Austin Rivers Traded From Clippers To Wizards For Marcin Gortat: Doc Rivers Traded His Son

Doc Rivers has traded his own son, as the Los Angeles Clippers shipped combo guard Austin Rivers to the Washington Wizards, in exchange for center Marcin Gortat. There was no doubt that the Wizards were looking to trade Marcin Gortat this offseason, he publicly feuded with the face of the Wizards franchise last season, and at 34-years-old he is no longer the solid staring center he once was. Gortat is entering the final year of his contract, making his expiring contract of $13.5 million an asset, which the Clippers could use in another deal. Austin Rivers is also entering the final year of his contract and will make $12.6 million this season, but he will provide the Wizards with much needed depth at both guard spots, Bradley Beal has a dicey injury history and when John Wall was injured for a large chunk of last season the Wizards struggled mightily. Austin Rivers is coming off a career year, in eighth he averaged 15 points and 4 assists per game, and he will be a huge upgrade to one of the worst second units in the NBA. Of course, the Wizards now need a starting center, while it will be interesting to see if the Clippers move on from DeAndre Jordan who can become a free agent. Will the Wizards make a run at John Wall’s longtime friend Boogie Cousins? Or DeAndre Jordan? Or Clint Capela? Or Dwight Howard? The Clippers needed to trade Austin Rivers, after drafting guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft, and they may need to make another trade to create space in a crowded backcourt. Stay tuned, the NBA offseason is about to get really interesting, really fast.