Truth & Rumors > NBA

Three teams wooing Turkoglu

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The Trail Blazers are putting on a full-court press in their attempt to lure free agent forward Hedo Turkoglu to Portland. Coach Nate McMillan had dinner with Turkoglu in Orlando on Wednesday night, and on Thursday Turkoglu and his agent, Lon Babby, will arrive in Portland to meet with Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard and tour the team's facilities. The Blazers' courtship comes as two Eastern Conference teams are making their push to attract the sharp-shooting 6-foot-10 forward. Sources say Toronto is preparing an offer of five years and $60 million for Turkoglu. Meanwhile, Dwight Howard, the star of his former team -- Orlando -- made repeated calls to Turkoglu on Tuesday night and Wednesday to express his desire for him to re-sign with the Magic. Turkoglu opted out of his contract with Orlando, forgoing $7.3 million this season.

The Oregonian

Hedo Turkoglu, AP Hedo Turkoglu, AP
July 2, 2009  06:28 AM ET

What a good time to have the best season of your career - well not Statistically - he had a PER of just 13.2 in the playoffs.

Consistancy would probably be his worst attribute. Also he was on a team of accomplished Offensive players so hypothetically if he did go to Toronto and it was just him and Bosh as the main guys, i doubt things would work out and i doubt the team would get much value for money.

His best situation is having Orlando retain him - but that will be a great cost for the team and isn't likely.

July 2, 2009  07:35 AM ET

I think Turk is a good fit with Portland. He does everything on the offensive side of the ball. His playmaking abilities would allow Portland to use Bayless more.

A frontline of Bosh, Bargnani, and Hedo, led by Calderon would also be interesting, but they would still need to add another piece. Reaquiring Moon to play the wing opposite Hedo would be a good idea.

July 2, 2009  08:21 AM ET

he's going 2 the blazers. every1 knows that

July 2, 2009  08:33 AM ET

Not sure why people are poo pooing his ability & what he brngs
- he is THE reason Orlando went so far.....
he isn't a top 10 player obviously- but you put him on a team
where he doesn't HAVE to be the man and you have a damn good team

July 2, 2009  08:55 AM ET

Turk is going to the Blazers. It's just a matter of time before they sign him outright or they are forced to do a sign and trade with the Magic.

If it comes down to sign and trade then Otis Smith should only have two words for Kevin Pritchard: LaMarcus Aldridge!

July 2, 2009  09:29 AM ET

And the winner is - Toronto!!! 60mil for Turk is unbeatable as it's 15mil more than Portland can offer and if Orlando dares to match it will cost them 24mil a year.

Toronto though... I mean.....

July 2, 2009  09:59 AM ET
QUOTE(#6):

And the winner is - Toronto!!! 60mil for Turk is unbeatable as it's 15mil more than Portland can offer and if Orlando dares to match it will cost them 24mil a year. Toronto though... I mean.....

If he ends up in toronto- that would be nice for them- but
if Bosh leaves.....that will be ALOT of $$$ tied up in a good
but non-superstar player

July 2, 2009  10:40 AM ET
QUOTE(#6):

And the winner is - Toronto!!! 60mil for Turk is unbeatable as it's 15mil more than Portland can offer and if Orlando dares to match it will cost them 24mil a year. Toronto though... I mean.....

Maybe, maybe not. Apparently the Toronto Star is saying that the Raps did not offer him that $60 Mill contract.

July 2, 2009  10:56 AM ET
QUOTE(#4):

Not sure why people are poo pooing his ability & what he brngs- he is THE reason Orlando went so far.....he isn't a top 10 player obviously- but you put him on a team where he doesn't HAVE to be the man and you have a damn good team

hell ya. if they sign him to a 4 yr deal that will give time for the young core to develop and they will still hv a chance of makin it deep into the playoffs. all they need is miller from philly. they should release couple of euro leaguers in kopponen and freeland to clear more salary space and go after arriza or odom from lakers. do a trade or something to clear more space. teams are after batum/outlaw and rudy. espn reported rudy was not happy to see them go after turk. trade him and sign artest if its possible. this would be one of the exciting months before tip off. cant wait.

July 2, 2009  10:57 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

Turk is going to the Blazers. It's just a matter of time before they sign him outright or they are forced to do a sign and trade with the Magic.If it comes down to sign and trade then Otis Smith should only have two words for Kevin Pritchard: LaMarcus Aldridge!

ha.

July 2, 2009  12:07 PM ET
QUOTE(#9):

espn reported rudy was not happy to see them go after turk

no offense- but why is what rudy wants important.....?
He's done NOTHING to warrant his opinion on the matter
how about he EARNS more PT before he talks ?

July 2, 2009  12:14 PM ET

He's pretty much the most valuable free agent on the market this year. If Ben Gordan can get $55 million, Turkoglu should be able to bring in a nice haul.

Jeff Fox
www.hoopsmanifesto.blogspot.com

July 2, 2009  12:33 PM ET

At the end of the day Hedo will be the overall winner. Portland and Toronto is really not a bad situation to be in for Hedo just as long as they pay him. Hedo's strong point is his abilities to make his own shot or create for others so he will fine wherever he goes.

July 2, 2009  01:44 PM ET

Where are the Hawks? Are they persuing any Free Agents? They can offer at least 10 Mil/yr to Turk.

July 2, 2009  02:11 PM ET
QUOTE(#6):

And the winner is - Toronto!!! 60mil for Turk is unbeatable as it's 15mil more than Portland can offer and if Orlando dares to match it will cost them 24mil a year. Toronto though... I mean.....

Yeah, I don't think Portland will match Toronto's offer of 12 mil. The Blazers offense goes through Brandon Roy. Turkoglu's big season with Orlando was because he was primary ball-handler. He wouldn't be nearly as effective on Portland.

July 2, 2009  02:35 PM ET

IF he wants to be on a contender he will stay with Orlando for 7+ a year or go to Portland for 9 mill a year if he just wants a payday he will go to Toronto for absurd money!!!!!

If Portland can get him for less than a 30-3 year deal or 45-5 year deal then they will automatically pass the Nuggs and become the third best team in the West....

July 2, 2009  03:11 PM ET
QUOTE(#15):

Yeah, I don't think Portland will match Toronto's offer of 12 mil. The Blazers offense goes through Brandon Roy. Turkoglu's big season with Orlando was because he was primary ball-handler. He wouldn't be nearly as effective on Portland.

A lot of fans don't understand that it's difficult to have 2 of the same type of playmakers playing in the same team. BRoy and Hedo would need the ball in their hands to be effective. The Spurs had that problem when they had Hedo. That's why they let him go. They had Ginobili, Parker, and Hedo at the same time.

July 2, 2009  04:30 PM ET
QUOTE(#2):

I think Turk is a good fit with Portland. He does everything on the offensive side of the ball. His playmaking abilities would allow Portland to use Bayless more. A frontline of Bosh, Bargnani, and Hedo, led by Calderon would also be interesting, but they would still need to add another piece. Reaquiring Moon to play the wing opposite Hedo would be a good idea.

Moon? Really? Am I the only one who believes he was a huge fluke. He is a terrible fit anywhere. He should stay in Miami where he might be able to feed off of Wade.

July 2, 2009  04:36 PM ET
QUOTE(#2):

I think Turk is a good fit with Portland. He does everything on the offensive side of the ball. His playmaking abilities would allow Portland to use Bayless more. A frontline of Bosh, Bargnani, and Hedo, led by Calderon would also be interesting, but they would still need to add another piece. Reaquiring Moon to play the wing opposite Hedo would be a good idea.

Moon???? Ahahah you gotta be kidding me. Moon was the biggest disaster for the Raps last season, all he did was settle for 3 pointers when hes not even a shooter. He never once used his athleticsm and took it to the bucket hard during game, the only time you saw him dunking was on open break aways or the rare alley oop. Getting rid of Moon was the best thing the Raps did last season. Signing Turkoglu to a 5 year $60 million dollar contract would be a huge mistake, there is no way Turkoglu is worth 12 million a year. Instead Colangelo could resign Marion in the range of only $7 million a year, which would be a much better investment due to the fact that Marion is a hell of alot better defender the Turkoglu. Then theres enough money to sign another free agent, someone like Channing Frye to back up Bargnani.

 
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