HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Magic are not “after” Gortat… there was a report, I believe from Poland that listed Orlando as a team with interest… interest and actively trying to acquire or having the assets to acquire are two separate things. HoopsWorld

Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Trade, Marcin Gortat 

Suns center Marcin Gortat said he turned down a multiyear contract extension offer in October from the Suns, clarifying what he told a Polish website, przegladsportowy.pl. “We just said we’re going to wait,” Gortat said. “I want to finish this contract, and we’ll see where I go from there. It didn’t even bother me or change anything in my attitude or performance. The thing I’m concentrating is coming back to dominating the game and getting back to being a defensive spark.” Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat 

Gortat would not mind negotiating on behalf of his backup center, Jermaine O’Neal. He said he told Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby that he would pay for another year’s salary for O’Neal if they don’t. “He’s a tremendous player, an amazing teammate and a true leader,” Gortat said. “Playing with him has been my best experience from this year.” Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat 

Center Marcin Gortat recently — to a Polish newspaper — chronicled the struggles he’s felt adapting to the offense, namely pinpointing the lack of ball movement, especially through him, and the difficulty finding chemistry with point guard Goran Dragic. “Nothing’s going to change,” Gentry said in response to the comments. “We try to throw him the ball, and we’ll try to get him the ball as much as we can and ... . We’d love to be able to throw him the ball and have him post up and score for us. That hasn’t been one of his strengths, really.” Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat, Goran Dragic, Alvin Gentry 

Orlando, Dallas, Boston and Chicago are very interested in Marcin Gortat. Sports Review

Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat 

Last season you've scored a lot of points off of Steve Nash pick and rolls. The team doesn't play that way anymore. Marcin Gortat: That's true, but I can score in various situations. Finishing pick and rolls, in transition, from midrange, around the rim. There are a lot of options. Unfortunately, my two strongest plays – the pick and roll and post-ups have been taken away from me. It's not easy, we have a lot of plays that don't include me. And my chemistry with Goran Dragic hasn't been quite equal to what I had with Steve. These are things that we need to work on. The Gothic Ginobili

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Marcin Gortat, Goran Dragic 

Coach Alvin Gentry told me that the main post option was Luis Scola. You, on the other hand, are number one on defense. Marcin Gortat: Unfortunately... I've been doing the dirty work all my life, and now I have to come back to that. I will fight for what's mine. I'll try to prove to the coach that I can play an important role in the offence. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm even an option for Gentry. He doesn't even take me into consideration. The situation is critical. We're playing the same thing we've been playing last year, but the truth is we have a completely different set of players. I don't think it really works. I can't get frustrated now though, I have to stay positive. The Gothic Ginobili

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat, Luis Scola, Alvin Gentry 

Before the season you were promising a fight for the playoffs, but from the picture painted by the past few games, the Suns don't seem like a top 8 team in the West. MG: Before the season started, I was a huge optimist. I thought we'd play a completely different game. Right now, it doesn't look good. We still have a lot to learn, and a lot to fight for. We need to fix our team defence. We can't give up a hundred points per game. We'll see how it works out. Right now, I'm not losing hope, there's still a shot at the playoffs. The Gothic Ginobili

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat, Alvin Gentry 

Did the coach honestly tell you what he expects from you? MG: We've talked before the season started. He said he expects me to play defence, rebound, block shots and quarterback the defence. He also said he wanted me to set up in the paint and wait for my shots. And I'm still waiting... (laughter) What are you expecting in the coming week? MG: After the game against the Miami Heat, we have a longer break and some time to correct some errors in practice. It won't be easy though. Maybe you should have an honest conversation with Coach Gentry? MG: I don't know if it will change anything. But I'll surely have a chat with him. The Gothic Ginobili

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat, Alvin Gentry 

Entering the game, Gortat was fine with anything Magic fans had to say to him, whether it was barbs or wishes that he had not been traded. With Hedo Turkoglu out, Gortat was the game’s only remaining player from the six-player December 2010 trade. “That’s business,” Gortat said. “ I learned that. And you know what? I have a sweet home in Phoenix. I’m feeling good out there, trust me. Biltmore. It’s just great. I live in the building with (Sen.) John McCain. I’ve got great teammates. I’ve got a sweet spot on the team. I’ve got a great mentor in Jermaine O’Neal. What else do you want to have? I’m in a great city.” Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat 

Paul coro: @hardfour86 @Daniel_L_Ware No details on what was offered. You would think cap space, draft picks and a mix of players including Gortat. Twitter @paulcoro

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Trade, Marcin Gortat, Sam Presti, James Harden 

According to HoopData, Gortat was assisted on 78.6 percent of his buckets in 2010-11 with the Suns and 79.6 percent last year, making some wonder whether he can repeat his superb 15.4 ppg season on 55.5 percent shooting with Nash no longer around to set him up. “Basically, I am going to try and prove that I can play without him,” Gortat said. “There was a lot of talk in the offseason about how I’m going to play and how I’m going to handle the whole situation without him. “I believe I’m an experienced player already. I’ve been in the league a few years by now, and I have other point guards. I have Goran Dragic and Kendall Marshall. I have great passers. I’m quite sure I’ll be fine.” Valley of the Suns

Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Marcin Gortat, Goran Dragic, Kendall Marshall 

“I’m not going to change my game at all,” Gortat said defiantly. “I’m going to try to use my athleticism, I’m going to use my energy. Obviously if there’s going to be an opportunity to set a screen I’m going to do that, but I’m pretty comfortable also with getting the ball down low and obviously I’m going to try to prove I’m a better post-up player this year than I was last year. I believe that 20 games in the offseason with the national team helped me, and I’m definitely energetic.” Valley of the Suns

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat 

They also have a center in Marcin Gortat who is cocky, uncensored and prone to saying silly things. He said he wants to wear No. 13 in the future, unaware of where that number should hang. He said he'll actually thrive without Nash. And on media day, he said something that made observers truly roll their eyes. "Obviously, the main leader in the locker room is Jermaine O'Neal, who is already in charge of everything," Gortat said. USA Today

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat, Jermaine O'Neal 

The Suns, who will introduce Dragic today, have 10 players committed by contract or verbal agreement without Brown. The Suns likely would use veteran minimum deals to fill out at least two more roster spots later. A 2012-13 Suns starting lineup projects to have Dragic at point, Jared Dudley and Beasley as wings and Scola and Marcin Gortat as the big men. Their aim appears to be to let that young core around Scola grow up together but with a need to add more talent down the line to return to an elite level. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, Marcin Gortat, Jared Dudley, Goran Dragic 

Polish basketball player Marcin Gortat who plays in the NBA - professional basketball league in North America, arrived to the Afghanistan where it awaits a busy summer – participation in the shares of traditional children’s camps, training sessions and matches with the representation and a trip to the military mission in Afghanistan. NBA basketball star Marcin Gortat has told Polish soldiers that they are true heroes, as, unlike the athletes competing in sports halls, they risk their lives to make life safer for others. Gortat added also that he was under the impression of the professional skills of Polish soldiers. He honestly approved that he had wriggled out of military service. National Turk

Marcin Gortat, Poland 

Marcin Gortat: I cant believe it...Ettore Messina is gone!? The best european coach in NBA. Some one should give him a shot as a head coach! Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat, Ettore Messina 

Marcin Gortat: One of my dreams is to play for this coach one day! Ettore good luck in Moscow! I hope I will see u back where u belong soon.....NBA!!!!!!!! Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat, Ettore Messina 

Gortat missed a follow. Nash missed successive shots. It was a car wreck in three minutes of slow motion that they might be replaying in their heads in three weeks if they miss the playoffs. Denver cinched the season series in case the teams tie. Utah (29-27) won Friday night to move back ahead of Phoenix. "We did everything we needed to do to be in a position to win and then had very poor execution for the last three or four minutes of the game," Gentry said. "We've got to get the ball in the basket and come back and take away some of the easy stuff." Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat 

The Suns are freezing their players off the court so that they will move more freely on the court. Cryotherapy has entered the NBA vernacular, and the Suns are one of four teams to have a cryosauna in their facility for a chilling training approach. With the franchise's $50,000 investment in the equipment, Suns players are stepping into a nitrogen gas cylindrical chamber that accelerates and intensifies a process previously left to 12 minutes in an ice bath. The Suns still use ice baths but now have a mechanism that requires only three minutes of a dry freeze. Marcin Gortat compares it to walking outside in Poland in the winter. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat