Portland, OR (Betting Express) - Sharp-shooting forward Hedo Turkoglu appeared
headed to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday afternoon, but by nightfall
those talks apparently broke off.
In the latest turn of events, TNT basketball analyst David Aldridge reported
late Friday night that Turkoglu has verbally committed to a five-year, $60
million contract with the Toronto Raptors, citing league sources.
According to the report, Toronto renounced its rights to forward Shawn Marion
and guards Anthony Parker and Carlos Delfino, freeing up enough salary cap
space to add the Turkish star.
The Oregonian newspaper originally reported Turkoglu agreed to a five-year,
$50 million contract with Portland, but later in the day indicated he had
rejected such an offer.
The 30-year-old Turkoglu, a first-round draft pick of Sacramento in 2000, had
spent the previous five years with the Magic and averaged 16.8 points, 5.3
rebounds and 4.9 assists over 77 games last season. He helped the Magic into
the NBA Finals, but last week opted out of the final season of his deal that
would have paid him $7.3 million.
Not only that, but the Magic already made a big move to replace Turkoglu by
working out a trade with New Jersey for Vince Carter on draft night.
The 6-foot-10 Turkoglu spent his first three seasons with the Kings before
joining the San Antonio Spurs for one seasons. For his career, he's averaging
12.3 points and 4.2 rebounds and is a career 38.5 percent shooter from three-
point range.
