Washington Wizards Monday Mailbag: Imagining a World Where Wittman Is Still Coach, Melo Returns Home, and Gortat is Traded

Nick the Creep. Great handle. Better question.

Marcin Gortat and Ian Mahinmi have been the most discussed traded players, outside of Porter. They both play center, can’t play at the same time, and will make around $28 million combined. Gortat certainly has more trade value after Mahinmi missed much of the season, but can the team really trade Gortat, when it can’t yet trust Mahinmi to consistently man the middle.

Either way, with the money tight, and few assets, it is a realistic possibility. So ideas…

Gortat to Utah for the 30th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft

Let’s start with your suggestion. First, Utah could actually be interested in your offer. They got to the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs, until they ran into the buzzsaw that was the Golden State Warriors.

More from Wiz of Awes

• It would be a mistake for the Wizards to trade for this elite sharpshooter
• When is the 2024 NBA trade deadline? Everything you need to know
• 5 early predictions for the 2023-24 Washington Wizards
• 4 most interesting Washington Wizards storylines for the 2023-24 season
• Washington Wizards: 3 teams that would be perfect fit for Danilo Gallinari

The team finally succeeded in topping the 50 win mark, and will be looking for a variety of options to improve the team immediately. Gordon Hayward and George Hill will both be free agents on July 1st, and anything Utah can do before now and then to bolster their offer, will be a goal moving forward.

Gortat would be a great center to bring off the bench for Rudy Gobert, and a starting level talent to start if Gobert got hurt again. Utah has the salary cap room to absorb Gortat’s contrat without sending a player back, but likely would to limit any luxury tax penalties that may come from re-signing Hayward and Hill.

Washington would get the last pick in the first round, and have a variety of quality players left to choose from who could compete next year.

Chad Ford’s latest mock draft has Oregon guard Tyler Dorsey, Syracuse forward Tyler Lydon, and Duke guard Frank Jackson among available players.

Gortat to Dallas for Devin Harris and Dwight Powell

Bring him home! Any Gortat trade would hopefully return a back up point guard for Washington, and another big man to play behind new starter Ian Mahinmi.

Dallas would be interested in this trade for a few reasons. For one, they seem to already regret giving Powell a 4 year, $37 Million contract last summer. He still has some promise as a young athletic big, but Nerlens Noel, is the likely future as the athletic big.

Gortat could either start next to Dirk Nowitzki, or come off the bench if the Mavericks prefer Noel to start. Noel coming off the bench, could save Dallas a few million when he’s a restricted free agent next summer.

Dallas will be in the market for a starting point guard as well, and many mock drafts have them taking Frank Ntilikina from France. The rookie would be getting a good amount of minutes from the jump, and JJ Barea and Yogi Ferrell could take care of backup duties. Thus Devin Harris becomes expendable.

Next: Aldridge Mentions Wizards As Possible Destination

In short, moving Gortat is juicy, but the options may be limited, as not many teams are looking for a $12 million a year backup center, and there are few contenders that need a starting center.