Bleacher Report - Articles by Mike Elton

Marcin Gortat Forced To Believe in Magic

Mike Elton — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:40:55 -0400

Marcin Gortat, a restricted free agent in the 2009 offseason, signed an offer sheet to be a Dallas Maverick for the coming season. Too bad that didn't dictate where he was going.

It is reported that the Orlando Magic have matched the Dallas Mavericks' deal of a five-year, $34 million contract to bring him back in a Magic uniform for the following season. Gortat would come in to be behind Dwight Howard on the depth chart, an insurance policy if anything happens to the All-Star Howard.

The 25-year-old Gortat provided a very solid backup to Dwight Howard last season, and the Magic would like to retain that same frontcourt depth. Coupled with the Carter trade and Bass signing, the Orlando Magic have made the biggest splash this free agent period.

This comes as very disappointing news to the Dallas Mavericks, as now they don't have a starting center and are forced to stay with Dampier as the staple of the defense.

Gortat had every aspect the Dallas Mavericks were looking for in a center: good hands, good size, great shot blocker, and decent offensive presence. Now they are left to waddle in their sorrows, because they just lost out on a good future center.

According to Gortat's agent, he is "very, very disappointed" to be coming to Orlando again, where he would get limited playing time and small opportunity to flourish, in contrast with Dallas, where he would have started alongside great players.

Gortat would have made a great fit in Dallas, and it would have raised their status in the West by a great margin. The choice to keep Gortat in Orlando by Otis Smith really comes to show you the NBA is a business; they don't care about how many minutes you play or how you do, they just care about their team's status.

Gortat is a harsh example of this. Well, at least he is paid and lives in Florida.

This decision to retain Gortat fortifies the Orlando Magic as elites in the Eastern Conference. This decision also comes at a cost. The Magic will have $80 million in salary, well above the luxury tax threshold, and coupled with their elite status on the court, they will be the Elites in highest payroll as well.

The Forgotten Summer: 2009 NBA Free Agent Rankings

Mike Elton — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:53:40 -0400

Overshadowed by the 2010 free agency, this summer's free agent pool is still deep, talented, and worth the money the teams might throw at it. July 1st, 2009 marks the beginning of this period, the opportunity for teams to fill holes, get better, and tighten the grip on their cap space. This summer, a plethora of good players will hit the free agent market, many seeking big deals in a depleted economy. Which players will get the deals? We will soon find out. Here are the rankings and predictions of the top 15 NBA free agents that are MOST LIKELY going to be available in the 2009 free agent pool... hence No Kobe Bryant.

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Kidd Back to the Mavs Inching Closer and Closer

Mike Elton — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:17:51 -0400

Thirty-six year old Jason Kidd wants to be on a playoff bound team next season. But at what price?

According to multiple reports Kidd wants roughly a 3 year/$24 million contract with a "contending" playoff team. That is a pretty hefty price to pay for any guy that averaged 9 points, 8.7 assists, and 6.4 rebounds in his previous season, not to mention a his age. That said, the Dallas Mavericks are reported to be ready to meet Kidd's contract demands and bring him back in a Mavs uniform for the 2009-2010 season.

The Mavericks need a starting point and Kidd still has many talents in him—a good leader, good passer, quick hands, and a good three-point shooter. But is he worth $8 million a year? I don't think so.

What Does This Mean For the Mavs?

It means they are going to invest $8 million in cap space for an aging turtle on his career decline. Committing to Kidd would put the Mavericks in a good situation temporarily, but would it help them two years down the road? Kidd already has trouble guarding quick point guards and the Western Conference has a plethora of them.

My Prediction on What Happens If They Sign Kidd

The Mavs are going to give a Kidd $8 million a year to be a quick fix. My prediction is the Mavs will draft another guard. Either the draft pick or JJ Barea will take the PG starting job. This reminds me of when Jerry Stackhouse wanted a high-mid level contract on his career fall and the Mavericks gave him what he wanted. Now Mr. Stack is being really good at one thing...he's a great trade asset, which I think Kidd is going to be reduced to in the coming years.

Although the Mavericks desperation for an accomplished point has blinded them from reality, signing Kidd wouldn't hurt the Mavericks, but would absolutely hinder them for a shot at these budding point guards whom I believe are better options then a 36-year-old Kidd.

Other Point Guard Options

Ramon Sessions, restricted free agent: Sessions showed really good signs of a legitimate starting point guard towards the end of season. He can shoot, penetrate, and create his own shot, hence the Bucks hesitation to trade him. Even though he has a lot of room to let his game grow, I think he can do that as a starting point guard for the Dallas Mavericks.

With the draft coming up, Milwauke's chance of drafting a young point guard is pretty high, which relinquishes their big need to try to resign Sessions. Perfect opportunity for the Mavericks at this point to sign him at the MLE.

Terrence Williams, draftee: I think Terrence Williams is one of the few players in the draft that can have immediate impact on a team. If something happens and the Mavericks are forced to stand pat at 22, T Williams will most likely be up on the board and if the Mavericks grab him, he can backup Barea long enough to let his game expand and absorb the starting point guard spot.

Sergio Rodriguez, backup point guard for Portland Trail Blazers: You might look at this option and laugh really really really hard... but multiple reports have it that the Blazers are too interested in signing Kidd (they can offer him more money than the Mavs) and if they do, they won't have the need to have a third point guard, so their best option is to trade him. I think Rodriguez has similar skill set as Kidd and can very well run a team. S-Rod can shoot, pass, and penetrate with the same effectiveness of the naive 36-year-old Kidd.

Although I would rather have a young Rodriguez than an aged gorilla in Kidd, he too, I think, will eventually be a quick fix... but a very cheap one. He makes $1.6 million a season and the Blazers will happily trade him for someone like Shawn Williams (of the Mavs) who makes roughly the same amount of money. A $1.6 million a year point guard versus an $8 million a year point guard who possess the same skills set as each other— hm, with this economy I would rather pay the $1.6 mill.

Saving the best for last...

Raymond Felton, restricted free agent: I think the Mavericks should use the money they would pay Kidd and spend it on something useful. During the regular season, the Dallas Mavericks tried to get him via trade but here they can get their second chance in free agency. The Mavericks need for a starting point coupled with Charlotte's need of financial relief could prove dividends for the Mavs, this could be the their best chance of getting a legit young point guard.

Felt is a budding star in this league. He has all the intangibles the Mavericks are looking for. During the end of the season when the Bobcats where making a playoff run, he provided great leadership and made everyone around him better. If the Mavs don't sign Kidd, Felton is by far the best remaining option.

Although there are many other point guard options out there in the league, I have listed just a few, but a few I think are realistic and inexpensive if the Mavericks were to venture to put any of these players in a blue, white, and green Uniform in the 09-10 season.