The Washington Wizards could be among a significant player in tonight’s NBA Draft in Brooklyn, as they are reportedly shopping big man Marcin Gortat, per Marc Stein of The New York Times.
The Wizards are actively exploring their trade options with Marcin Gortat, but league sources say Washington is thus far resistant to the idea of surrendering its No. 15 overall pick tonight just to dump Gortat’s contract, which has one season left.
The Polish Hammer is coming off a disappointing season in which he averaged just 8.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 82 games played. Gortat has once more year left on his current deal that he signed four years ago worth $60 million and is expected to become a free agent in 2019.
Gortat does not come with a hefty price tag for the 2018-19 campaign, as he’s only set to earn $13.5 million next season. Stein also adds that the likes of the Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trail Blazers are ideal trade partners for Washington.
The teams that can comfortably absorb Gortat in a trade tonight are Dallas (cap space) and Portland (trade exception) but the list obviously broadens if the Wizards were to reach a verbal agreement on a trade with a team that has the requisite cap space to absorb Gortat in July
It’s also possible that the Wizards would sweeten the deal by throwing in their no. 15 pick in tonight’s draft, but that’s something Washington is not seriously considering as of the moment.
Washington's aim, sources say, is trying to construct a Marcin Gortat trade without including the No. 15 overall pick
Unless it’s for another big man, trading Gortat would leave Washington’s frontcourt even thinner. Gortat started at center for the Wizards last season with only Ian Mahinmi as his legitimate backup center.
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