http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/bask...story?track=rss <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">A good performance this week at the Pepsi Summer League should at least earn him a contract and an invitation to training camp. "You could do a lot worse than Marcin Gortat," Magic General Manager Otis Smith said. "He's a talented big, agile and athletic. And he can rebound. He has a good chance.'' "I'm more experienced now. I didn't have that when I was drafted. I didn't have much of a game then. I was mostly potential,'' Gortat said. "Now I'm ready to play in this league. That's what I'm here for.'' Gortat had a game-high 12 rebounds and 10 points [in the Magic's first summer league game]. He didn't waste any time showing some of his skills. On the Magic's first offensive possession, he hustled around his defender to grab an offensive rebound, then got a quick assist for the first Magic score. A few minutes later he outran the opposing center -- and almost everyone else on the floor -- for a fast-break layup and 3-point play. There still isn't much polish to his game offensively, and he still needs more muscle, but his talents are obvious. He moves more quickly than most centers in the NBA. "I can bring my energy, and I can do that well. My hustle is how I scored most of my points in Europe,'' he said. "I've got a lot to learn, but I'm excited to learn it.'' They look even thinner now that Milicic has become an unrestricted free agent, unlikely to return. "Last year, it was hard, painful, a little weird for a guy playing well -- at least thinking he played well -- then be told he wasn't ready,'' Gortat said. "But I've learned from that experience. I've prepared myself differently, and I hope to stay this time.'' Unlike Fran Vazquez, the Magic's first-round draft pick from 2005, Gortat's contract in Europe for next season has an easy-out clause that releases him if he can land a spot in the NBA.</div>
Nice 10 and 12, sounds like a keeper. Sign him for the MLE, he deserves it.....Why do the magic go after these no name guys in the last few days?
And now he is gunna make the team? I don't think so. He sounds like a player who you think will be good. Will start to get played a bit, and not be. I think the magic need to get some guys they know are good and not some random PG with an eye patch and this guy.
<div class="quote_poster">Master Shake Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">And now he is gunna make the team? I don't think so. He sounds like a player who you think will be good. Will start to get played a bit, and not be. I think the magic need to get some guys they know are good and not some random PG with an eye patch and this guy.</div> This guy is pretty solid. Granted it is summer league but still he's produced good #s.
<div class="quote_poster">CLos Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">This guy is pretty solid. Granted it is summer league but still he's produced good #s.</div> I could produce solid summer league numbers. This means nothing, and I know you know that. He will not average 10 & 10 in the NBA, if he has tried for the summer league team 3 years in a row and never made it. I guarantee he will get owned in the NBA. Right now, even the top picks are playing bad, but we know they are better. We don't know how good this guy is, and I highly doubt he will get better. He puts up better numbers then Durant right now, does this mean he is better, no. I say if he plays well, get him on the team. However, even if he does make the team, I think he'll get released half way through, or let go at the end of the season.
<div class="quote_poster">Master Shake Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I could produce solid summer league numbers. This means nothing, and I know you know that. He will not average 10 & 10 in the NBA, if he has tried for the summer league team 3 years in a row and never made it. I guarantee he will get owned in the NBA. Right now, even the top picks are playing bad, but we know they are better. We don't know how good this guy is, and I highly doubt he will get better. He puts up better numbers then Durant right now, does this mean he is better, no. I say if he plays well, get him on the team. However, even if he does make the team, I think he'll get released half way through, or let go at the end of the season.</div> Thats kinda contradicting one minute you say anyone can do good in the summer league but the next you say even the best players (Durant, Oden) are playing bad. It may be the summer league but there are still nba players the talent is there. I'm not saying this guy will be a superstar or anything but looking at our current Pf situation if Darko signs elsewhere, could this guy really hurt? to me he sounds like a Anderson Verejo type player and probly an upgrade over Bo Outlaw.
<div class="quote_poster">Master Shake Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">We don't know how good this guy is, and I highly doubt he will get better.</div> Actually, he's not the unknown you make him out to be. He was drafted by the Magic in 2005 (#57). He was actually picked right before Uros Slokar of the Raptors. DraftExpress Profile <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Strengths Marcin Gortat’s main value rests in the fact that he’s one of the most athletic and physically mature big men out of Europe. The Polish is a legit seven footer who enjoys excellent mobility. For a guy his size, it’s remarkable how he runs the floor. He has a nice vertical, with decent timing, and shows good reactivity and quickness in his movements. Perhaps the most uncommon thing about him, considering where he’s coming from, is that he’s a pretty strong guy. He isn’t huge, but he has quite a good frame and a nice body. Therefore, he has the tools to become a really interesting defender. His mobility translates quite well into lateral defensive quickness, clearly with above average results among centers. He’s strong enough to be capable of holding on his position in the low post, while he has the athleticism and length to intimidate around the basket, as well as grab a good amount of rebounds. On the offensive end, he’s usually searching for open looks to finish near the basket. He can also score on fast breaks plays and off of offensive rebounds. In the low post, with enough space and time, he can try some unorthodox back-to-the-basket movement, with mixed results. Gortat seems to have a good attitude, displaying nice activity in his game, which is a pleasant characteristic in a big guy like him. </div> Actually, I did a quick search on this site, and Chad Ford (ESPN Insider) had him early in the second round in his final mock, saying that his only downside was that he'd probably play in Europe for a year or two and develop. Well, it's a year or two later now, so it's only right that he comes over. From a 2005 Insider article ranking the top international prospects - <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> 11. Mickael Gelabale, 6-7, SF, 22, France 12. Thabo Sefalosha, 6-6, SG/SF, 21, Switzerland 13. Marcin Gortat, 7-0, C, 21, Poland He is an excellent athlete for a player his size. He has quality strength and jumping ability, winning the dunk contest at last year's Reebok Eurocamp by taking off past the foul line. Gortat is raw offensively but active on both boards because he plays hard. He is shooting over 70 percent this season for Rhein Energy Koln in the German Bundesliga but under 50 percent from the free-throw line.</div> Not only is he a legitimate 7'0", but he tested as the most athletic center in the 2005 Predraft Camp as well. He's the type of player who can dunk from just inside the foul line, but he also finished fifth in the bench press test, right behind the likes of Joey Graham, Ike Diogu, and Chuck Hayes. Not too bad for a no name.
Thanks for the analysis Voodoo. I was skeptical at first, but after reading that, this kid would definitely be worth a try. It's better than resigning Bo Outlaw or giving Garrity time, that's for sure. EDIT: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><font color=""Red"">Weaknesses</font> Gortat’s offensive game screams raw at any level you look at it. He doesn’t display any single consistent scoring weapon. He has no jumper to speak of and he’s not a factor in the low post, lacking the footwork and skills to get the job done on a regular basis. He has no baby hook to help himself in the paint having opposition, and he barely uses his left hand. While he is quite an athletic player, he really has no way to show that on the offensive end beyond catching the ball in the post (if he can find his way to the right spot) and leaving his feet quickly to dunk it. Watching him, it’s pretty obvious that the game doesn’t come easy to him. That’s why it’s rather difficult to picture him developing his offensive game to a good enough degree to become something more than a garbage man. On defense, he has yet to fill his potential. He needs to improve his man to man defense, which is not just a matter of following one’s matchup, but also about being aggressive on him not letting him operate comfortably. He’s sometimes pushed around because of this certain lack of aggressiveness. His positioning on team defense could use some work too. He can also be very foul prone, being tricked easily into leaving his feet and being over eager to help his team out and leaving his man wide open for a rebound, easy basket or both. His basketball IQ doesn’t look particularly good. It’s not that he looks lost on the court, but neither he seems too bright playing the game. His passing game is rather poor. </div> He sounds like a big time project with those weaknesses.
<div class="quote_poster">The One & Only Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">He sounds like a big time project with those weaknesses.</div> Those weaknesses mostly have to do with his lack of experience, but that profile was written two years ago. He's had two years of experience with RheinEnergie K?ln in Basketball Bundesliga, the German big leagues, since that was written.
<div class="quote_poster">Master Shake Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I could produce solid summer league numbers. This means nothing, and I know you know that. He will not average 10 & 10 in the NBA, if he has tried for the summer league team 3 years in a row and never made it. I guarantee he will get owned in the NBA. Right now, even the top picks are playing bad, but we know they are better. We don't know how good this guy is, and I highly doubt he will get better. He puts up better numbers then Durant right now, does this mean he is better, no. I say if he plays well, get him on the team. However, even if he does make the team, I think he'll get released half way through, or let go at the end of the season.</div> Who said he would get 10 and 10 and start? Why all the hate for him? Have you even seen the dude play? Like Voodoo said we wanted to let him develop more overseas. At best he is fighting for the main backup big role(if we don't get Darko), but more than likely he is fighting for the 4th big spot, which won't be an impact player.
