[外電] Mavs may be close to a big addition

[Paraguay (巴拉圭)]

Source: http://0rz.tw/ui4J7

*********************************************************************

Dallas Mavericks may be close to a big addition

10:56 PM CDT on Thursday, July 2, 2009 / By EDDIE SEFKO 

*********************************************************************

The Mavericks are on the verge of their first big free-agent strike of the
summer – emphasis on "big."

Marcin Gortat, the 6-11 center who helped Orlando reach the NBA Finals last
season, has been offered a contract by the Mavericks, multiple sources said
Thursday.

Gortat was expected to visit Dallas before the weekend, and the sources said
that the only thing that would prevent him from becoming a Maverick is if the
Magic match the offer, which is believed to be for the full mid-level
exception – about $5.5 million.

Free-agent agreements in principle can be reached anytime, but the actual
contracts cannot be signed until Wednesday.

Because Gortat is a restricted free agent, Orlando would have seven days to
match the Mavericks' offer. If it does, Gortat would be required to stay with
the Magic. However, if the contract were for five years, it would cost the
Magic more than $30 million. It's also possible the teams could orchestrate a
sign-and-trade.

Gortat averaged 3.8 points and 4.5 rebounds last season. But a glimpse of his
true value came in Game 6 of the Magic's first-round series against
Philadelphia, when Dwight Howard was suspended. In that game, Gortat played
40 minutes and had 11 points and 15 rebounds as the Magic closed out the
series.

During the regular season, he had four double-doubles, including a 13-point,
15-rebound effort in a March win over Chicago.

The 25-year-old Gortat, born in Poland, was the second-round draft choice
(57th overall) of Phoenix in 2005. The Suns traded him to Orlando for cash.

It's not a guarantee that Gortat will be a Maverick, because of the Magic's
right to match. But it does appear that the Mavericks have fended off teams
such as San Antonio and Houston, both of which made pitches to Gortat and his
agent.

One factor that probably is working in the Mavericks' favor is playing time.
In Orlando, he would never be more than a low-minute backup to Howard.

The Mavericks are believed to be trying to trade center Erick Dampier, who
has only one season left on his contract. Gortat would be able to step into a
major role immediately if Dampier were packaged in a trade with Jerry
Stackhouse or someone else.

Most experts around the NBA believe Gortat is ready for consistent playing
time and to perhaps be a starter on a top team.

The Mavericks could also elect to retain Dampier going into the season while
Gortat continues to develop and gets comfortable in coach Rick Carlisle's
system.

Briefly: It appears the Mavericks will go into the holiday weekend without
any clear picture of Jason Kidd's intentions. Kidd has met with Mark Cuban
and the New York Knicks. It is believed he has not had any substantive
meetings with Cleveland. Kidd has said he will weigh his options and could
make a decision next week. ... Brandon Bass continues to get lots of interest
leaguewide. Charlotte contacted Bass' agent Thursday, following San Antonio,
Orlando, the Mavericks and a few other teams Wednesday. ... Quinton Ross, the
former SMU and Kimball star, appears ready to sign a free-agent contract
Wednesday. Terms are not yet known.


MARCIN GORTAT
Age: 25

Ht./Wt.: 6-11, 240

NBA seasons: Two

Home country: Poland

Notable: Gortat became the first Polish-born player to appear in the NBA
Finals. ... He is the son of boxer Janusz Gortat, a two-time bronze medal
winner in the Summer Olympics.

--
Only the strong survive- Iverson    ⊕                 ═█┘
                        ⊕     ●╱    　　　          Ｗ
 ●     ●︵     ●    ●))     ３╯
<３\   /３⊕   ／３﹚   ３       \\
 />⊕   >/    ⊕ ╲>     >>
========= http://www.wretch.cc/blog/AWEI3  =========

--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) 
◆ From: 58.114.82.28
推 muyang1016  :大概就是Gortat和 Ross可能是新同學 然後Kidd下週
→ muyang1016  :會決定 然後Bass很紅 Damp可能要被交易這樣
推 liv225229   :感謝樓上的翻譯
推 familycut   :要Rose幹麻
推 wind91      :樓上,是Ross不是Rose喔~!
推 APUU        :如果能來Rose就爽翻天了 = =