Gortat doesn't expect to play past next season, wants to end career with Magic
Marcin Gortat doesn't envision playing in the NBA beyond the 2018-19 season, and if he had his way, his final run wouldn't even come with the team with which he's currently under contract.
The Washington Wizards big man doesn't expect his career to continue once his contract expires at the end of next season, according to The Orlando Sentinel's Josh Robbins.
"The way NBA politics goes right now, I’m afraid that next year might be my last year," Gortat said. "This is how I feel right now. Obviously, we’re going to have a summer, then another year of basketball and then I’m going to think about it. But the way I feel right now, it’s like next year might be my last year of my career.
"I’m not saying 100 percent. I would say ‘probably.’ The way everything goes, the way the NBA goes right now and everything that’s going on, I just don’t feel like I’m going to stay in this league for much longer."
Before he walks off into the sunset, though, The Polish Hammer would want to suit up for the Orlando Magic again, even for a short while.
"I would love to join the team for maybe two or three months, or maybe half a season at least," he added.
"I’m going to be (an) old guy, so I don’t know if Orlando would be interested or not. But I would love to join the team back again just to wear the uniform, put the white and blue stripes again on me and be able to say I’m a Magic again and just come back home where I belong. That would definitely be a dream come true to do that for me. Whatever the team wants to do - play me, just be in the rotation or just be a bench player - I would definitely be there for the team."
Gortat will turn 34 years old next month, and is locked in this season with the Wizards for $12.7 million, plus another $13.5 million for next season.
He began his career with the Magic in 2007. The near-7-footer spent four seasons there serving as the primary backup to All-Star Dwight Howard, but was then moved to the Phoenix Suns in a package for Hedo Turkoglu, allowing him to blossom as a starter in a much larger role.
Gortat is averaging 9.1 points and 8.1 rebounds on 54 percent shooting for the 23-18 Wizards, who host the Magic at Capital One Arena on Friday.