<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">After a long talk with Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith Monday afternoon prior to the Pepsi Pro Summer League tipping off, here?s what I?ve learned: Magic assistant general manager Dave Twardzik is handling all the negotiations between Orlando and Marc Cornstein, the agent for free agent Darko Milicic. Twardzik is in Las Vegas, scouting the 20-team summer league there. Cornstein is also in Vegas, pitching Milicic?s availability to NBA executives there. Smith said that the 7-foot Serbian is still very much a candidate to return to the Magic even though Cornstein blasted the organization last week for being so slow in their courtship of the 22-year-old power forward/center. =========== The Magic could still work a sign-and-trade with Milicic so that they could get some compensation in return for the shot-swatting center. The problem, however, is that few teams are willing to offer Milicic more than a starting salary of $5.5 million. If he wants that kind of pay he can sign with any team because he?s already an unrestricted free agent. Milicic?s best bet for getting more than the mid-level exception ($5.5 million) is to return to the Magic, who must clear the cap room first or sign with the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis, which is approximately $10 million under the salary cap, has made contact with Milicic?s camp, but might prefer Cleveland center Anderson Varejao. =========== Smith said sign-and-trade negotiations with the Seattle SuperSonics are going slowly, with the Sonics balking at taking back any of the Magic?s three expiring contracts (Carlos Arroyo, Pat Garrity and Keyon Dooling). Whether a deal gets done or not, the Magic will sign Rashard Lewis on Wednesday to a contract worth at least $87 million. Both the Magic and Sonics are hoping to get a deal done so that Orlando can clear up cap room to re-sign Milicic, and Seattle would like to get some compensation for losing Lewis. Orlando?s willingness to throw in first and second-round draft picks could be the make-or-break issue in getting a sign-and-trade deal finalized. ============== Sacramento has called about the availability of Magic small forward Hedo Turkoglu, ``but so have 28 other teams,?? Smith said. ``They see what we?ve done in free agency and they wonder if Turk is available,?? he said. Know this: Smith was the Magic executive who encouraged the Turkoglu signing three years ago, and he?s his biggest fan in the organization. A potential deal for Sacramento?s Ron Artest isn?t likely to happen, not for Turkoglu, at least. ================ Negotiations with point guard Jameer Nelson on his contract extension are in the infancy stages. Whereas Dwight Howard will assuredly sign his five-year, $85.9 million contract extension this week, Nelson?s extension could go all the way up to the Oct. 31 deadline. To say there is some difference of opinion on his true value would be putting it mildly. =============== Travis Diener, one of the star?s of the Summer League for the Magic last July, isn?t playing for Orlando or any other team this summer. He is a free agent this summer, so he isn?t about to risk injury without a contract in hand. --- John Denton, FLORIDA TODAY</div> Source: John Denton, Florida Today
That's interesting. The most interesting thing in my opinion is the amount of interest in Turkoglu. If the right deal comes along, I could see Otis pulling the trigger. I'd like to keep Hedo though because he flourishes in the sixth man role which is likely what he'll be playing this year.
This article didn't really say much that hasn't already been said. What is interesting, though, is the Turkeyglue part. "So have 28 other teams."
28 other teams?? As much as I always say he's inconsistent, he's still good. Unless Otis Smith gets a pretty good offer for him.
Im not sure if its smart for Diener to miss out on the summer camp. Because I'm not sure if teams remember that he avergaed 20 ppg and 7 apg last year.
