The Wizards had the assets to put together a deal to help them make a push for the playoff, and they were able to strike it with the Suns today.

According to ESPN, the deal sees the Wizards acquire Polish center, Marcin Gortat and guards Shannon Brown, Malcom Lee and Kendall Marshall for the expiring contract of veteran big man Emeka Okafor and a protected 2014 first round pick (to no. 12)

Gortat averaged 11.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season for the Suns.

This is a terrific move for the Wizards who are desperately trying to make the playoffs this season. It provides them with more of a scoring threat at the center position, as well as a healthy option as Okafor was already hurt and out indefinitely with a herniated disk. This move will also allow the Wizards to move Nene back to his preferred position at power forward.

Meanwhile the move for the suns aligns with the theory that they will be doing everything they can to tank this season. Okafor is not expected to give them much, and they could have as much as four first round picks in next year’s draft.

They are expected to be involved in a few more deals with point guard Goran Dragic rumoured to be involved in a deal similar to the Gortat one.

According to ESPN, the Wizards are expected to waive the other three pieces involved in the deal — Brown, Marshall, so that they can get their roster down to league-maximium 15 players before the season starts.