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Report: Marcin Gortat agrees to 5-year, $60 million deal with Wizards

By Trisity Miller

May 15, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (4) shakes hands with Goodman League commissioner Miles Rawls (L) after the Wizards game against the Indiana Pacers in game six of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Pacers won 93-80, and won the series 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (4) shakes hands with Goodman League commissioner Miles Rawls (L) after the Wizards game against the Indiana Pacers in game six of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Pacers won 93-80, and won the series 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Confirmed by All-Star point guard John Wall, the Washington Wizards have re-signed unrestricted free agent Marcin Gortat.

Following Wall’s announcement, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports confirmed the deal, citing the contract numbers as well.

Traded to Washington from Phoenix prior to the start of the 2013-14 season for Emeka Okafor and a 1st round pick, Gortat was a huge staple in the Wizards return to the NBA playoffs. Starting in 80 games, Gortat averaged 13.2 points on 54% shooting, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Immediately, Gortat worked well within Washington’s system, adding quality to the frontcourt, taking weight off of Nene’s shoulders, and complimenting star guards John Wall and Bradley Beal well. And with suitors vying for Gortat’s services, Washington’s biggest threat being the Miami Heat, the front office was forced to act fast on a deal or open the door for another team to swoop him away.

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At age 30, this deal is going to carry Gortat into his mid-thirties and for the Wizards that isn’t a great sign, but based on what the core accomplished in a weak Eastern Conference, there are reasons not to worry too much about the front offices decision. As most big men do, there’s a chance that Gortat could begin to decline over the next few years, but with John Wall and Bradley Beal rapidly improving and Nene’s contract off the books in 2015-16 allowing the franchise to add more talent around the core, this team could work well around any “negative” factors.

With Gortat locked down, you have to think the next target on the Wizards free-agent wish list is re-signing starting small forward Trevor Ariza.

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