Brandon Bass Headed to the Orlando Magic

The big dog teams in the NBA just keep getting better by the minute and "your" Portland Trail Blazers seem to be standing in a freezer.

NBA.com is reporting that one of the last and decent remaining NBA free agents is headed out of Dallas and into Orlando:

The Orlando Magic are trying to keep up in the arms race in the competitive Eastern Conference, agreeing to terms on Friday with free agent forward Brandon Bass on a four-year deal believed to be worth $18 million.

The 23-year-old Bass was one of the most coveted big men in this year's free agency class, having been a valuable role player off the bench for the Mavericks the past two seasons. He played in 81 games for Dallas last year, averaging 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 19 minutes a night. The Mavericks tried to keep him, but Dallas' commitment to Magic free agent center Marcin Gortat to an offer sheet made money scarce. New Orleans, Bass's first team, and Cleveland also were working to sign him.

Please take a minute to read that again: 4 years and $18 million. Can you get a better bargain on a young and rising backup forward? Blazers could have easily offered the kid $20 million and we'd all be incredibly satisfied. (Especially the guys at Bust a Bucket who are weeping today.)

I guess someone better start pushing a little harder on either the Milsap or Hinrich deal or this is going to be one hell of a disappointing off-season.

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