Rockets making a serious push for Gortat

[Modifly]

HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets launched an all-out bid to sign Polish center Marcin Gortat on Wednesday, including an offer for the Orlando Magic backup player.


Worried about the potential loss of All-Star center Yao Ming, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey showed up at Gortat's home in Orlando just after midnight local time, virtually the minute that NBA teams were officially allowed to begin negotiating with free agents.

Morey even announced the meeting on his Facebook page and urged fans to leave notes for Gortat at an e-mail address -- rocketsfanslovegortat(at)gmail.com. Morey said that within 10 minutes of his face-to-face meeting with Gortat, more than 100 e-mails had already arrived and the number climbed above 2,000 by noon Wednesday.

"He was reading them with some intensity," Morey said in a phone interview. "He was impressed by the number of messages and how much the fans seem to care about their team. I knew Rockets fans would come through."

Gortat's agent, Guy Zucker, said Morey even showed up in Orlando with a Rockets jersey with Gortat's name on it. He also said his client was interested in the Rockets.

"We had planned to meet teams later on in the process," Zucker said. "So this was a big surprise. The jersey with his name on it really caught him off-guard."

Morey said the Rockets made Gortat an offer, but would not divulge details.

Source: http://www.nba.com/2009/news/07/01/Rock ... index.html

And this is Rockets.com's edition: http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5800027750



It would be great for the Rockets if Gortat signs with them, but nevertheless he's a restricted free agent and Orlando will be able to match any offer he receives within 7 days if they wish to keep him. The Rockets' push to sign Gortat is likely influenced by the uncertainty of Yao Ming, but I believe Morey when he said that they had their eyes on Gortat for quite some times already because the Rockets were on a lookout for a backup center for a big while now. Mutombo will retire one day (and he already did following that career ending injury against Portland) and they cant rely on Yao to play the entire season without injury so it's pretty obvious that the Rockets have been looking for a center all along.

[Angelo]

i think jom this trade wont happen considering there are also some other teams that are also after that guy

[Modifly]

i think jom this trade wont happen

It's not a trade Kris, it's a free agent signing.

considering there are also some other teams that are also after that guy

I'm well aware of that, but not every GM goes knocking on the door of the players they want to sign. When that happens, it will definitely affect his decision. Should Gortat sign with the Rockets, Orlando will still have 7 days to match the offer and keep him. It's still premature so better keep track rather than draw up a conclusion.

[Lamrock]

Its convenient that Orlando is way over the cap with only 7 players. This has a great chance of happening. My question: Can they do what Portland did (or tried to do) with D-Miles and waive Yao's contract on the basis of a career-ending injury?

[Martti.]

Sure would help the Rockets with Yao's current situation. But they also need a scoring C. Gortat can get the boards and block shots, but his offensive repertoire is weak.

[dopeboy]

Gortat would be a good fit in Houston, especially considering that Orlando won't be able to match other offers with their salary cap and roster situation. But it's probably a bit early to tell who's going to get him, since there are quite many teams who would like to see him playing there.

[Stress Fracture]

Wow, Gortat is now getting some exposure. If the Rockets can get him, he can develop there.

[Mayerhendrix]

is gortat really worth all the hype? i can't really judge i didn't see him play much til the eastern conference finals but he didn't seem like a player who'd be worth a significant investment at all.

[Joe the Space Marine]

The magic didn't seem to lose much when he subbed in for dwight. And they used him in a twin tower approach sometimes too. If he sucked, he wouldn't have been played in that manner.

[Stress Fracture]

Who knows? He's still young and he can develop his skills.

[shadowgrin]

is gortat really worth all the hype? i can't really judge i didn't see him play much til the eastern conference finals but he didn't seem like a player who'd be worth a significant investment at all.

Watch game six of their series against the Sixers.
He's decent and can contribute with blocking shots, rebounding, and defense, but for offense bah.
I do think his max value is at the MLE.

Daryl Morey showed up at Gortat's home in Orlando just after midnight local time,

Morey even showed up in Orlando with a Rockets jersey with Gortat's name on it

Morey even announced the meeting on his Facebook page and urged fans to leave notes for Gortat at an e-mail address -- rocketsfanslovegortat(at)gmail.com. Morey said that within 10 minutes of his face-to-face meeting with Gortat, more than 100 e-mails had already arrived

I know Morey is good, but damn, I didn't know he is that good.

[benji]

Its convenient that Orlando is way over the cap with only 7 players. This has a great chance of happening. My question: Can they do what Portland did (or tried to do) with D-Miles and waive Yao's contract on the basis of a career-ending injury?

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#Q53

[vinceair]

Gortat will always be 4,5 pts 4 rebs man. They need center who have offensive weapons.

[benji]

Gortat will always be 4,5 pts 4 rebs man.

Not if he starts and/or plays 30+ minutes.

[Brave Sir Rubin]

Good for Houston, great for Gortat. This is a great time to be a true center.

He's going to get overpaid, but he's going to make up for it. He is an extremely intelligent big man, plays the pick n' roll perfectly, and is aggressive on both ends of the court.

It's a shame that the Magic must loose him.

[benji]

Not good for Houston. He reached an agreement with Dallas.

[Brave Sir Rubin]

Not good for Houston. He reached an agreement with Dallas.

Couldn't say no to the private XBOX in the locker room?

This isn't as good for Gortat though, because he might have to backup Dampier (unless his big ass and fairly talentless contract gets traded)

[shadowgrin]

Not good for Houston. He reached an agreement with Dallas.

Couldn't say no to the private XBOX, massage chair, and unlimited team-sponsored xbox points in the locker room?

This isn't as good for Gortat though, because he might have to backup Dampier (unless his big ass and fairly talentless contract gets traded)

Fixed.

[Hedonist]

Sure would help the Rockets with Yao's current situation. But they also need a scoring C. Gortat can get the boards and block shots, but his offensive repertoire is weak.

I don't disagree, but it's not like he is useless at the offensive end. You can't rotate off him because he's a good finisher at the rim, put backs & if you leave him open too. He's pretty active in setting screens for his teammates as well.

[AMenace]

Good move by Houston.

Hoping they sign him.

From what I have seen of gortat, he seems like a player that would benefit houston.

Or they could trade yao for howard, either way.

[benji]

He agreed to sign with Dallas.

[Modifly]

Damn, no Artest and no Gortat.

Do you have a source because I'd love to read it.

[AMenace]

The rockets are fucked!!!!!!!

[Hedonist]

Do you have a source because I'd love to read it.

This seems to be the source of most reports: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4303432

[Andrew]

Would've been a solid move for Houston. Their loss (and obviously Orlando's) is the Mavericks' gain.