NBA trade grades: Clippers dealing Austin Rivers to Wizards for Marcin Gortat
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers traded one expiring contract for another, taking on the final year and $13.6 million of Marcin Gortat’s salary. Unfortunately, even with the glut of guards at their disposal, Lob City is still getting the worse player in the deal.
https://twitter.com/JoshEberley/status/1011753695518683137
Nepotism is apparently dead in Los Angeles, but Rivers (25) is significantly younger than the Polish Hammer (34). The combo guard also had the best season of his career last year, averaging 15.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 37.8 percent from 3-point range, all of which were career highs.
Gortat’s career, on the other hand, seems to be winding down. He averaged just 8.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 25.3 minutes per game last year, the lowest numbers of his career since he was a rarely used reserve for the Orlando Magic back in 2010-11.
Gortat has had problems staying on the floor when teams go small, as he’s a step slow on both ends of the floor. The Clippers are most likely scooping him up as a potential DeAndre Jordan insurance policy should the big man leave this summer in free agency.
Interesting. Like this a lot for the Wizards. Rivers gives them great depth behind John Wall and Bradley Beal. Gortat could replace DeAndre Jordan if he leaves as a FA. https://t.co/Z55FhQiSTV
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 26, 2018
Jordan is currently still deciding on his $24.1 million player option, but if the 29-year-old opts out seeking another big payday, the Clippers are clearly going to be hesitant to pony up — especially after losing Chris Paul and Blake Griffin within the last year.
Bearing those departures in mind, Los Angeles should be gearing up for a rebuild. Trading for a temporary stopgap and expiring contract like Gortat signals they may be ready for Jordan to go elsewhere and say goodbye to the final member of their Big 3 during the Lob City days.
With rookies Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson joining a backcourt that already includes Patrick Beverley, reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams and Milos Teodosic (who recently opted into his $6.3 million for 2018-19), trading Rivers makes some sense to free up developmental minutes for the No. 11 and No. 13 overall picks in this year’s draft.
Meanwhile, Gortat helps keep the Clips somewhat competitive in the interim, although Boban Marjanovic fans will surely be disappointed if Jordan leaves and Boban’s best shot at big minutes is obstructed by a 34-year-old on an expiring deal.
This isn’t a good trade or a bad trade for the Clippers; it just kind of is. Here’s hoping Doc Rivers is cool with it.
Grade: C+