The Los Angeles Clippers have traded Shooting Guard Austin Rivers to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Center Marcin Gortat.
The first domino has fallen — the LA Clippers have just traded away Austin Rivers to the Washington Wizards. In exchange, the Clippers will receive Marcin Gortat.
Rivers had just opted-in to the final year of his contract last week, worth $12.6 million. After selecting a duo of guards in last week’s NBA Draft, the Clippers were expected to shake up their depth. Prior to the trade, LA had seven guards signed through next season, including rookies Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson.
Gortat, 34, comes fresh off his least-impressive season thus far with the Washington Wizards. He averaged a mere 8.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in roughly 25 minutes per game last season.
This trade, however, is not so much about performance, and more so about the future.
By moving Rivers’s contract and acquiring Gortat’s, the Clippers have added another expiring deal to their payroll. Gortat will make $13.5 million next season, after which his contract will expire, and he will become a free agent. That’s more money off the books for Los Angeles, which is aiming to be a big Free Agency player next summer. The Clippers currently have just four players signed through the 2018-2019 NBA season, not including their rookie guards.
Related Story: DeAndre Jordan May Facilitate Trade
Gortat will most likely be the starting center in Los Angeles next season, now that DeAndre Jordan is assumed to be on the move. As it stands, this trade is the most obvious signal that Jordan will not be returning next year. Gortat is a starting-caliber big, and wouldn’t be able to play alongside Jordan.
The trade is yet to be made official, and there still could be some assets included, likely on Washington’s end, that would complete the trade. A future draft pick is the most likely scenario.