<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Orlando Magic have decided to sign center Marcin Gortat, a second-round draft pick in 2005 who has played the last two seasons in Europe. Gortat, who played well on the Magic's Summer League team earlier this month, would become just the third player from Poland to ever play in the NBA. Gortat, 23, is a 6-foot-11, 240-pound center who is expected to provide depth in the frontcourt and ease the loss of free agent Darko Milicic, who left the Magic recently to sign with the Memphis Grizzlies. In five Summer League games, Gortat averaged 10 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks. He has played the past two seasons in Germany, along with playing for the Polish National team. He originally was a second-round pick by Phoenix, then traded to the Magic on draft night of 2005. "We've decided to keep him here instead of sending him back to Europe again," Magic General Manager Otis Smith said. "We think he'll develop faster here, and we want to see what he can do for us. We think he can become an NBA player." The Magic also have decided to keep power forward James Augustine for a second season and bring him to training camp. They have an option to void at least part of the second year of his contract if they waived him by Aug. 1, but they have decided against exercising that option. He was a second-round pick in 2006 out of Illinois.</div> Source: Orlando Sentinel
No surprise, and I'm looking forward to see how he pans out. From what Voodoo posted a while back, I'm anxious to see him in action alongside Dwight: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">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>
Good news and no surprise. We need depth at PF/C so badly that he will likely be the 1st guy off the bench.
Does anyone know if hes any good though? Or are we over hyping him because we havent seen him since '05?
<div class="quote_poster">The Walrus Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Does anyone know if hes any good though? Or are we over hyping him because we havent seen him since '05?</div> He put up 10 and 6 with 2-3 blocks in the summer league and looked very impressive during it. I'm not saying that he can do that in the NBA or anything, but it's always nice to have another big body that isn't afraid of banging with others. He's about as unknown as we're going to get, but we really don't have a choice looking at our roster, do we? I think he would be best suited right now as the 4th big that got 10 mins or so a game, but hopefully he can prove me wrong, because right now he's battling Augustine for the first backup spot.
You really can't go by summer league but this guy is gonna be a solid backup for us. He's pretty damn good and it's about time he makes the team. FINALLY!!!