Hedo Turkoglu will delve into the free-agent market on July 1, quickly testing whether the Orlando Magic can keep a core of key players together who led the club to an appearance in the NBA finals.

A day after losing the title series to the Los Angeles Lakers, the agent for Turkoglu told The Orlando Sentinel yesterday that the Magic small forward will opt out of his contract and become a free agent in two weeks.

"It would make sense for him to opt out," Lon Babby, Turkoglu's agent, said by phone. "I can't imagine a scenario in which he would not."

Magic general manager Otis Smith said he was not surprised by Turkoglu's pending decision and likes the franchise's chances of re-signing him.

"Turk likes it here, so I think the chances are good," Smith said.

Turkoglu, 30, who has one year left at $7.3 million on his six-year, $36 million contract, is believed to be asking for at least $10 million a season.

NBA DRAFT

MEEKS TO LEAVE; HARANGODY TO STAY

Jodie Meeks is taking his long-range game to the NBA. Luke Harangody decided to return to college for his senior year and a chance to become the leading scorer in Notre Dame history.

The deadline for underclassmen who had declared for the NBA draft but did not hire agents to withdraw was yesterday.

Meeks, a 6-foot-4 guard from Kentucky, Wake Forest point guard Jeff Teague, Gonzaga forward Austin Daye and Texas A&M forward Chinemelu Elonu were among notable players who chose to remain draft eligible.

Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez and Georgia Tech power forward Gani Lawal joined Harangody in withdrawing their names and will return to school.

Meeks led the Southeastern Conference in scoring with 23.7 points as a junior for Kentucky.

The 6-foot-8 Harangody averaged 23.3 points and 11.8 rebounds last season. He needs 738 points next season to pass Austin Carr as Notre Dame's career leading scorer.

LAKERS

EIGHT OFFICERS HURT IN VICTORY MELEES

Los Angeles police say eight officers have suffered minor injuries during downtown disturbances that erupted amid street celebrations of the Lakers' NBA championship victory over the Orlando Magic.

Officer Gregory Baek says the officers were taken to hospitals for treatment of the injuries sustained during melees Sunday night in the Staples Center area.

What began as a lively but peaceful celebration took on a different tone for those remaining a few hours after the game. Some in the crowd vandalized a shoe store, buses and police cars, set small fires and threw rocks and bottles at police.

Police say 18 people were arrested for disturbing the peace, arson and other infractions. Three of those arrested were juveniles.