Wizards land Marcin Gortat in trade with Suns
After completing a five-player trade with the Washington Wizards, the Phoenix Suns could have stockpiled four first-round picks in the talent-deep 2014 NBA draft.
The Suns traded starting center Marcin Gortat, Shannon Brown, Malcolm Lee and Kendall Marshall to the Wizards for the expiring contract of Emeka Okafor and a protected 2014 first-round pick.
If the Wizards miss the playoffs and finish worse than 12th in the league, the pick will revert to the Suns in a future season. Nevertheless, the addition of Gortat to replace the injured Okafor could be key in the Wizards returning to the postseason this season. Gortat is in the final year of his contract, earning $7.7 million.
After suffering a neck injury in the preseason, it is unclear if Okafor will play a game for Phoenix this season. The Suns are in full rebuilding mode under new general manager Ryan McDonough. Phoenix also picked up a first-round pick in a deal with the Indiana Pacers (for Luis Scola) and holds the Minnesota Timberwolves 2014 first-round pick, protected until No. 13, as part of the Wesley Johnson trade.
