NBA.com Notebook: Gortat reportedly headed to Dallas

Restricted free agent center Marcin Gortat has been offered a contract by the Mavericks and had a trip scheduled for Dallas this week, according to sources. Orlando has the right to match the offer, but Gortat's visit is a good sign for the Mavs, who are banking on Magic ownership not dipping into luxury tax territory to sign Dwight Howard's backup.

Terms weren't immediately known, but it was believed Gortat was entertaining offers for the full mid-level exception (starting at around $5.6 million) for up to five years. The deal could be worth more than $30 million.

Gortat's signing would more than likely spell the end to Erick Dampier's checkered run with the Mavs. Expected to be the franchise center Dallas hasn't had since the days of James Donaldson, Dampier's production never matched his paycheck.

The Mavs are shopping Dampier and one possible destination is Detroit, which might be willing to move Rip Hamilton after adding Ben Gordon. Dallas would love to plug Hamilton into the backcourt, and Dampier could be of use in a division that now employs Shaquille O'Neal. Mavs swingman Jerry Stackhouse could also be included in any deal involving Dampier.

Houston and Oklahoma City were among the teams interested in Gortat, 25. The 6-foot-11 center from Poland averaged 3.8 points and 4.5 rebounds last season, but his play during Orlando's postseason run to The Finals made Gortat a premier target in a shallow free agent pool for big men.

Gortat, despite only being in the league two years and with just 69 regular-season games under his belt, is seen as a significant upgrade over Dampier within team circles. Dampier has averaged 7.9 points and 7.4 rebounds over the course of his 13-year career, and is entering the last fully-guaranteed season of his contract.

At this point, however, Gortat remains all potential. He could turn out to be another Mehmet Okur, who blossomed in Utah after backing up Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace in Detroit. Or Gortat could be DeSagana Diop, who the Mavs spent the full mid-level on last summer to bring back to Dallas, only to trade him to Charlotte during the season.

The loss of Gortat would be a blow for Orlando, which made a big splash last week by trading for Vince Carter. The Magic may also watch Hedo Turkoglu walk. Perhaps the top free agent left on the market, Turkoglu is mulling over offers from at least Portland and Toronto.

The Mavs are also trying to bring back Jason Kidd, having reportedly offered the 36-year-old point guard a three-year deal worth as much as $25 million. Kidd has met with New York. The Lakers, Cavaliers and Blazers are also said to be interested.

-- Art Garcia

Magic Looking Thin

With the news that the Dallas Mavericks will sign restricted free agent Marcin Gortat to an offer sheet worth the full mid-level exception and that the Orlando Magic aren't likely to match it, the Eastern Conference champions are suddenly looking a little thin, especially on the frontline.

The Magic upgraded at shooting guard when they traded for Vince Carter on draft day and also got second-year forward Ryan Anderson from New Jersey, but to do it, they had to give up three guys in their rotation.

The acquisition of Carter increased the likelihood that Hedo Turkoglu would not return, because bringing him back would put the Magic's payroll well over the luxury tax. So if they don't match Gortat's offer sheet, the Magic will be losing five players out of their rotation, having only added two thus far.

Magic Rotation Without Gortat or Turkoglu
PG: Jameer Nelson, Anthony Johnson
SG: Vince Carter, J.J. Redick
SF: Mickael Pietrus, Jeremy Richardson
PF: Rashard Lewis, Ryan Anderson
C: Dwight Howard

With Courtney Lee and Turkoglu gone, Mickael Pietrus likely becomes the second starter on the wing and Stan Van Gundy's bench becomes far less reliable. And without Gortat and Tony Battie, the Magic are left with Dwight Howard as their only true big man, as both Anderson and Rashard Lewis are perimeter fours.

Orlando is in pursuit of Brandon Bass and Rasheed Wallace to give Howard some help down low, but so are a handful of other teams. Wallace will likely end up in Boston or San Antonio though.

After Wallace and Bass, the pickings become slim when you look at frontline free agents you could sign with the mid-level exception. Of course, Magic general manager Otis Smith could change his mind and decide to match the offer for Gortat. He'll have until at least July 15 to do so and by then, he could realize that's the best option.

Either way, the Carter trade gave the Magic another All-Star, but it may end up destroying their depth.

-- John Schuhmann

Missing Out on the Free Agent Frenzy

The team the Magic beat in the Eastern Conference finals is not faring any better.

Friday is just the third day of free agency, but we've already seen a flurry of action. And so far, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been on the outside looking in. The piñata has been broken and the other kids are grabbing up all the candy before Danny Ferry can find his way toward the pile.

The good news is that the Cavs still have all of their mid-level exception to spend. The bad news is that they've nearly run out of players to spend it on.

Charlie Villanueva was reportedly a target, but he quickly agreed to a bigger deal with Detroit. The Cavs then moved on to Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza, but both agreed to deals on Thursday.

The Cavs obviously can't get Turkoglu or David Lee with their MLE and don't have the young players or necessary contracts to work a sign-and-trade deal. Shawn Marion would be a good addition, but it's unclear how much money he'll wind up getting, and the Raptors, who would like to keep Marion, can offer more than the Cavs.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the Cavs are now targeting Marion's teammate, Anthony Parker. He would add to Cleveland's depth at the wing and help them match up better with the Magic, but he's 34 years old and not nearly as talented as Ariza, Artest, Marion or Villanueva.

The Cavs have already improved their team by acquiring Shaquille O'Neal for two guys who probably weren't going to play next season, and owner Dan Gilbert is clearly willing to spend money to get his team a championship. But Cleveland looks to be missing the final piece to the puzzle.

-- John Schuhmann

Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

1. Hedo Turkoglu, SF, Orlando
Toronto is courting him, but would have to sacrifice a couple of solid players to sign him, so Portland is looking like a strong favorite.

2. Lamar Odom, PF, L.A. Lakers
Not likely to leave L.A.

3. Paul Millsap, PF, Utah
It may be a two-team race for Millsap, and the Thunder have a monetary advantage over the Jazz.

4. David Lee, PF, New York
He would be a great fit in Toronto, but as with Turkoglu, they'd have to restructure their roster.

5. Marvin Williams, SF, Atlanta
Will meet with the Hawks on Tuesday, according to The Kitsap Sun.

6. Shawn Marion, PF, Toronto

7. Rasheed Wallace, C, Detroit
Celtics pulling out all the stops according to the Patriot Ledger.

8. Jason Kidd, PG, Dallas

9. Andre Miller, PG, Philadelphia

10. Anderson Varejao, PF, Cleveland

-- John Schuhmann