On Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Wizards opted to play backup center Ian Mahinmi the entire fourth quarter while trying to recover from a 19-point deficit. Washington eventually lost, 133-124, and despite this offensive explosion, Gortat barely factored into the final box score. In 19:20, Gortat attempted seven shots and finished with six points, four rebounds and three assists.

“He needs to play better,” Coach Scott Brooks responded when asked about Gortat’s recent performances but also expressed belief in his recovery. “Definitely needs to play better but we’ve got some options.”

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Just after Brooks concluded his postgame media availability, Gortat, looking dapper in a designer suit, headed for the exit, the first player to leave the visitors’ locker room. Though he did not answer questions, teammates spoke about his struggles.

“Every player goes through it, whether it’s shooting slumps or — I don’t know what it is with him,” Jason Smith said. “He’s a tremendous player. He goes out there and works hard every day … He keeps his body in great shape. It’s just one of those things. It’s a slump. Obviously, we want to get him out of it hopefully before the playoffs come.”

The slump started after the all-star break. Before Feb. 16, Gortat provided a role in the Wizards’ formidable starting five while averaging 11.9 points and 11.4 rebounds. Through the first 55 games, he collected 31 double-doubles. Then, the NBA hit the break. Once Washington returned to action, the season flipped for Gortat.

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Initially, Gortat found a way to laugh at his slump and during his most recent extended talk with local media on March 4, he ticked off the litany of forgettable moments in a “bad week.”

“First of all, get two Shaqtin-A-Fools,” Gortat said at the time, referencing a play in which he deflected a pass into the opposing team’s basket and another when he took a John Wall pass to his face. “Then my shots get blocked left and right.

“Balls are going away from me on the rebounds. I can’t get a rebound. It was a bad week, man. It was a bad week.”

However, that “bad week” spiraled into something more. Since returning from the all-star break, Gortat, who turned 33 on Feb. 17, has collected just four double-doubles while experiencing nearly a 12-point dip in his shooting percentage. On Tuesday against the Lakers, Gortat was sent tumbling to the ground after getting a shot blocked by 20-year-old rookie Ivica Zubac. Then Wednesday against the Clippers, Gortat missed four shots in or around the paint, including a dunk in the first quarter that led to an uncontested, one-man fast break for Blake Griffin.

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“I think for us to have success going forward, I guess he just needs to refocus himself and consciously look at what he’s struggling with,” Smith said, suggesting Gortat break down game footage with coaches. “But I’m sure we’ll get him back on the right track.”

Throughout the Wizards’ season, players have shuffled in and out of the rotation. Trey Burke, Tomas Satoransky and Sheldon Mac all know what it’s like to find daylight on the court only to return to the bench for long stretches as the team has rolled on. However, Gortat becomes the first Wizards’ starter to find himself in this position. The “options” that Brooks alluded to have kept the Wizards on track despite the center’s struggles.

While Gortat has taken a step back, Mahinmi has strengthened his game, recovering from previous knee ailments to provide a defensive centerpiece for the second unit and is now a viable option to run with the starters. On Wednesday, Mahinmi finished as one of two Wizards to produce a positive plus/minus number.

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In a recent Twitter reply to a fan, Gortat bristled at the suggestion of Mahinmi taking over his role.

Another big, Smith, who spread the floor with four three-pointers against the Clippers, has provided consistent energy off the bench as a power forward and center. Even Markieff Morris can play the five when the Wizards elect to go small, just as he did last Saturday night in the fourth quarter when the Wizards outscored the Cavaliers, 31-24, and won. These “options” mean the Wizards don’t have to depend solely on Gortat. Even so, players recognize the need to boost up their teammate.

“I think it’s tough because we play small a lot and he’s not in the rotation a lot. That probably bothers but we’re definitely going to need him,” Bradley Beal said. “We need his energy, we need his confidence back up high. I think he’ll be fine.”

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“He needs to realize we need him down the stretch. He’s very important to this team,” Beal continued. “He holds a lot of value on both ends of the floor. I think once he gets a little more confidence in himself, he’ll be okay.”