2 Potential Marcin Gortat Trades for the Phoenix Suns

Marcin Gortat has been the Phoenix Suns' starting center for almost three years and looked to be the team's starting center for years to come.

That was until the debacle known as this season.

Gortat endured his worst season as a Phoenix Sun and it's clear he is no longer in the long-term plans of the organization.

With his expiring contract, Phoenix can either trade him or potentially lose him for nothing during free agency.

For a rebuilding team like Phoenix, it's a no-brainer to get some value for Gortat while it still can.  

Portland Trail Blazers

Potential Trade

Phoenix Suns trade Marcin Gortat, Michael Beasley, $3 million cash and a 2013 second-round pick (from Denver Nuggets). Portland Trail Blazers trade their own 2013 first-round pick and their own 2013 second-round pick.

Analysis for Phoenix

Phoenix gets rid of two of their biggest contracts and gets a few draft picks in return, both of which are key for a rebuilding squad.  

Phoenix would clearly have a hole at center after this deal. However, with the money saved, it would have the freedom to sign or draft a new center.

Analysis for Portland

This trade may not be popular amongst Portland fans, but the Trail Blazers would be a better team after it.

They would finally have a capable center to pair with LaMarcus Aldridge and a rim-protector to help guard the paint.

The $3 million in cash would mean Portland pays only $3 million of Beasley's $6 million salary next year. He would immediately become Portland's best scoring option off an awful bench.

Atlanta Hawks

Potential Trade

Phoenix Suns trade Marcin Gortat, Shannon Brown, Hamed Haddadi and a 2013 second-round pick (from the Denver Nuggets). Atlanta Hawks trade their own 2013 first-round pick and their own 2015 first-round pick.

Analysis for Phoenix

Phoenix gets two more first-rounders to either select potential impact players or make more trades during their rebuilding period.

In addition, Phoenix gets rid of two players (Brown and Haddadi) that likely wouldn't play much next season and free up a little more than $12.5 million in cap space.

Analysis for Atlanta

Atlanta has only five players under contract for next season and will have close to $30 million in cap space. To be frank, they need capable bodies for next year.

In this deal, the Hawks get a capable replacement for likely departure Josh Smith. Also, getting a legitimate center like Gortat would finally allow Al Horford to play his natural position of power forward.

To conclude the deal, Brown would give them a versatile scorer for their bench and Haddadi provides frontcourt depth.

Atlanta may not want to give up their first-round pick, but they'll consider it if it means they remain in playoff contention, which would seem likely with the addition of Gortat.