Gortat Disappointed That Magic Might Match Mavs' Offer Sheet -- NBA FanHouse
This is getting interesting:
Gortat Disappointed That Magic Might Match Mavs' Offer Sheet -- NBA FanHouse
Gortat Disappointed That Magic Might Match Mavs' Offer Sheet -- NBA FanHouse
"I have a feeling now they (Magic) are going to match it,'' Gortat said Friday between Summer League Games. "That's what I'm hearing, they will match. We'll have to see, but I'm kind of down right now. Either way, I'll end up on a pretty good team.''
The Magic agreed to a four-year, $18 million deal with Bass, hoping he gives them more of a physical presence to complement a lineup mostly of shooters. It will allow Rashard Lewis to spend more time at his natural position of small forward.
Although Gortat's contract would seem excessive for a backup, the Magic still view him as an asset, and there are plenty of teams looking for centers. They would have to wait at least 90 days before they could trade him.
"I've said all along, I think the number (his contract) is a little high,'' Smith said. "But that doesn't change how we think. One thing (signing Bass) doesn't have anything to do with the other (matching Gortat). I'm still working on a few other things, and until those transpire, it's kind of premature to say what we're going to do.''
Smith still would like to add another wing player, another center/forward and a third point guard to the roster. Regardless of who else is signed, they still expect a starting lineup of Howard, Lewis, Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter and Mickael Pietrus.
"He (Smith) is like an iceberg,'' Gortat said. "You just never know about him. He can laugh. He can smile, and at the end of the day, it's no, no, no, they aren't going to match, and all of a sudden I'm finding out they might match.''
posted by WeRDevos @ 5:50 PM
11 Comments:
At 6:21 PM,
Matt said…
I think the idea of matching Gortat's offer is smart. Magic can always find a good trade for a competent center at a later time, that is if they so desire, since there are not too many of them around.
At 6:34 PM,
WeRDevos said…
Signing Bass solves everything but backup Center, although Bass played about a third of his minutes at C last year.
Right now, the front line rotation is something like:
Howard/Bass/Anderson
Bass/Lewis/Anderson
Lewis/Pietrus
or depending on what you hear
Howard/Bass/Anderson
Lewis/Bass/Anderson
Pietrus/Lewis
Either look pretty strong.
Signing Gortat just makes it all that much better for the rotation or a trade since more than half the league could use him. The problem is money, and Gortat would cost the Magic $11 million with the Luxury Tax.
At 1:39 PM,
Big Figure said…
I thought this was pretty funny. From bianchi over at the sentinel "Speaking of the Magic, when are you people going to start listening to me? I tried to tell you in Friday's column that Magic GM Otis Smith has earned your confidence and patience when it comes to building a championship-caliber team. Well, guess what? On Friday, Smith signed free agent Brandon Bass — the power forward he wanted all along. Bass, only 24, averaged 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in only 19 minutes per game last year in Dallas. Now think of his potential production as a starter next to Howard. Repeat after me: "In Otis we trust. ... In Otis we trust ... In Otis we trust." ... By the way, has anybody noticed how Smith has become the master of misleading the media? Which is why I wouldn't be shocked at all if he matches the Mavs' 5-year, $34 million offer and brings back backup center Marcin Gortat. I know it makes no sense, but Smith has publicly stated for several days now that he's not interested in paying big money ($6-7 million a year) for a backup center. Which means he'll probably pay big money for a backup center. Media members have learned in recent weeks to take what Otis says not with a grain of salt but with a shaker of it".
At 5:52 PM,
Mike from Illinois said…
Even though I don't always agree with Mike Bianchi, I thought that was a very good column on Otis Smith by Bianchi.
At 8:21 PM,
Matt said…
In Otis we trust? Besides being stupid that is blasphemy.
At 10:41 PM,
Mike from Illinois said…
Matt, somehow I had the feeling that you wouldn't like that Bianchi column on Otis Smith.
At 4:15 AM,
Mike from Illinois said…
WeRDevos, I'm sure you're rejoicing in the latest news about Grant Hill, that he is staying put in Phoenix.
Hill's deal is for two years, the second at his option, and he will be paid $3 million in the first year.
At 1:52 PM,
Big Figure said…
Yea mike rarely do i agree with bianchi,but that was pretty on point in my opinion.
At 4:37 PM,
Anonymous said…
Dallas fan here
$11 mm for a backup center is awfully pricey. Further, next yr, Gortat will be one year older, with limited minutes. Folks like him but also have questions regarding him making the leap to starter.
Next year the salary cap will be even less, reducing trade options even more.
Thinking for Orlando, I can go both ways on match or not match. Just depends on the owner's pocketbook and approach.
At 6:54 PM,
Mike from Illinois said…
Gortat is only 25, and won't turn 26 until next February.
At 11:14 PM,
Mark in Dallas said…
So let me get this straight...Dallas lets Orlando in on our trade to get Marion and gives Orlando a trade exception of 7 or 8 million and then on top of that we send cash to Orlando as well, Dallas then lets Bass go to sign with Orlando and doesn't put up a fight to keep him here in Dallas and you think you should match our offer to Gortat? Do you think Dallas would do all that and not have an assurance that Gortat would make it here to Dallas? C'mon people...think!!!
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