<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Detroit's decision to fight for the right to retain Mehmet Okur will not stall the Jazz's pursuit of the Pistons' big man. Citing only an unidentified "league source," ESPN.com reported late Friday night that "the Pistons have offered . . . Okur a six-year, $40 million contract to stay in Detroit." The Detroit Free Press, citing only "a source familiar with Okur's situation" who spoke Friday night, reported Saturday morning that "the Pistons have not made an official offer." But, the Free Press also reported, "the 7-footer's representative, Marc Fleisher, realizes that a six-year contract worth nearly $41 million is all the Pistons can offer at this point in the negotiations." Offer or not ? the difference may only be a matter of semantics ? it seems clear now that Detroit does indeed want to keep Okur, a 25-year-old Turk who went from starter to bench warmer as the Pistons chased and won an NBA championship this past season. It's known the Jazz are both willing and able, however, to trump the kind of money the Pistons purportedly are prepared to pay Okur over the next six seasons. That offer from Utah could come soon, if it hasn't already. Because Okur is a restricted free agent who has played just two seasons for the Pistons, Detroit cannot match any offers that exceed so-called midlevel exception money ? a contract, up to six years, that starts at about $5 million next season. That puts the Jazz in great position to land Okur, perhaps their top target of the summer shopping market. There is, however, other competition.</div> Full Article
