The Orlando Magic's four-year deal with unrestricted free agent power forward Brandon Bass became official Friday night. An NBA source confirmed to Sentinel staff writer Tania Ganguli that the agreement is worth $18 million over four years, though the deal also allows Bass to opt out of the contract and become a free agent after the 2011-12 season.
"Brandon has been a very efficient, very effective player for both Dallas and New Orleans," Orlando Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy told the Sentinel moments ago.
"He's a guy who can score. He can make a 17-foot jumper. He can score in the low post. He can put it on the floor and take you to the basket, and he’s rebounded the ball well. I think he’s another key ingredient to what’s shaping up as a very good frontcourt.”
Asked whether he can envision a scenario in which Bass would start games at power forward and Lewis would start at small forward, Van Gundy said “it certainly could happen.”
Van Gundy said: "One of the things I think [General Manager] Otis [Smith] has done in the past and is doing again is giving us a roster not only with talent but one with versatility where we will have a lot of options in terms of the kind of lineups we put on the floor."