[RipDeuceParticipant]

The Mavericks expect the Magic to decline to match their midlevel exception offer to restricted free agent Marcin Gortat.

But the big man is hearing otherwise in Orlando.

“I have a feeling now they (Magic) are going to match it,” Gortat told Fanhouse today between Summer League Games. “That’s what I’m hearing, they will match. We’ll have to see, but I’m kind of down right now. Either way, I’ll end up on a pretty good team.”

That’d be a bummer for Gortat, who gets paid either way but wants the chance to become a starter for the Mavericks.

It was thought that the Magic signing Brandon Bass to a four-year, $18 million deal further increased the odds that they wouldn’t match the offer to Gortat. But Orlando GM Otis Smith told Fanhouse that bringing Bass to town doesn’t have anything to do with their decision on Gortat.

“I’ve said all along, I think the number (his contract) is a little high,” Smith said. “But that doesn’t change how we think. One thing (signing Bass) doesn’t have anything to do with the other (matching Gortat). I’m still working on a few other things, and until those transpire, it’s kind of premature to say what we’re going to do.”

[gatorheelsParticipant]

I don’t think the Magic will match considering Gortat really doesn’t want to play for them anymore. The Magic will spend money elsewhere. Orlando needs to go after cheaper options anyways because they still have to add a lot of depth at several different positions.

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