Livingston, Gortat get ball rolling
— -- Two of the earliest agreements announced on the first day of free agency were the return of Marcin Gortat to Washington and the deal with Shaun Livingston by the Golden State Warriors.
Here's some quick analysis on both of those transactions:
Marcin Gortat
It was a well-known fact that Washington would be aggressive in re-signing its key free agents, but the five-year, $60 million price tag might have pushed the envelope. Gortat was an invaluable part of the the Wizards' success as an effective pick-and-roll partner to John Wall, and a player who could both back up and play alongside Nene. He's also an excellent defensive rebounder, and his mobility up and down the floor made him an ideal target in transition. Re-signing him was a priority for Washington because continuity was a priority for a team that experienced its most successful season in a decade.
I had Gortat valued at four years and $36 million, using Tiago Splitter's deal from last summer as a comp. Splitter is a similarly mobile, rebounding big man, although it bears noting that Splitter is the better defender while Gortat is the superior finisher. The high end of the center market set last summer was Kevin Love, as the Warriors are restricted in the amount of salary they can take back.
