THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ORLANDO &ndash The Orlando Magic have retained backup center Marcin Gortat, matching the $34 million, five-year deal offered by the Dallas Mavericks to the restricted free agent.
The Magic made the announcement Monday.
Gortat averaged 3.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in about 12 minutes per game last season as a solid backup to Dwight Howard. Dallas was targeting Gortat as a backup to Erick Dampier or possibly his eventual replacement because of Dampier's expiring contract.
Gortat's return solidifies the Magic frontcourt for next season, with the team signing former Mavericks power forward Brandon Bass last week.
"Having quality big men is an absolute must in our league, and Marcin has worked very hard to fit into that category," Magic general manager Otis Smith said in a statement. "He provides tremendous depth to our frontcourt and we're happy to bring him back."
Fresh off only their second trip to the NBA finals, the Magic have showed this off-season they are willing to spend. Gortat's re-signing coupled with the acquisition of Vince Carter from New Jersey will force the Magic to dip into the luxury tax for the first time in franchise history.
The move is also another sign that Orlando believes its time to win is now.
The 6-foot-11, 240-pound center from Poland made a little over $700,000 last season, his first full year in the NBA. He likely will remain in a backup center role or play sparingly alongside Howard at power forward.
But Gortat earned the big pay raise in large part because of some highlights in the Magic's playoff run.
Gortat filled in for Howard in the Game 6 clincher against Philadelphia in the opening round after Orlando's All-Star was suspended, adding a few powerful dunks that earned him the nickname the "Polish Hammer" from teammates. He also had a pair of blocks on Cleveland's LeBron James in the conference finals, and he saw his minutes increase in the finals because of the size of the Los Angeles Lakers.
