As everyone is waiting to see who picks up their options, what players get qualifying offers and summer league rosters being finalized, the Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards made a trade sending Austin Rivers to the nation’s capital in exchange for Marcin Gortat.

Grade For Clippers: B

After selecting two guards in the 2018 draft, the Clippers had an unbalanced roster with a plethora of guards and only Boban Marjanovic under contract as a true big man. In fact, of the players under contract they had eight guards, three forwards and one big man. The trade did it’s job on that end for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Gortat has always been a serviceable starter at the five spot, after starting his career as Dwight Howard’s replacement in Orlando, though, his numbers have been dipping with age (will be 35 in February). Not quite the rim protector/rebounder the Clippers have been used to in DeAndre Jordan, Gortat brings high awareness, a mid range jumper and fiery attitude to Los Angeles.

Still, as a fan, I would have preferred to keep Rivers and found a different outlet to balancing the roster. Have to wait and see what else follows, however.

Grade for Wizards: B+

Washington needed another player that could create his own shot on a consistent basis, netting just that in Rivers. However, like Los Angeles, Washington’s roster is unbalanced, and now, they are down to just Ian Mahinmi and Jason Smith as big men.