Orlando Magic's Hedo Turkoglu (15), from Turkey, shoots over Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum in the first quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals Sunday, June 14, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Story Published:
Jul 3, 2009 at 12:55 PM PST
Story Updated:
Jul 3, 2009 at 2:40 PM PST
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Hedo Turkoglu reportedly agreed to join the Portland Trail Blazers after helping Orlando reach the NBA finals this season, according to a report on ESPN.com.
ESPN.com on Friday cited unidentified sources and did not disclose terms. Turkoglu's agent, Lon Babby, did not immediately return calls or e-mails and Turkoglu himself did not say anything. Portland cannot comment on the agreement until Wednesday, when teams may sign free agents.
The 6-foot-10 forward arrived in Portland on Thursday to meet Blazer executives and tour the city.
He opted out of his Orlando contract last week when the team acquired Vince Carter from New Jersey. Turkoglu was due $7.3 million next season in the final year of his $36 million, six-year deal with Orlando. He averaged 16.8 points and 5.3 rebounds last season.
Turkoglu, from Turkey, is a nine-year NBA veteran. He played for Sacramento and San Antonio before signing with Orlando as a free agent in 2004.
This season he often ran Orlando's offense and created matchup problems for the Celtics and Cavaliers in the playoffs. Against the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the finals, Turkoglu averaged 18 points.
He was said to be seeking a long-term deal worth at least $10 million annually. Toronto had also expressed interest in him.
The Blazers are looking to bolster a team that won 54 games last season and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
Anchored by All-Star guard Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, the Blazers were the second-youngest team in the NBA.
(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.)
