, according to his agent, Happy Walters.

Blair was given an opt-out clause that allows him to return to the NBA when the lockout ends.

The story was first reported by Yahoo! Sports.

Blair becomes the fourth NBA player to sign with a Russian team, following Nenad Krstic (CSKA Moscow), Timofey Mosgov (Khimki Moscow) and Chris Quinn (Khimki Moscow).

That Blair is still playing anywhere -- and playing quite well -- is nothing short of medical miracle. The University of Pittsburgh product has no anterior crucial ligament in either leg, having torn them in high school and essentially lost them as a result of subsequent surgeries. He slid to the second round of the 2009 draft because of his knees and was taken by the Spurs with the 37th pick.

Nonetheless, he has averaged 8.0 points, 6.7 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game during two seasons while missing just one out of 164 regular-season games.