Why the Brooklyn Nets should consider a Marcin Gortat trade

Marcin Gortat is unhappy with his role on the Washington Wizards. Reports have surfaced about the center wanting out this summer. If Gortat’s agent does ask Washington for a trade the Nets may have what it takes to get a deal done.

When an NBA player demands his team for a trade his incumbent squad immediately loses all leverage. Sean Marks should monitor the Marcin Gortat situation in D.C. for that reason. The Brooklyn Nets would stand to benefit from making a deal for the Polish big man.

Gortat is a serviceable starting center in the NBA. During the 2016-17 season, Gortat averaged 10.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. He started all 82 games he played in and averaged over 30 minutes each contest. Unfortunately for him, his touches went down this season.

That is likely the reason he wants to be dealt.

Gortat’s eight shot attempts per game this past season were the least he has attempted in his four years in Washington. Gortat complained that he had to sacrifice the most of all the Wizards’ starters. With Otto Porter‘s emergence and Markieff Morris‘ ascension, the big man did take a back seat to his fellow starters.

The team also enjoyed the most success it ever had since the team drafted John Wall in 2010.

Gortat doesn’t have the scoring abilities to justify more touches. Not with John Wall and Bradley Beal garnering most of the offensive attention. The backcourt tandem also makes almost $50 million combined. They will need touches to justify those salaries.

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Money is another issue for Gortat. His five-year, $60 million contract signed in 2013 was a bargain back then but it seems even more like a steal now with the burgeoning salary cap. The rise in the cap allowed Gortat’s backup, Ian Mahinmi, to snag a four-year, $64 million contract.

That may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Gortat may be looking for a larger role in a new city. Brooklyn could be that city.

Fans of the team may look at a player like Gortat and question his fit. At age 33 he isn’t getting younger. The “Polish Hammer” also plays the same position as the Brooklyn Nets’ best player, Brook Lopez.

It is true. He isn’t an exact basketball fit. Gortat is a talent though and that is what the Brooklyn Nets lack.

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Lopez’s ability to hit the 3-pointer allows him to play alongside other big men. Kenny Atkinson was able to play Lopez alongside Justin Hamilton during stretches of last season. Gortat did not take a single 3-pointer last season in Washington, making him an odd fit with Atkinson’s motion offense.

That line of thinking shouldn’t fans from embracing a potential Gortat trade. If anyone has faith in coach Atkinson they’d believe that he can integrate a talent like Gortat into the rotation.

Brook Lopez may actually be the best example of why Gortat could be a factor in Brooklyn. Lopez shot 35 percent on five shots a game from deep this past season after never averaging even 25 3-pointers in a single season.

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Gortat may never become a 3-point sniper but it is possible he would expand his game under Atkinson. Atkinson, as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks, helped mold Jeremy Lin into an overnight sensation. He can probably work a 33-year-old who shoots 57 percent from the field into his rotation.

As previously mentioned, any team trading for Gortat has leverage. Brooklyn doesn’t need to give up many assets to acquire the Polish-born center. Given the Wizards’ lack of depth on their bench, perhaps a deal including a playmaker like Sean Kilpatrick (assuming Marks pick up his team option) and a backup big like Hamilton can get a deal done. This would allow Mahinmi to become the starting center and Hamilton to get meaningful minutes elsewhere.

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The Nets have many needs but every team in the NBA needs more players with Gortat’s scoring efficiency and ability to make an impact on the boards.