Wiz of Awes
Fansided

Washington Wizards NBA Trade Rumors: Wizards Could Be Shopping Ian Mahinmi

By Ben Mehic

Mar 5, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Indiana Pacers center Ian Mahinmi (28) prepares to shoot as Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (13) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Indiana Pacers center Ian Mahinmi (28) prepares to shoot as Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (13) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Washington Wizards could be having buyer’s remorse after signing former Indiana Pacers center Ian Mahinmi to a multi-year contract this past summer.

The Washington Wizards missed out on all of the top free agents this past summer, including Al Horford, who chose to sign with the Boston Celtics instead.

Once the market began to dry up, Ernie Grunfeld quickly inked former Indiana Pacers center Ian Mahinmi to a four-year deal worth $64 million.

Mahinmi, who had a top-10 defensive rating in his last season with the Pacers, was supposed to revitalize the Wizards’ struggling defense.

Known for his shot blocking and physicality inside the paint, Mahinmi had the capability to challenge Marcin Gortat for the Wizards’ starting center spot.

More from Wiz of Awes

But a knee injury sidelined Mahinmi at the beginning of the season, forcing Scott Brooks to use Jason Smith as his primary backup center.

Mahinmi was scheduled to miss roughly six weeks of action, but injured himself again while rehabbing. Mahinmi has been on the court for just 14 minutes this season.

Somehow, the Wizards have managed to climb out of their early-season hole.

The team is third in the Eastern Conference with a 30-20 record. Mahinmi’s absence has largely been a non-factor.

Washington’s bench is last in scoring and field goal percentage.

Averaging 5 points per game for his career, Mahinmi wouldn’t have necessarily helped patch up the Wizards’ scoring problem.

Given how successful the team has been without Mahinmi in the lineup, some have questioned whether or not the Washington Wizards even need him on the roster.

According to Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype, the Washington Wizards could shop the big man before this month’s trade deadline.

"Earlier this week, a Western Conference executive told me that several teams were shopping big men that they had just added this past summer. He was somewhat surprised by this, and he mentioned Indiana’s Al Jefferson, Washington’s Ian Mahinmi and Orlando’s Serge Ibaka as some examples of recent frontcourt additions who are seemingly available."

Since he has three years left on his current contract, the Wizards would likely have to attach a first-round pick or something more to entice teams to take Mahinmi.

Recently, the Milwaukee Bucks traded Miles Plumlee to the Charlotte Hornets in a salary dump. They got two short-term deals back with Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes.

Plumlee was paid $12 million less than Mahinmi, but his deal was still large. If anything, the completed deal would give the Wizards hope that another team would trade for Mahinmi.

Before the season began, I speculated that Gortat would be on the Washington Wizards’ trade block. Gortat has proven to be indispensable, putting up career-high numbers all across the board. Mahinmi, however, has essentially taken up a roster spot without contributing.

Next: Why the Wizards Should Make a Trade Deadline Deal

If the Wizards could have a mulligan on Mahinmi’s deal, they would certainly take it.

Home/Wizards Rumors