Marcin Gortat turns the capital of the United States into the capital of global show business. Washington Wizards traded a Pole to LA Clippers in exchange for Austin Rivers, the son of the current team coach.
This transfer is no surprise, because Wizards wanted to sell Gortat since several months, and Marcin Gortat also dreamed of moving to Los Angeles. These clubs were negotiating with each other already in February, ie before closing the winter window. Then the Pole was about to become part of a large exchange between several teams, including Central Clippers DeAndre Jordan (he was supposed to hit Cleveland). The transaction eventually did not take place, but as they say there is luck in leisure...
On Tuesday, both sides reached an agreement. Austin Rivers will hit Wizards. Austin has had the best career season and will be the first substitute for the John Wall duo - Bradley Beal. In turn, Gortat is about to replace DeAndre Jordan in the first five of Clippers team. The current center of the LA' team is still a part of the team, but probably not so long. Even if Jordan will use the option to automatically renew his contract for another year for $ 24 million - he has time until Friday - almost 100 percent he will be exchanged in the first place. Therefore, Marcin Gortat should be the first center in team from the City of Angels. He is very happy about this transfer. His dream came true.
"I would like to spend at least one season in Los Angeles before finishing my career. That would be the perfect solution" - Gortat told a few weeks ago.
What is interesting in this transaction is the fact that Austin Rivers is ... son of current Clippers' coach, who was 2008 NBA champion Doc Rivers. For the first time in the history of the league they created a relation of father - coach and son - player, but now their paths diverge. Doc until last season he was the general manager of the club - he also gave Austin a lucrative contract for over ten million dollars a year, which according to many analysts was exaggerated. New GM Lawrence Frank quickly got rid of Rivers junior. In recent months the relations of both men were not the best, so it is possible that he did not consult this decision with a senior Rivers.
Another thing is that the Clippers on the guard positions have the European veteran Milos Teodosic, who was doing well in his debut season in the NBA, and coach favorite's Avery Bradley, but taking into consideration that they are plannig to get rid of Jordan they needed security under the basket. Gortat will fill this gap. There is a group of friends waiting for him in Los Angeles, great weather and hungry to succeed, young team who has nearly qualified for the last year's play-offs, fighting till the very end.
In the LA Clippers also play Gortat's good friend - Italian Danilo Gallinari. After five years in the Wizards colours, it's time for a new challenge and maybe the last stage of his career in which he will act as a mentor for younger players. A role to which he fits perfectly.
"We are excited to welcome Marcin Gortat to the Clippers, a respected player that brings years of NBA experience and additional toughness to this team. We’ve been a fan of Marcin’s for some time and this decision will help rebalance the roster by adding another proven big man to the front court," said Lawrence Frank, President of Basketball Operations.
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