Wizards get Gortat for Okafor, pick The Washington Wizards, trying to strengthen their hand for a playoff push in the Eastern Conference, have acquired center Marcin Gortat from the Phoenix Suns in a five-player deal reached Friday. The trade sends Gortat and guards Shannon Brown, Malcolm Lee and Kendall Marshall to the Wizards for the expiring contract of veteran big man Emeka Okafor and a protected 2014 first-round pick (to No. 12). The 6-foot-11 Gortat, 29, averaged 11.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season for the Suns. The move gives Washington more of a scoring center to go with its prized starting backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal, as well as a healthy starting center after losing Okafor indefinitely to a herniated disk in his neck. Gortat's arrival also allows the Wizards -- who could have as much as $16 million in salary-cap space next summer -- to move Nene to his preferred position at power forward.

• published: 26 Oct 2013
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