The Los Angeles Clippers are trading guard Austin Rivers to the Washington Wizards for center Marcin Gortat, league sources tell ESPN.
Very curious to see Doc’s reaction. But both players were trouble for their respective locker rooms, so the deal makes sense for that purpose alone. Wizards will save about $1.5 million in luxury tax.
Only until they end up signing a center. This will probably end up putting them further into tax after all is said and done.
I like this move for Washington though. They needed depth and got it. They now have 2 quality bench players in Rivers and Oubre along with some serviceable rotational players in Satoransky, Meeks, and Mahinmi. Signing Dwight is now a necessity and would be a huge move for them.
For LAC I find it not as strong. I guess they had a log jam at guard with Beverly, Milos, Lou Williams, and Rivers which is cleared up a little and they got insurance for if DJ walks.
The Wizards needed a backup PG, now they need a center. They really only have the minimum to offer either, so they’ve filled up the PG role with Rivers and will now shop for a center. It won’t put them any further into the tax.
Also, Meeks was not a serviceable player last year and is suspended for the first quarter of the season, so he is far from a useful bench player. In general, the Wizards bench is one of the weakest in the league.
They don't have the $5.2 taxpayer MLE? I assumed that will get offered to Dwight or another center if they have it.
Unless they move a contract for nothing, as opposed to for someone else who makes a chunk of money, I expect they will only be using minimum salaries to fill out their roster. Using the full MLE on someone would put them about $12 million over the tax line if they just had a 14-man roster, and they’re not going there. Even just signing 3 minimum salary players will put them about $8 million over. People here in DC would be quite surprised if Leonsis has the appetite for that tax bill.