WIZARDS GET GORTAT, 3 GUARDS FOR OKAFOR & PICK
The Washington Wizards acquired center Marcin Gortat, point guard Kendall Marshall, shooting guard Shannon Brown, and shooting guard Malcolm Lee for center Emeka Okafor and a top-12 protected first-round draft pick in 2014.
What does it give the Washington Wizards
Gortat is an above-average starting center who fell out of favor in Phoenix, so he's a bit of a steal here for a Wizards team trying to make the playoffs. He should immediately replace the injured Okafor as the top pivot in Washington, and gives the Wizards a very solid starting five in PG {P John Wall}, SG {P Bradley Beal}, SF {P Trevor Ariza}, PF {P Nene Hilario}, and Gortat. It's unclear whether any of the three guards (Marshall, Brown, and Lee) will stick around, but they were clearly included to make the salaries match up (an NBA requirement).
What does it give the Phoenix Suns
Few teams in the NBA are overhauling as much as the Suns, and this is a big step in that direction for them. Okafor may never play for Phoenix, as he's in the last year of his contract and sidelined indefinitely by a neck injury. They also Gortat and Brown (who clearly weren't part of the rebuild plans) and free up minutes for their younger players, as well as a lot of future money (to sign more players and extend the likes of rising star combo guard {P Eric Bledsoe}). The protected pick can't come within the 2014 draft's top-12, but it's one of the best draft classes in recent memory so it should land a quality player. Nice long-term move by Phoenix, although they may struggle to win double-digit games this season.
Fantasy impact
For Phoenix this trade immediately improves the fantasy prospects of {P Miles Plumlee}, {P Markieff Morris} and {P Channing Frye}. All three should see a bump in minutes with Gortat gone (especially Plumlee, who now projects as Phoenix's starting center). Meanwhile Okafor may never play for Phoenix due to his injury. In Washington, Gortat's arrival shifts {P Nene Hilario} back to the starting power forward spot (as he was filling in for Okafor at center), and likely saps the fantasy value of young big men {P Trevor Booker}, {P Kevin Seraphin}, and {P Jan Vesely} (who are now clearly backups). It's unclear what the roles Brown, Lee, and Marshall will be with the Wiz, but only Brown looks likely to push for rotation minutes (and again, only if he's kept around). All the new depth also probably further ensures a limited role this season for rookie forward {P Otto Porter}.
