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NickAndersonsBack25 wrote:2) did the quotes from Gortat in the media after the Shaq thing really have an origination here?

mhectorgato wrote:

BigCityCat wrote:I hate to say it but I would be pretty disappointed if I was forced to live in Oklahoma. Houston wouldn't be bad but I think Gortat would have preferred to play for Dallas. I don't think Houston is going to be a winning team without Yao and if he comes back it would be back to the bench for Gortat, but he can veto a trade to any team that he does not want to go to.

Well Yao can't come back this year at all, since they got a DPE for him.

*of course Yao can come back the following year. Could Yao and Gortat play the 4 & 5 together? Or is it the same deal as in ORL?

Gerhalt11 wrote:Quit ragging on him, guys. It's entirely possible that he never said he was disappointed. That seems to the latest, anyway. And even if he is, so what?

magicmamma wrote:Yes.

There is NO recorded statement from him that Gortat is unhappy with his situation. There IS a recorded statement that he would be happy with either team. It's perfectly possible to be disappointed with one aspect of your situation (not starting) and to be happy with other aspects (liking the team). As a matter of fact, that is the norm. When I bought my house, I was disappointed that I didn't get the one that was closer to work and nicer, but at the same time happy to have the more appealing neighborhood and bigger yard of the one I got. Gortat has been unhappy about his playing time all the time he has been with the Magic, and is still known as the hardest-working player on the team and the one that has shown the most improvement.

No doubt he reads the forums, and is probably thinking the Magic fan base doesn't like him much. That's too bad, because those who have met him find him about the friendliest and most approachable guy on the team. I don't think that will change, but how about not trying to change it by insulting him.

prorl wrote:Holy schnikies Horcy has gone international! Your my hero!

Bay_Areas_Finest wrote:I certainly wouldn't be happy if I was Gortat.

lol @ all the people saying "He has a chance to win a ring here blah blah blah". Sorry, but if I was a young player, I'd first want to establish myself as a legit player in the league before worrying about winning a ring while playing limited minutes from the bench.

Gortat's frustration is understandable. Still, he'll play his ass off for us. The worst thing he could do is sulk and moan.

he just wants to play more minutes.

He said he's gonna compete and work hard for more minutes (at PF, I would assume).

He says he understands this is a business, and he's gonna be ready to play for Orlando, be working to improve his game.

But if he gets traded, he would understand.

said he now understand the NBA is a business and will be prepared if he is traded this year.

He just wanted peace of mind that he'll be with 1 team for the duration of his contract so he can soley focus on bball.

happy to be in orlando. Wanted more minutes, but he knows he's still in a good situation on a great team that can win a title.

thinks he can play 4. knows he can shoot from mid-range

Gortat basically saying what Dwight said, that losing in the Finals is a terrible feeling after nine months of hard work, and he never wants to feel that again.

Gortat believes that he can start at Power Forward and will work towards doing so.

I love how he keeps saying I'm gonna work.. I gotta work hard.. he just keeps talking about getting better.

Gortat said he was "happy too" in responding to the hosts saying that Magic fans and the organization are thrilled to have him back.

He sounded sincere to me, I don't think he'll be unhappy or a problem in the locker room. At the same time, he'll be competitive and busting his hump for as many minutes as he can get.

1) Says he is happy to be back.
2) Says he wanted to play more minutes in Dallas but isn't upset Magic Matched and plans to battle for more minutes.
3) Says he is a celebrity in Poland and needs to have an entourage when he goes out.
4) Not sure if he is going to be traded after Dec 15
5) Says he knows he can play the Power Forward position. He Is doing more running, working on his footwork and adds that he can hit the jumper.


6) Said he was coming to camp to compete as the starter at power forward.

Starts out he's happy to be back.
Just wanted to play bigger minutes, no knock on Orlando.
Hopefully we will win the Finals this year.
Thinks he can improve, and he wants to prove he's better than some of the other players on the team.
It's crazy how big he is back in Poland.(Michael Jordan of Poland) Smiler

Do you expect to be traded Dec. 15?
I thought I could relax after I signed a big contract, now next couple of months will be anxious till Dec. 15. But, I will be ready to play my best for the Orlando Magic.

Have you talked to any teammates?
No, but I will call Dwight soon, to get us excited about next season.

Gortat said "we will have an Amazing team next year!"

The whole team is going to work harder to win the title!

Do you think you can start at the 4 position for the Magic?
Yes, I definatly can play the four. I can shoot from the outside, and I can play any 4 on defense.

Any message for Vince Carter?
I have a shoe size of 15. Because that was the first shoes he had.

When will you be bcak in Orlando?
Not sure, probably 2 weeks before training camp.

Gortat is a very likable guy. Glad to have him back! Go Magic!!!

Jiwol wrote:I said I wouldn't do it again, but I'd like to clear some things out translating some quotes from Gortat. He's in Poland now promoting Euro Championships so he's able to give many interviews. In the last on he said:

"Magic wanted me to stay, so I'm staying. It was in my contract. Orlando franchised trained me to the NBA level so they had right to keep me. I'll do the best i can to pay them off with my effort"

"When I heard Magic matched Mavs' offer I thought to myself: I'm gonna be in the NBA for 5 years! Ther's been some information I was unhappy. That I said it and so did my agent. Of course it's not true. (...) I'd be the happiest man even if I played for the worst team in the league"

http://www.sport.pl/sport/1,65025,6825313,Gortat__Bede_gral_piec_lat_w_NBA_.html

The interview is much longer but it's the clue as far as this thread is concerned. So you all can now chill. He's not gonna sulk but play his butt off. He's just that type of guy.

Devin 1L wrote:
But if it were the worst team in the league, there's a good chance he'd be playing 36 MPG. Ok, ok, I'm kidding. Well, I'm serious, but I'm kidding on what I was implying.

Anyhow, I'm very glad to hear his comments on playing power forward. If he gets a really good consistent jumper to stretch the floor, our front line is flat out ridiculous. Ridiculous and young, to boot!

magicfan4life05 wrote:

Devin 1L wrote:
But if it were the worst team in the league, there's a good chance he'd be playing 36 MPG. Ok, ok, I'm kidding. Well, I'm serious, but I'm kidding on what I was implying.

Anyhow, I'm very glad to hear his comments on playing power forward. If he gets a really good consistent jumper to stretch the floor, our front line is flat out ridiculous. Ridiculous and young, to boot!

agreed, if (and it's a big if) he can get a better/consistent jumpshot to complement howard's inside game, the frontline of gortat/d12 will be the beastly offensive/defensive frontline we wanted darko and howard to be.


oh and btw howard is 23 and gortat is 25.....

Devin 1L wrote:Definitely. And I was throwing 24 year old Bass into that mix.

Together, they could dominate the front court for the next 10 years, or at least the next four that they're under contract together.

I'm really stoked about our front court. I can't say how glad I am that Otis matched.