Reply With Quote
Scouting summer leaguers, talking to free agents, or negotiating trades with other team's management.
Magic's Ariza draws interest from several other NBA teams
BY JOHN DENTON
FLORIDA TODAY
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbc...607110331/1002
MAITLAND - -- Already locked in a heated free-agent contract battle with DeShawn Stevenson, the Orlando Magic could be headed toward another contentious negotiation with small forward Trevor Ariza.
Ariza, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound small forward, is garnering what his agent calls "substantial interest" from several NBA teams, making his return to the Magic anything but a guarantee.
Since Ariza is a restricted free agent, Orlando has the right to match any offer he receives. But Magic general manager Otis Smith continues to insist that he isn't about to overpay.
The Magic acquired Ariza, 21, in February from the New York Knicks in the Steve Francis trade. In 21 games with the Magic, he made quite an impression, showing flashes of star potential at times. He averaged 4.7 points and 3.9 rebounds with Orlando, hitting double-digits in scoring four times.
His play apparently didn't go unnoticed around the NBA. Ariza's agent, David Lee, said Denver, Houston, Sacramento and New York have expressed interest in offering Ariza a contract. Knicks general manager/coach Isiah Thomas also is a big fan and inquired Monday about Ariza's availability, Lee said.
Teams and players can't officially sign deals until Wednesday. If Ariza signs an offer sheet with a team, Orlando would have 10 days to match the offer or allow him to leave.
Lee said he hopes it doesn't come to that because Ariza wants to return to Orlando. Ariza, who played for the NBA minimum last season, likely is seeking a deal worth more than $3 million a season. Stevenson is asking for a deal in excess of $4.5 million a season for five years.
"Otis and I have had a number of conversations, and he's aware of the substantive interest in Trevor," Lee said. "We hope that we can do this without pushing the envelope."
Lee said Ariza has been working out twice a day for the past two months, claiming the 200-pound small forward has added nine pounds of muscle. He also has worked hard to shore up his one glaring weakness -- his wayward jump shot.
Said Lee: "He's a jump shot away from being an All-Star." Gortat a keeper? The Magic have made no secret of their desire to add another big man to their roster before training camp in October. That player, 6-foot-10, 240-pound Polish center Marcin Gortat, might be right under their noses.
Gortat was impressive in his summer-league debut Monday night, scoring 15 points, grabbing seven rebounds and swatting three shots. Gortat, who played professionally in Germany this past season, hopes to impress the Magic enough to get a guaranteed contract.
"That's why I'm here, why I've been working the past 10 months," Gortat said. "This is the moment I've been waiting for. I was determined not to let anybody push me around and be strong with my moves."
Gortat was certainly strong in the fourth quarter, hammering in a thunderous dunk to keep the Magic close before they lost 86-82 to the New Jersey Nets. Gortat said he has one year remaining on his contract in Germany, but the buyout is believed to be within reason if the Magic choose to bring him over to the NBA this season. Short stuff. Indiana small forward Danny Granger, one of the players Orlando passed on in last year's draft to select Fran Vazquez, looked like the best player on the floor at times Monday. He scored 12 points, most coming on strong post-up moves against smaller defenders. . . . Sean May, another player the Magic bypassed, showed off the work he has done this offseason by hitting several jumpers. May's range even extended to the 3-point line, where he made 1-of-2 tries from beyond the arc. May might spend some time at small forward in some situations when he plays alongside Emeka Okafor. Said May, who missed most of his rookie season with a knee injury: "I'm just trying to extend my game and show that I'm not just a back-to-the-basket player."
May's former college teammate, Raymond Felton, made a surprise appearance Monday and played 18 minutes for the Bobcats. Felton, an all-rookie performer this past season, scored nine points and handed out four assists. . . . San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, Indiana All-Star Jermaine O'Neal and Orlando small forward Hedo Turkoglu attended Monday's games.
Scouting summer leaguers, talking to free agents, or negotiating trades with other team's management.
Pop's doin his homework.
Lamayn Wilson from the Spurs summer league roster is also on Miami's.
Sounds like he's too expensive for the Spurs.Ariza, who played for the NBA minimum last season, likely is seeking a deal worth more than $3 million a season.
Agreed, I don't see the Spurs as willing to pony up the minimum contract for a FA!Sounds like he's too expensive for the Spurs.
Erik Daniels had a standout streak in the second quarter of Orlando's game. Kinda good news on two points.
1) Pop saw the game, so he could tell if he has any potential.
2) If Daniels continues to impress, it might make it easier for Orlando to let Ariza go.
The bad news is Pop was probably there to work out a Barry for Hedo trade.
That's what I was thinking.
, I'd do it. At the very worst Hedo is a good rebounder.
i'd take that trade in a sec. and at least our overall age would go down lol
Hedo can be in there for defense the first 40 minutes of the game.
We can go with Finley in crunch time.
That 2003-04 Spurs team was damn good. Without .4, that might have gone down as the best Spurs team ever.
damn good?!?!?!?
Are we serious?
Better than 02 03?
I disagree.
I couldn't just say all is forgiven, but we have gotten 2 ty postseasons out of 3 from Horry and we're not kicking him to the curb.
And I do feel desperate about this long 3 situation.
Hedo killed us in the LA series 2 years ago, I can't be the only one who remembers this.
see above
We posted those simultaneously, he would have to come out at the end of games like you said. I believe he was the same way in Sac. if I remember correctly.
BTW, my 3rd PG choice Aaron Miles had a great game off the bench for Chicago against the Pacers at the Orlando SL.
23:25 min
4/5 FG
11/11 FT
3 REB
5 AST
1 TO
1 STL
2 PF
Sign him up.
of a clutch hitter.
Hedo killed us with his damn choking...but Hedo is tailor made to guard Dirk.
IF we still needed shooting I'd be hesitant about Hedo...not because he can't shoot, but because he chokes, but it's not the same need for us it used to be with the way the team is changing, and we have better shooting now anyway..
And Hedo choked against the Lakers...lots of our guys choked against the Lakers that didn't really choke against others...Phil Jackson is a genius at isolating the choker.
Taking all that into account...I'd take Hedo back in a heartbeat...he can guard Dirk, he can guard Artest, he can guard Amare, he can guard Bonzi and Lebron.
Hedo's a talented dude...it's just the perimeter choking that sucked.
Bring him back...beats the out of the other names I am seeing.
Plus...I miss Taruky and I know Shoogarbear and 50 cent do too...
Hedo might is a top five player in the league in terms of being able to guard Dirk. Pop used to put him on some players over Bowen and put Bowen on weaker players.
That is how good of a defender Pop thought he was.
The one thing we all agree on this summer....
Um..does Hedo have a no trade clause?
If not...it doesn't matter WTF Hedo wants.
Besides...his pay won't change.
IF it's the pressure of contending Hedo is afraid of...we just need him for D and to not be a moron on offense...which he isn't. His D didn't choke...
Hedo has every skill in the book...he's got them all, he's Robert Horry without clutchness. Again...as long as you don't have to count on him knocking down wide open shots down under pressure ...he's a fantastic player to have.
And yeah...I remember the way Pop used Hedo on D...Pop put him on LeBron and Artest over Bowen.
Hedo is a 6'10 dude capable of guarding 90% of the 2 guards in the league....that's exactly what you need to guard Dirk.
Hedo's remaining contract is only 4-year, $26M. That's about what the Spurs offered Joe Przybilla ... so money shouldn't be a problem.
It comes down to whether Orlando would take Brent Barry in a deal. And I guess they might, seeing as how Barry has a shorter contract and how Hedo was signed by the previous GM. When new GMs take over, they like to put their own stamp on the franchise (See: Ford for Villanueva).
But honestly, I don't think Orlando does it. Hedo was their best player at times last year and I just don't see them getting older as the thing they want to do.
You know it's a bad slow offseason when getting Hedo is a pipe dream.
I can see Barry having quite a bit of value to the Magic...their guard rotation is non existent.
He's can provide veteran leadership, mentor...and he can knock down shots.
Spurs fans will never admit it...but Barry was our guard rotation in the 05 Finals.
Barry's a good player and had we used him as a combo guard he'd have fit the team a lot better. I can see other teams being interested in him...just like the Spurs were. I will never understand exactly why Pop and RC expected Barry to be some kind of agressive bench scorer though...I don't know what games they were watching because Barry was never that at any point in his career.
Anyway...his deal expires in two years and he gives the Magic exactly what they need...veteran presence and shooting backing at the guard positions. That's the Magic #1 need.
And maybe the Magic realize Hedo isn't exactly about winning...
Say what you will about Barry again...but he came here to win, not get paid.
And I think Barry was about 8-8 on last second game winning and tying shots in his Spurs career.
Last edited by whottt; 07-11-2006 at 04:12 AM.
Whottt, do you still have any hope for Ariza or is the secret out?
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
