Polish big man Marcin Gortat of the Washington Wizards recently made headlines when he said that his team has one of the worst benches in all of the National Basketball Association. There's no blaming him, though, or anyone who's frustrated with the team considering how they've been playing early in the regular season. At 4–9, the team is currently stuck at the bottom of the Eastern Conference along with the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Although Gortat's statement might have been taken out of context or simply a product of an early season frustration, there is no denying the fact that the Wizards need help. And quite interestingly, the 32-year-old veteran has now joined point guard John Wall in trade rumors.
So is Gortat, a defensive-minded player and a good rebounder, really going to ask for it or will the front office be the one who will initiate a trade involving him? Rumors have it that Gortat's statement may have created a rift between him and Wall, who obviously has a lot of bargaining power for a team that he literally runs. But what's also interesting is if Wall demands that the big man be traded, then why is he also in the trading rumor mill himself?
Another reason why Gortat may have suddenly become dispensable is because of the impending return of the newly signed big man, Ian Mahinmi. The French center was supposed to beef up Washington's frontline this season after signing a $64 million contract for four years. Unfortunately, he suffered a partially torn medial meniscus in his left knee, forcing him to delay his debut for the Wizards. And now that he is close to returning, Gortat's starting job is in limbo, unless of course the Wizards suddenly win games that they aren't expected to win.
There still are about two months left before the trade deadline, and when that time comes, it's no longer a surprise if either Wall or Gortat find themselves playing for another team.
