Marko Jaric of the Los Angeles Clippers is the tallest guard on the Orlando Magic's short list of free-agent candidates.
Jaric, 6 feet 7, can play both the point-guard and shooting-guard positions. He joins Chicago Bulls point guard Chris Duhon -- who visited the Magic earlier this week -- Miami Heat point guard Keyon Dooling, Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damon Stoudamire and Memphis Grizzlies point guard Earl Watson as candidates to sign with Orlando, according to NBA sources.
The players all must wait a little longer to sign contracts no matter where they go. The Magic learned Wednesday that the date to sign free agents has been pushed back by the NBA.
The green flag for all transactions -- the signing of free agents or the execution of sign-and-trade deals -- was to have been dropped Friday. But the league and its players' union still were working on the language of the new collective bargaining agreement agreed upon last month. The moratorium is likely to be extended to Aug. 1 or later.
"I don't think it's bad. It's not going to change our approach," Magic Assistant General Manager Otis Smith said.
Smith said the players who interest the Magic are still available. The club had contacted Trail Blazers power forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, but he has reached an agreement to join the New Jersey Nets, according to his agent, Aaron Goodwin.
"We knew it was a long shot with Shareef," Smith said.
Abdur-Rahim also wanted the full midlevel exception -- if not more through a sign-and-trade deal. Jaric likely wants the same consideration, according to Smith. The exception begins at roughly $5 million and can be extended for up to five years.
Jaric, a third-year pro from Serbia and Montenegro, averaged 9.9 points and 6.1 assists last season. But Jaric is a restricted free agent, meaning the Clippers have the right to match any offer to keep him.
The Blazers, the Heat, the Denver Nuggets, the Seattle SuperSonics and the Minnesota Timberwolves are among several teams who have expressed interest in Jaric.
Smith confirmed that Duhon had come to Orlando for a visit.
A second-round pick last season from Duke, Duhon, 6-1, 185 pounds, was a pleasant surprise for the Bulls. He won the starting job in late November and kept Ben Gordon in the role of sixth man. Duhon averaged 5.9 points and 4.9 assists per game.
The Magic have been looking for more depth at guard, preferably a pass-first floor leader who can free up Steve Francis to play shooting guard. Guard Doug Christie has requested a trade to a West Coast team.
Duhon is also a restricted free agent. The Bulls have offered Duhon a three-year, $6 million contract, according to the Daily Herald in Chicago.
Agent Bill Duffy, who represents Duhon and Jaric, did not return phone calls from the Sentinel on Wednesday.
"With restrictive guys, you have to be creative," Smith said.
One of the ways most teams get creative is to open the checkbook, but Smith says the Magic "don't want to necessarily overpay anybody.
"But one thing I've learned through this process is that people want to come and play here. We have an attractive team."
Da haben die Bulls ja nicht gerade viel für Duhon geboten, das verwundert mich etwas. :confused:
Meine Quelle teilte mir mit, das die Magic für Jaric gern einen S&T Deal mit Christie einfädeln würde.
Das würde mir gefallen. :thumb:
