Marcin Gortat

Gortat, who’s seen at least 29 minutes per game since 2011-12, continued to be a league staple at the center spot least season. On the year, the bruising rebounder and pick-and-roll man posted 10.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists across 31.2 minutes per game while shooting 57.9 percent from the field. The 33-year-old also managed to stay healthy, per usual, playing in all 82 games. Over the past four years, Gortat has missed just eight contests. While he doesn’t post eye-popping numbers, his consistent health and workload significantly boosts his Fantasy value at a position that can be prone to injury. Considering the Wizards’ roster has changed very little, and will seemingly roll out the same starting five, it seems safe to bank on Gortat playing nearly the exact same role heading into next season as he did during 2016-17. As a result, he’s a good center to target in the mid-rounds of most Fantasy drafts, and is always a candidate to be a top-15 center.

As was the case for his prior two seasons with the Wizards, Gortat was again a model of consistency in 2015-16, starting 70-plus games while routinely serving as the team’s go-to source of scoring in the frontcourt. Though his averages of 13.5 points (on 56.7% shooting) and 9.9 rebounds per game were comparable to what he’d put up the year before, Gortat actually raked in 19 more double-doubles. The 32-year-old is set to enter his 10th NBA season, but doesn’t appear to be showing any signs of slowing down, even as the Wizards deployed more stretch-four types alongside him a season ago. New coach Scott Brooks isn’t expected to utilize Gortat much differently from how the since-fired Randy Wittman did, so look for the Polish center to continue seeing around 30 minutes per game while routinely challenging for double-doubles. That should be good enough for Gortat to approach top-10 fantasy value among centers.

If the league is concentrating on small ball after the Warriors' success in the playoffs, no one had better tell Marcin Gortat. For the second straight season, the Wizards center posted excellent numbers in an iron-man season that saw him play 30 minutes per game in all 82 contests. The 31-year-old native of Poland provided 12.2 points on 57 percent from the field and 70 percent from the line with 8.7 rebounds. Gortat finished the regular season with strength by hitting better than 60 percent of his field goals in March and April. He also averaged 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.3 blocks. Gortat continued to be productive in the playoffs with 12.4 points and 8.8 rebounds as the Wizards swept the Raptors before being beaten by the Hawks in six games. Against Toronto, the 6-11 center hit 74 percent of his field goals on his way to 17.3 points and 10.0 rebounds. He cooled off against Atlanta and played just 12 minutes in the Game 6 ouster. Nevertheless, Gortat should be ready for the new season, and his age should not be counted too much against him because he played light minutes early in his career.

An 80-game starter for the Wizards last season, the 30-year-old Gortat cashed in big, inking a five-year, $60 million contract in July. The deal was well-earned, as Gortat shined during his first year with the team, averaging 13.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks. The Polish center has a well-rounded game that allows him to contribute in nearly every category, with the obvious exception of three-point shooting. He's solid at the line for a center, as he made 69 percent of his free-throw attempts last season, and is a 67-percent foul shooter for his career. While perhaps underappreciated before he landed in Washington, Gortat posted similar production to last season's during his three years with the Phoenix Suns from 2010-11 to 2012-13. He's locked in as the Wizards' starting center for the foreseeable future, and while unlikely to go much higher than last season's 13.2 points per game, Gortat could very well crack double-digit rebounds for the second time in his career. He consistently plays with a high energy level and has reasonably good touch at the rim. There's not much room left for individual improvement, but with his team on the rise, Gortat could perhaps see a slight bump in points and/or assists.

Following a midseason trade to Phoenix during the 2010-11 season, Gortat quickly became one of the more reliable options at the center position. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to carry over that breakout success from the previous two seasons into the 2012-13 campaign. With Steve Nash no longer in the desert to run the pick-and-roll, Gortat saw his production drop last year, finishing with averages of 11.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. While still steady, those numbers were a significant drop from the 15.4 points and 10.0 rebounds he averaged in his lone full season with Nash. Aside from Nash being gone, Gortat was also hampered by a foot injury that forced him to miss the final 21 games of the regular season. His injured foot appears to have recovered fully, as Gortat was able to participate with Poland and post productive lines during international play this summer. With an expiring contract and first-round pick Alex Len waiting in the wings, Gortat could eventually find himself on the trading block, but he's expected to begin the season with the rebuilding Suns and likely open the year as the team's starting center.

The former backup to Dwight Howard cemented himself as a quality fantasy option at center in his first full season with the Suns. Gortat racked up career-highs across the boards, finishing with averages of 15.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while playing 32 minutes per game. The 28-year-old center also proved to be durable, appearing in all 66 games for Phoenix. He was great at running the pick-and-roll with Steve Nash, showing the ability to cut to the rim for an easy finish or popping out for a 10-foot jumper. Of course, the Suns lost Nash to the Lakers this offseason, so Gortat won’t have a premier playmaker setting him up this season. He should still prove to be productive for the rebuilding Suns, though, as the team will likely go to Gortat in the low post early and often. Plus, with Jermaine O’Neal as the only other center currently on the Suns’ roster, Gortat could see a boost in playing time. There will be plenty of other attractive names at the center position on draft day, but don’t forget about Gortat in the early-to-middle rounds if you’re targeting a dependable pivot who will provide double-double production on a nightly basis.

After wasting away as Dwight Howard’s backup in Orlando for the first three and a half years of his career, Gortat was finally freed by a midseason trade to Phoenix last year. With Steve Nash feeding him bunnies, Gortat went on to average 13.0 points and 9.3 rebounds in 55 games with the Suns, despite often seeing limited minutes off the bench. Once Suns coaching staff wised up and started giving Gortat significant playing time, he erupted to the tune of 15.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks with solid percentages (56.3 FG, 70.9 FT) in 28 games after the All-Star break. While Gortat was never used as much of an offensive weapon for the Magic, he consistently exhibited quality low-post moves and also proved to be a threat on the pick-and-roll with the Suns. Now that Gortat has solidified himself in the Suns’ rotation, expect the Robin Lopez experiment to be a thing of the past. He might not be as big of a name as other center options out there, but Gortat is well worth a mid-round investment.

Before last season the Magic signed Gortat to a five-year, $34 million deal. That's a lot of money to pay someone who, ultimately, ended up playing a bit more than 13 minutes per game in the first year of said deal. His per-minute numbers suggests Gortat could put up around 10 rebounds and 2.0 blocks given starter's minutes. That won't happen unless he's traded, though-or starter Dwight Howard is seriously injured.

Gortat signed with Dallas as a restricted free agent this summer, only to see the Magic match his rather large deal from the Mavericks. Back with the Magic, Gortat will be the team's backup center to Dwight Howard. The team obviously views him as a key part of the team with its willingness to match the Mavericks' 5-year, $34 million offer sheet, but he will continue to come off the bench for the foreseeable future. In that role, Gortat's fantasy value will be limited.

Gortat saw action in nearly every playoff game last year, a sign that he could be in line for more time on the floor this season. The other backup centers are better defensively and have more experience, but Gortat could see more playing time if his athleticism wins out.

Gortat will provide the Magic with a big body off the bench, but he'll have a difficult time finding minutes in his rookie season.

Gortat is largely an unknown European commodity in his first NBA year. What has been noticeable from his summer play is a decent offensive touch, but a serious lack of bulk. He should not be on your fantasy squad.