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Duke in the NBA: Austin Rivers Traded to the Washington Wizards

By Kevin Connelly

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 23: Doc Rivers the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers gives instructions to Austin Rivers #25 against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 23, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 23: Doc Rivers the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers gives instructions to Austin Rivers #25 against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 23, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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The NBA offseason started with a bang as the roster turnover with one Los Angeles team continued with a major trade.

Former Duke star and Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers is headed to the East Coast as he was traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Wizards big man Marcin Gortat.

Rivers spent three and a half seasons in Los Angeles and had his best season last year, averaging 15.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.

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Austin Rivers’ father, Doc Rivers, is the head coach of the Clippers but does is no longer the lone decision maker in the roster moves as he was stripped of the President of Basketball Operations title last offseason.

Rivers will join a top-heavy Wizards backcourt with All-Stars John Wall and Bradley Beal, but Rivers should provide a much-needed boost off the bench for Washington, something they have been missing for a few years, despite making the playoffs.

The Wizards were the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs last season, but they did not last long as they were eliminated by the No. 1 seed Toronto Raptors in six games.

As for Gortat, he is on the back-end of his long NBA career, entering his twelfth season in the league, with his most productive years coming in his five years in Washington.

Gortat only missed eight games in his five seasons with the Wizards, starting in every game he played in except for two.

The trade will give Rivers an opportunity to grow in a new environment and show the rest of the league that he can compete at a high level without his father as the head coach of his team. Rivers will look to contribute immediately in helping the Wizards fight for a top spot in now a wide-open Eastern Conference.

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