When Kevin Durant, Al Horford and Ryan Anderson fell off the free agency board, Washington Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld turned to Ian Mahinmi – the best big man left on the market.
Washington signed Mahinmi to a four-year, $64 million contract, even though Marcin Gortat has steadily produced as the team’s starting center.
During media day, most expected Mahinmi, who was a top-10 defender with the Indiana Pacers last season, to compete with Gortat for the starting gig.
Given the terms of Mahinmi’s contract, there was speculation about Gortat’s future with the team.