You couldn’t call an $118 million contract a goodwill gesture, but maybe the Orlando Magic’s generosity toward Rashard Lewis’ agent two summers ago will give them an edge in signing promising power forward Brandon Bass.

Like Lewis, he is represented by Tony Dutt, who told the Orlando Sentinel on Wednesday that the Magic had contacted Bass, 24, on the opening day of NBA free agency.
“Yes, I did speak to (Magic General Manager) Otis Smith and they did show interest in Brandon,” Dutt said.
Dutt also planned to negotiate with the Dallas Mavericks, whom Bass played for the past two seasons. He averaged 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in about 20 minutes per game for the Mavs last season.
Bass, 6 feet 8 and 240 pounds, is a four-year veteran who has opened eyes since being picked by the New Orleans Hornets in the second round out of LSU in 2005. He can shoot, bang inside and run the floor. But he also is looking for a payday — most, if not all, of the mid-level exception (starting at roughly $5 million) — after earning $827,000 last season.
Smith would not comment on Bass or anything else as he launches an attempt to rebuild his bench, refusing to return phone calls, texts, Twitters, e-mails or smoke signals. He no doubt contacted more players than Bass in response to the expected losses of two key Magic players, small forward Hedo Turkoglu and center Marcin Gortat.
Turk and the “Polish Hammer” have become virtual free-agent darlings, pursued by several teams.
The Portland Trail Blazers clearly are the early front-runners to sign Turk.
Turkoglu, according to his agent, Lon Babby, was expected to have dinner with Blazers Coach Nate McMillan in Orlando on Wednesday night and then fly to Portland to tour the club’s facilities and meet management.
Babby said the Trail Blazers, as expected, were the first team to contact him.
“I heard from five teams last night. Portland was first right at midnight (Tuesday night),” Babby said via e-mail.
Earlier Wednesday, Babby said he had not been contacted by the Magic. The Magic have held out a minuscule hope they still can re-sign Turkoglu, and Babby said he is willing to talk. But the Blazers, roughly $8 million under the salary cap, can offer Turk, 30, closer to $10 million a season with other roster tweaks.
Turkoglu opted out of his contract with the Magic and turned down an offer by Orlando shortly after the NBA Finals.
After grumbling about his playing time behind Dwight Howard, Gortat found out he is loved. And no team loves him more, apparently, than the Houston Rockets.
Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey started a campaign to sign him. Morey said on his Twitter account around midnight Tuesday that he was set to meet Gortat — a restricted free agent — and that Rockets fans should show their support.
The Rockets are looking for a center after the news that all-star center Yao Ming could miss the season with a foot injury.
Wrote Morey on Twitter: “Meeting in a few w/ Gortat. Send a note to him NOW at rocketsfanslovegortat(at)gmail.com. He will receive. Show him how much we want him in Red!”
Gortat could command the mid-level exception after making $770,000 last season. Smith said the Magic would not match such an offer for Gortat.
Babby also represents Phoenix small forward Grant Hill, a former Magic player. He said a half-dozen teams have contacted Hill and expected the count to rise.
“The Magic has not called about him yet, but we are just getting started,” he said.
Free-agent contacts can’t be signed until July 8.
In other news, power forward Ryan Anderson — acquired from the New Jersey Nets in the Vince Carter deal — will participate in the Magic’s developmental summer league.
The league will run July 6-10 at RDV Sportsplex. Small forward Jeremy Richardson, who was on Orlando’s roster last season, also will play.
Other teams participating are the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics and a split squad between the New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. The event is not open to the public.