For the first time since joining the Washington Wizards beginning with the 2013-14 NBA season, starting center Marcin Gortat met up with teammates for August training sessions in Los Angeles. This summer, Gortat is working out with the group as he wants to be in a good place when training camp opens in late September.

When the season ended in May, Gortat was not happy with his role and openly discussed his feelings with the media and management. That led to speculation that he might look to move on. Now, Gortat just wants to help the Wizards win and has no desire to be traded.

"First of all, I knew it right away that I would be coming back. I still have a contract and at the end of the day, I'm a Wizards player," Gortat told Wizards Tipoff podcast. "I still have two fully guaranteed years. When I went for the exit interview, I was just preparing myself for the worst. You've gotta be ready in this business."

Gortat is under contract through 2018-19 and is owed $26.34 million over that time, which is a good deal for the Wizards. Gortat's competition for the starting center position is Ian Mahinmi and he's set to make about $48 million through the 2019-20 season.

"I've been traded twice in my life. I know how it is. So, at the exit interview I just said I was going to talk to my agent and whatever is going to happen," Gortat said. "That doesn't mean I wanted to be traded. It doesn't mean that I'm leaving or that I don't want to play for the Washington Wizards. It's just that my situation with the team had completely changed."

-- Nick Silva