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ESPN's Marc Stein has announced that the Phoenix Suns are trading Marcin Gortat, Shannon Brown, Kendall Marshall to Washington in exchange for Emeka Okafor and the 2014 first round pick.
Hearing: Suns are trading Marcin Gortat to the Wizards. Okafor on his way to Phoenix. More details to come
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 25, 2013
Suns sending Gortat, lee, Brown and Marshall to Wiz for Okakor and 2014 1st round pick, source tells Y!
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) October 25, 2013
Draft pick will be protected thru no. 12. Suns own four picks in loaded 2014 first-round.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) October 25, 2013
It appears the front office has seen enough in the preseason, and decided to move quickly before the start of the regular season. I think the price is a little steep, given how Gortat performed last year, but it remains to be seen whether he can revitalize himself in Washington similar to how Okafor did last season. I'm never a fan of dealing away first round pick, but the lottery protection on it makes it a little more reasonable given their desperation to make the playoffs.
UPDATE: The Wizards will need to release three players in order to reach the maximum roster limit. It sounds like it'll be the three players that came with Gortat in the deal.
Hearing Marcin Gortat is main piece for #wizards. Kendall Marshall, Shannon Brown & Malcolm Lee not expected to stick around in DC
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) October 25, 2013