The Washington Wizards have traded center Marcin Gortat to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for guard Austin, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
With that, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers is no longer coaching his son, who gets the chance to shine with John Wall and Bradley Beal in DC. This could also mean that Clippers centre DeAndre Jordan will be leaving the west coast, as it makes little sense to keep both he and Gortat at the position.
Wojnarowski also noted that the Wizards had been trying to move Gortat "for the past several of months." Per Spotrac.com, Gortat is set to make just over $13.565 million in 2018-19, while Rivers will make $12.65 million.
As for Jordan, he has the chance to opt out of his current deal and hit the free agent market. But Wojnarowski noted that should Jordan decide opt in, he and the Clippers will try to orchestrate a trade, "preferably well before the February trade deadline."
The 34-year-old Gortat averaged 8.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game with the Wizards last season - both totals being considerably below his career averages. But Gortat gives the Clippers a reliable and durable starter, as he's missed just eight total games over the past five seasons.
As for Rivers, the 25-year-old will provide the Wizards with another much-needed shooter. He averaged a career-high 15.1 points per game in 2017-18, along with four assists and 2.4 rebounds. Rivers is a career .419 shooter from the field, so he gives Wall and Beal a much-needed option on the outside.
Washington was one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017, but injuries led to a frustrating 2017-18 season. They finished eighth in the East and were dispatched by the Toronto Raptors in the opening round of the playoffs. With the addition of Rivers, Washington should re-emerge as a top-five team in the conference next season.
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