{"id":15923,"date":"2018-06-26T22:19:10","date_gmt":"2018-06-27T02:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=15923"},"modified":"2018-06-26T22:19:10","modified_gmt":"2018-06-27T02:19:10","slug":"wizards-swap-gortat-clippers-rivers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2018\/06\/26\/wizards-swap-gortat-clippers-rivers\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers swap Marcin Gortat and Austin Rivers"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the start of NBA free agency looms in just a couple days, that hasn’t kept teams from changing up their\u00a0rosters in other ways. The Washington Wizards<\/a> have sent center Marcin Gortat<\/a><\/strong> to the Los Angeles Clippers<\/a> in exchange for guard Austin Rivers<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers swap Austin Rivers and Marcin Gortat<\/a><\/h1>\n

Austin Rivers Headed East<\/h3>\n

The Clippers have cleared up their logjam at the guard positions. Too many players were on their roster with last seasons acquisitions\u00a0of Lou Williams<\/a><\/strong> and drafting Kentucky point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a><\/strong>. They also hope to have back a healthy Milos Teodosic<\/a><\/strong> back in the fold.<\/p>\n

Although Rivers was a key piece to the Clippers playoff run, his expiring contract made him the obvious choice to trade with all their healthy players coming back. Patrick Beverley<\/a><\/strong> is expected to make a full recovery from a torn ACL as well. There is simply not enough room for Rivers at this point.<\/p>\n

Rivers situation won’t be ideal next season. He will become backup to John Wall<\/a><\/strong> and Bradley Beal<\/a><\/strong>. He looks to be one of the main reserves off the second unit along with newly drafted Troy Brown<\/a><\/strong>. Rivers finished last season with a career-high\u00a0in points, assists and three-point\u00a0field goal percentage after starting most of his games on the injury-ridden\u00a0Clippers. These numbers look to decrease next year with a bench role.<\/p>\n

Marcin Gortat Out West<\/h3>\n

The Wizards get rid of Gortat, who also has an expiring contract. This is an interesting move since the Wizards have no clear choice for a starting center next season. This could be their first move into pursuing an all-star\u00a0caliber center such as DeMarcus Cousins<\/a><\/strong> or Clint Capela<\/a><\/strong>. With some mediocre finishes in the Eastern Conference the past couple of years, this could be the first move to a major shakeup.<\/p>\n

The uncertain future of DeAndre Jordan<\/a><\/strong> in Los Angeles. Gortat could slide right into the starting center role should Jordan not return in a Clippers uniform. This trade marks the end of Gortat’s\u00a0five-year stay in Washington. He wasn’t a surprising\u00a0trade choice after finishing last season with lower point totals and field goal percentage than any of his previous years.<\/p>\n

Both teams improved some holes for next season, however, this trade seems to be a catalyst\u00a0for other big moves that could happen in the near future.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n