Related News
Home 禄 Sports 禄 Basketball
Magic to break bank to keep Turk
HEDO Turkoglu emptied his locker, shook hands with teammates and walked out of the Orlando Magic's practice facility on Tuesday. The Magic are optimistic it wasn't the last time.
Chief operating officer Alex Martins said the team was prepared to go over the luxury tax for the first time in its history, perhaps giving the Magic the space they need to re-sign the soon-to-be free agent Turkoglu and remain a contender to return to the NBA finals.
"The luxury tax won't be a hindrance," Martins said.
Turkoglu, Orlando's starting forward and a key component to its Eastern Conference title, reiterated on Tuesday that he's planning to opt out of the last year of his contract to become a free agent on July 1.
The Turk would make about US$7.3 million next season in the final year of a US$36 million, six-year deal.
"Opting out doesn't mean I'm going to leave," he said. "I'm looking for the best opportunity for myself and my family. I hope everything will work out for both sides and I stay here because I became Turkoglu here. It's a good time for me to make a decision, and hopefully everything will work out and I'll be in a Magic jersey."
Backup Polish center Marcin Gortat will be looking for a pay raise. He will be a restricted free agent and likely get a contract worth well more than the US$770,00 he made this season, making it difficult for Orlando to retain him and Turkoglu.
Free-agent market
Magic General Manager Otis Smith said he's prepared to let Turkoglu and Gortat explore the free-agent market before making an offer. "You're not going to buy a house without appraising it first," Smith said. "Appraise it."
Orlando has made no secret that re-signing Turkoglu is its biggest goal this offseason.
The 2.09-meter forward provides all kinds of matchup problems for opponents. His rare combination of size and ball skills have made him the player Orlando runs its offense through when it counts.
But it will be difficult to re-sign him because Orlando is hampered with big contracts to its All-Star core of Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis, who will be entering the third year of his US$118 million, six-year deal.
(Agencies)
Chief operating officer Alex Martins said the team was prepared to go over the luxury tax for the first time in its history, perhaps giving the Magic the space they need to re-sign the soon-to-be free agent Turkoglu and remain a contender to return to the NBA finals.
"The luxury tax won't be a hindrance," Martins said.
Turkoglu, Orlando's starting forward and a key component to its Eastern Conference title, reiterated on Tuesday that he's planning to opt out of the last year of his contract to become a free agent on July 1.
The Turk would make about US$7.3 million next season in the final year of a US$36 million, six-year deal.
"Opting out doesn't mean I'm going to leave," he said. "I'm looking for the best opportunity for myself and my family. I hope everything will work out for both sides and I stay here because I became Turkoglu here. It's a good time for me to make a decision, and hopefully everything will work out and I'll be in a Magic jersey."
Backup Polish center Marcin Gortat will be looking for a pay raise. He will be a restricted free agent and likely get a contract worth well more than the US$770,00 he made this season, making it difficult for Orlando to retain him and Turkoglu.
Free-agent market
Magic General Manager Otis Smith said he's prepared to let Turkoglu and Gortat explore the free-agent market before making an offer. "You're not going to buy a house without appraising it first," Smith said. "Appraise it."
Orlando has made no secret that re-signing Turkoglu is its biggest goal this offseason.
The 2.09-meter forward provides all kinds of matchup problems for opponents. His rare combination of size and ball skills have made him the player Orlando runs its offense through when it counts.
But it will be difficult to re-sign him because Orlando is hampered with big contracts to its All-Star core of Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis, who will be entering the third year of his US$118 million, six-year deal.
(Agencies)
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔$粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.