NBA Trade Rumors: Latest on Celtics, Marcin Gortat and More

When it comes to NBA trade rumors, folks want to know where Russell Westbrook seems headed.

The answer is nowhere, as the Oklahoma City Thunder have told teams he isn’t available, according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

See? Easy. In all seriousness, a Westbrook trade will likely come out of nowhere, and if it does it figures to occur at the deadline next season.

Right now, other possibilities intrigue more thanks to arguably better odds that something happens. And when those potential deals include the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and more, it’s certainly worth a deeper dive.

Wizards Trade?

While a bit left behind in the hype department thanks to bigger franchises and names, the Washington Wizards look like a major trade candidate.

After all, the team has starting center Marcin Gortat on board but also decided at the start of July to bring on center Ian Mahinmi on a deal worth $64 million, according to the Washington Post’s Tim Bontemps.

Something has to give, right? Maybe not, according to CSN Mid-Atlantic’s J. Michael: “Multiple league sources, as late as Friday night, told CSNMidAtlantic.com that it’s not in the cards to make a move with the 6’11” center because of Ian Mahinmi’s signing (four years, $64 million). Of course, it’s never safe to say never but as for now that appears to be the case.”

Still, it sounds like a lot of cash to blow in a league transferring more toward a small-ball approach. Mahinmi is 29 years old and a great rim protector, whereas Gortat is 32 and would fetch a nice price on the open market, especially if a contending team wants help.

Gortat has spent the last three seasons in Washington and last year posted averages of 13.5 points and 9.9 rebounds. He’s not showing much in the way of slowing, but if the Wizards think they can get comparable numbers from Mahinmi, striking a deal to improve on a core trio of John Wall-Bradley Beal-Markieff Morris isn’t the worst idea.

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