Bass signs a 4-year deal with Orlando.

[Martti.]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4319818

I like this for the Magic. I think he's an upgrade from Gortat, as Bass can also be effective on offense. And he's only 23.

So the Magic got Carter+Anderson(hot in summer league. )+Bass and lost Turkoglu, Lee, Gortat(most likely gone) and Alston.

[kibaxx7]

Yeah, with Bass signing, it just impossible for Orlando to resign Gortat. It's like a Gortat-Bass trade.

[jonthefon]

Rumours are that Otis Smith is considering matching for Gortat. Seems like a dick move, since Dallas probably included Orlando in the deal and helped them secure a trade exception as an under the table agreement to not match, but I see it as a bluff to try and pry a guy away from Dallas in a S&T. Don't think they'll commit so much to a backup PF and a backup C.

[The X]

Rumours are that Otis Smith is considering matching for Gortat. Seems like a dick move, since Dallas probably included Orlando in the deal and helped them secure a trade exception as an under the table agreement to not match, but I see it as a bluff to try and pry a guy away from Dallas in a S&T. Don't think they'll commit so much to a backup PF and a backup C.

If Mavs were really that stupid, that don't deserve Gortat. In the end, I think they'll let Gortat go & sign a cheaper big man. The fact is the backup centre gets PT in Orlando unless there is an injury anyways. Bass will fill backup PF (& occasionally undersized backup C spot).

Frontcourt is looking pretty solid with Howard, Bass, Lewis, Anderson & Pietrus swinging between the 2 & the 3. Just need to add a backup centre (if they pay for Gortat, then they got it sorted).

Overall, team is looking good to compete for the next few years. Let's see if Cleveland can actually sign a forward that can defend the perimeter or Orlando will rip them up again.

[Modifly]

Wow.. another good move by Orlando.

[Angelo]

This would certainly toughen up their inside game Bass is not that tall but he's certainly a strong guy for his size cant wait to see the the upcoming season now

[dopeboy]

Since Bass is going to be a starter and Lewis and Carter will play on the wings, Orlando doesn't have matchup advantage over Cleveland anymore. Next season it will be quite interesting to see these two teams playing.

[Modifly]

Since Bass is going to be a starter

He will? Then their lineup will go like this?

C - Howard
PF - Bass
SF - Lewis
SG - Carter
PG - Nelson

[dopeboy]

Yes, at least, from what I've heard.

[benji]

Good thing they can't change their lineup to face a specific team or anything. Once you pick that lineup for the regular season, there's certainly no changing it.

[dopeboy]

Yes, they can't. But seriously, Cavs have Shaq and Parker now, so they would be succesful against Orlando's smaller line up as well, especially without Turkoglu. Not that he was that good, but West won't have to defend a guy who's 6 or 7 inches taller than him.

[benji]

The Cavs have bigger problems than that, such as losing their "head coach." (At least if every single timeout was any indication.)

To be serious, Orlando can still stretch the Cavs who will still lose defensively if forced to go small. (Which is amusing since their individual defense might be best in smaller players, but their system was not based around this. Same reason the Celtics were hurt by their loss of bigs to injury.) Parker makes it so LeBron can play PF (and specifically Lewis, who he will not have to chase around defensively) and the team not be hurt as much. That was the way to do it last year, but the Cavs were too afraid of Howard. And when they finally tried it, Howard went off and dropped 40 on them.

That said, I loved the arms race a year ago in the West (and continuing to an extent) and the one in the East is just as good. Fuck those shit teams at the bottom of the conferences. (Like say the Pistons?) The Conference Finals need to be battles to the death.

[dopeboy]

Good point about departure of so called ''head coach''. I can't disagree about Conference Finals too. They and the race before playoffs were extremely exciting last year.

[Martti.]

I think it will be like this :

C - Dwight
PF - Rashard.
SF - Pietrus.
SG - Carter.
PG - Nelson.
------------
Bass, Johnson, Foyle.

[Angelo]

Nah i think it would be better if pietrus would just come off the bench and defend the best player of the teams that they will face

[Andrew]

I also like the signing for the Magic, seems a fair price for Bass whose numbers are at least decent given he only played around 20 minutes per game last year. Of note, he's an excellent free throw shooter for a big man.

[Fcuk Orlando]

I like Gortat, but Bass is a great player off the bench that has proven himself in the playoffs. I wish we could've kept both

[Brave Sir Rubin]

I love this sign as a Magic fan, not only because Bass' obvious raw athleticism and physical game, but also because it pushes Lewis to the 3 where he can be a whole lot more effective.

Now all we need is a minimum contract big man and a minimum contract 3rd string pg and we a championship contender.

[Andrew]

I like Gortat, but Bass is a great player off the bench that has proven himself in the playoffs. I wish we could've kept both

They could still keep Gortat if they're willing to fork out the money. Time's running out but I believe they've still got a chance to match the offer sheet.

[MikeMan™]

Orlando will never be back at the Finals next year . . .
No more Hedo , no more 3 pt. shooting 4's ( PF's ) , weaker PG back-up , less length , less shooters , less height and less everything . . .

[Andrew]

They still have Rashard Lewis and the newly acquired Vince Carter, not to mention that the offseason is only just beginning.

[shadowgrin]

lol at Orlando potentially fucking over Dallas twice by prying Bass away from them and if they manage to keep Gortat away from the Mavs.

[Martti.]

No more Hedo , no more 3 pt. shooting 4's ( PF's ) , weaker PG back-up , less length , less shooters , less height and less everything . . .

- Hedo never played PF, Rashard is a PF and shoots threes, perhaps even better then Hedo.
- Anthony Johnson was no.1 back-up all the time. Nelson and Alston only played together a couple of games in the Finals. Johnson still got his minutes and played well.
- Losing 4 inches for the SG spot is affordable. Carter is 6'6.

[Alejandrov011]

Since Bass is going to be a starter and Lewis and Carter will play on the wings, Orlando doesn't have matchup advantage over Cleveland anymore. Next season it will be quite interesting to see these two teams playing.

Watch out Ryan Anderson.

[dopeboy]

The fact he's playing well in the Summer League, doesn't mean anything (yet). I don't see him getting more than 15-20 minutes per game next season, maybe even less. He has shown some potential though, but I think it's too early to talk about getting decent playing time.