Free Agency Begins 12:01 AM Sunday

Someone should track the Magic jet. It's likely leaving for Seattle or wherever Rashard Lewis' house is.

July 11 is signing day, but they will need an early commitment to bring Lewis to Orlando.

Grant Hill is making goo-goo eyes at Phoenix.

News From Seattle:

Presti said Thursday that the Sonics are intent on signing Lewis and making him the focal point of an offense that will feature Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, although they all appear to play the same position.

Several teams are believed to be interested in Lewis, but most will have to offer the Sonics a sign-and-trade deal because they are over the salary cap. That consists of packaging players or draft picks and moving them to the Sonics for Lewis, who would sign with Seattle and then be traded to the second team with a more lucrative contract.

Dutt and Lewis have formulated a list of "five or six" teams that would be the "right fit for him, with Seattle obviously being on top of that list as well. Now we've got to look at their roster. They've had a lot of changes; I'm not saying it affects it one way or the other, but you have to see what direction they want to go and see if it fits where we want to go."

Orlando's acquisition!

Clearly, the best thing the Magic got out of Thursday's NBA draft was a chubby and curly-haired 5-foot-8 guy from State University of NewYork-Brockport.He is expected to have a major upside, although he asks, "Wearing black makes you look slimmer, right?"And with the 39th pick, the Magic received Stan Van Gundy. He will be coaching the team, of course. That was the second-round selection the Magic gave up for the right to pry Van Gundy from under Pat Riley's Bruno Magli after Billy Donovan's about-face.The Miami Heat chose Stanko Barac of Bosnia with Orlando's pick, then traded his rights to the Indiana Pacers.The Magic sold the Nos. 44 and 54 picks for about $300,000, all proceeds going to the arena fund, no doubt. "We were young enough,'' General Manager Otis Smith said.They wound up taking the last pick at No. 60 after trading No. 44 to Dallas. I'd tell you whom the Magic landed, but at my age, I can't stay up that late anymore. Neither can Greg Oden, who's 43. Good thing he went No. 1.Besides, if you're getting picked after Jay Leno's monologue, what's the point?The Magic actually had a terrifically dull night.What most fans forget is that the idea is not to have your team be the life of a draft party. The more anticipation and excitement, . . . the more agony and anonymity said club is suffering.You think fans in San Antonio were filling out mock drafts? They save celebrations for parades. They want the Spurs to get the last pick every year so they can take a forward from Finland.Smith wants draft night in Orlando to be even more uneventful. That's his mission, trying to make it an annual nuisance, titillating as an audit.The last thing Smith wants is his team having the chance to select another Dwight Howard. The Magic finally managed to get out of the lottery for the first time in three seasons.Smith thinks so highly of the draft that he dealt the club's first-round pick Thursday early in 2006, swapping it and Kelvin Cato to the Pistons for Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo.It wound up being the No. l5 pick for the Pistons, who selected guard Rodney Stuckey. The Magic boast that they, in effect, extracted Milicic -- Detroit's former flamed-out No. 2 pick in '03 -- from this draft. And it could be only a matter of days before they, in effect, lose that pick or not.Milicic will test free agency after floating a trial balloon in Orlando. The courting period begins Sunday, with Smith on the clock.The Magic are eyeing Seattle small forward Rashard Lewis, and he is eyeing them. This is where the Howard Era could take a turn.To land Lewis, the Magic will be competing against some of the greatest marquee recruiters in NBA history: Shaq, D-Wade, LeBron and some guy named M.J.According to those close to the situation, the Miami Heat, fueled by the star power of Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade; the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James; and the Charlotte Bobcats, directed by managing member of basketball operations Michael Jordan, are the leading candidates wooing Lewis.The Magic might have received an assist from their old coach, Doc Rivers.Doc's Celtics traded out of the first round and acquired Lewis' running mate, Ray Allen, from the Sonics. With Kevin Durant now the face of the Seattle franchise and the Sonics on training wheels, Lewis has every reason to search for his star bucks in Orlando.Maybe the Magic got more out of the draft than they thought.Brian Schmitz can be reached at bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com.

How did draft night affect Rashard Lewis?

Seattle was busy last night. Durant is next years small forward, but a future power forward in the West. By trading Ray Allen for Jeff Green and Wally Szczerbiak they picked up a second small forward and a new shooting guard. With two big cap holds for Durant and Green the SuperSonics are at or near the $54-$57 million salary cap. They could sign Lewis for the max and pay luxury tax, but they really need a working center instead of a duplicate player.

It appears they are ready for life after Rashard Lewis. It would be best for Seattle to sign and trade Lewis where they could pick up a low cost big man who can actually play in the NBA.

Charlotte and Orlando had the cap room to go after Lewis. Last night Charlotte traded for Golden State's Jason Richardson. Richardson is an $11m shooting guard. It's pretty clear they will now resign SF Gerald Wallace who would have left if he didn't get help.

The Knicks wanted to make a splash with a trade this year and had targetted Lewis as a possibility. The Zach Randolph trade last night possibly ending their offseason moves. (NYC area strippers beware)

That leaves Orlando as a likely destination for Lewis.

Orlando needs to quickly sign Darko to remove a $13 million cap hold, then dump a Battie or Turkoglu sized contract on either Seattle or a third party to make the numbers work. This should be an intersting next 10 days.

If the Magic want that shiny new stadium the keys just might be Darko and Lewis.

Lewis is a 9 year veteran. 27 years old. 6-10, 215 lbs. SF. Last year averaged 22.4 pts, 6.6 rebounds in 60 games. He missed 22 games in a row with a right hand tendon problem but finished the season strong averaging over 23 points after the All Star break.

Magic select North Carolina F Reyshawn Terry

With the 44th pick in the second round, the Magic draft North Carolina F Reyshawn Terry. He is 6 ft 7 1/2 inches, 222 pounds. He started 36 of 38 games last season, averaging 9.7 ppg, 5.4 rebs. He is also a good 3 pt shooter. According to ESPN. he needs to improve his mental toughness.

Possible Magical picks in 2nd round

The Orlando Magic don't have a first-round pick in this year's draft. They do, however, have two second-round picks -- No. 44 and No. 54. C Stanko Barac (Bosnia-Herzegovina): May be a draft-and-stay-in-Europe-for-another-year player. C Aaron Gray (Pitt): Solid in low post, but mechanical and lacks athleticism. F Demetris Nichols (Syracuse): Good scorer, but not a low-post type. G Ramon Sessions (Nevada): Should've remained for senior season but has potential. C Kyle Visser (Wake Forest): Had big senior season but appears to be journeyman-type talent. If you want to join in all the fun, the Magic will have a draft party at The Clubhouse (100 E. Pine St.) beginning at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, and fans can watch an exclusive live feed from the Magic's draft room at the RDV Sportsplex, in addition to the televised draft from New York. Beer and wings will be available.

Five Keys to a Successful '07-08

As we head toward the draft, summer league play, and free agency, here is an early glance at five keys to a successful ’07-’08 Magic campaign: Attack, Attack, Attack...Look for your ’07-’08 Orlando Magic to attack offensively. This should not be confused the shot clock, driving and kicking, and generally putting pressure on the defense. The Magic will certainly play at a quicker tempo and be fun to watch, but at the end of the day the offensive system employed will be the one that maximizes the talents of the players the most. For the most part that offensive foundation will use the Magic’s youth, energy and athleticism to its fullest. The Magic will look to be more efficient on offense, cut down on turnovers, make its free throws, and utilize the three-point line more. Playing Together and Energy are big buzz words for new head coach Stan Van with flat-out running and gunning. This is more from a standpoint of getting into offensive options quicker in Gundy. Defense Wins Championships...While all the chatter has been about offense and style of play (see above), it is still defense which wins championships. The best defensive teams (see San Antonio) play for the rings. Orlando has a solid defensive base and needs to continue to build on that from an individual and team standpoint. Thundercat...Look for Dwight Howard, nicknamed “ThunderCat” by teammate Keyon Dooling, to continue to strike. Defensively he will continue to block shots and hit the boards. Offensively he will look to build on his ever-expanding repertoire. Two things you need to know about Dwight Howard: 1) He wants to be the best; 2) He is an absolute gym rat, regularly spending hours in the weight room and on the floor fixing his deficiencies and building on his game. No House Calls...Health is always a key component. Orlando must stay healthy to win. Look at almost any team: The key players go down, you fall in the standings. You stay healthy, you give yourself a chance. Orlando employs a team of health experts, from your athletic trainer to strength and conditioning experts. They All Count...Orlando lost 19 times last season when playing a team with an under .500 record at the time of the game. If you look at the seven teams that won 50-plus games last year (Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio, Detroit, Houston, Utah, Cleveland), they combined to average just 10 losses to teams under .500. Orlando had eight losses last year against the teams which ended up finishing last in their respective divisions. Wins lead to playoff seeding, which can lead to home court advantage and postseason advancement.

Rumor mill has Hill considering Spurs

Rumor mill has Hill considering Spurs
By Bill BegleyThe Daily Times
Published June 21, 2007Broadcast and published reports say that Grant Hill is considering signing with the San Antonio Spurs next month.Or the Phoenix Suns.Or the Detroit Pistons.The Raptors in Toronto? Well, maybe ...The 34-year-old is a free agent as of July 1, when his seven-year, $92 million contract with the Orlando Magic expires, and he reportedly told ESPN radio on Wednesday, during an interview on the Dan Patrick Show, that if pressed, he would prefer the Suns’ run-and-gun style over the less flashy approach favored by the newly crowned NBA champion Spurs.Hill got a chance to see San Antonio up close during the NBA Finals, working as an analyst for ABC television.In a report in the East Valley Tribune, an Arizona paper near Phoenix, Hill said the Suns will be one of the teams he will talk to when he officially becomes a free agent.“Best suit my style? Phoenix, and I think both teams are the two best teams in the league,” Hill reportedly said during the radio interview. “But if you want an answer, I’ll say Phoenix. ... Suiting my style would be an adjustment (with the Spurs).”Any focus on Hill has been blurred by rumors that the Suns are considering a deal to send Shawn Marion to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett and the drama that is the Kobe Bryant situation in Los Angeles.Of course, published reports have Hill, who will turn 35 in October, considering the Raptors — his wife Tamia, is Canadian — and saying that he also would consider a return to Detroit, where he played the first six years of his career.A seven-time All-Star, a rash of injuries derailed what seemed a career on the express route to the Hall of Fame. Hill missed 282 regular-season games in his first six years with the Magic. This season, however, he played 65 games and averaged 14.4 points per game.

Dooling, Garrity Exercise Player Options

By Matthew Gardner June 20, 2007 Orlando Magic players Keyon Dooling and Pat Garrity have exercised the player option in their contracts, opting to return to the team next season instead of becoming a free agent. Dooling played in 66 games for the Magic during the 2006-07 season, averaging 7.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg and 1.7 apg in 21.7 minutes per game. Dooling recently told the Orlando Sentinel he was excited about the Magic's hiring of head coach Stan Van Gundy. Dooling played under Van Gundy during his only season in Miami in 2004-05. "I learned more from one year with Stan than I did in my first four years in the league,"' Dooling told the Sentinel. "He'll be a great asset to the team. [His hiring] only made me more excited about coming back." Originally selected in the first round (10th overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft by Orlando (his draft rights were traded along with Corey Maggette, Derek Strong and future considerations to the L.A. Clippers in exchange for a future first round pick), Dooling has appeared in 393 regular season games during his NBA career. Garrity is the longest tenured player on the Magic roster, having spent the past eight seasons in Orlando. Last season, Garrity saw action in 33 games, averaging 2.2 ppg and 1.3 rpg. For his career, Garrity has averaged 7.6 ppg and is better than 40 percent from three-point range in 521 career games. Garrity joined the Magic on August 4, 1999 when he was acquired in the trade that sent Anfernee Hardaway to the Phoenix Suns. The fourth-year option of his contract was picked up by the Magic in 2000 and he was then re-signed as a free agent on July 24, 2002. After a standout career at Notre Dame, Garrity was selected in the first round (19th overall) on the 1998 NBA Draft. His Draft rights were traded by Milwaukee with the draft rights to future MVP Dirk Nowitzki to Dallas in exchange for the draft rights to Robert Traylor. However, Garrity was quickly traded again on Draft night, this time going to Phoenix as part of a package that sent another future MVP, Steve Nash, to Dallas.

Magic Players: Hill,Vasquez,Gortat...

Grant Hill to keep playing, weighs options:
He likes Stan Van Gundy but could leave for a contender such as one out West.Being at the NBA Finals as a television analyst has made Grant Hill only more determined to finish his playing career competing for a championship.Hill, 34, will become a free agent July 1 after spending the past seven seasons with the Orlando Magic. He said Wednesday from Cleveland that any earlier thoughts of possible retirement have ended, and that he wants to explore his options this summer before deciding where he will play next season."I love it here at the finals. It makes me want to play in the finals. Being in this situation is what you should play for,'' he said. "It's a real motivating factor right now. It's the goal of every player to reach this point. That's what I want.''During a radio interview earlier in the day, he was asked about the possibility of playing in either Phoenix or San Antonio next season, and he fueled the speculation that he was ready to leave the Magic."In my head, nothing really has changed. I'm just going to do what any free agent does, listen to what's out there,'' he said. "And I don't know what that will be at this point. What was said [on the radio] might have come out wrong. I could be back [in Orlando]. It is going to be my 'home.' ''Hill spoke at length by phone last week with new Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy, and said he liked what he heard. More than one person in the Magic organization believes that the change from Brian Hill to Van Gundy -- and not Billy Donovan -- has increased the chances of Grant Hill returning."The Magic got the right coach,'' Hill said Wednesday. "It's a good fit. He is very impressive. I hope to sit down with him after the finals to get a better feel for what he's thinking. I like what I have heard so far.''Although Hill spent the majority of his Magic career on the injured list recovering from five surgeries to his left ankle, he stayed relatively healthy last season, appearing in 65 games and averaging 14.4 points and 3.6 rebounds.He is far from the all-star-caliber player he was in Detroit, but he remains good enough to be a valuable role player on a contender in the Eastern Conference. The Magic, though, didn't look like a contender last season, winning 40 games and getting swept in the first round of the playoffs."My whole thing is that I don't want to be an M.L. Carr [waving a towel as a cheerleader from the sideline on a championship team], playing 5-10 minutes a game,'' he said. "I still want to play. I have something left in my tank.''"That decision rests in his hands,'' Van Gundy said. "I have an unbelievable amount of respect for Grant as a player and as a person. He obviously would be a great addition to any team in this league. Would I like to have him? Absolutely, but he has a lot of things to think about.''Tim Povtak can be reached at tpovtak@orlandosentinel.com.

Van Gundy gets bearings with Magic

All of the assistants will be interviewed, and the new coach wants players' input.

New Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy huddled Monday at his South Florida home with General Manager Otis Smith, formulating plans to hire a staff and move forward with revamping his roster through the upcoming draft, potential trades and next month's free-agency period. Van Gundy spent the weekend contacting many of the current players by phone, introducing himself while soliciting their ideas and input.

Van Gundy will begin interviewing the current assistant coaches this week in Orlando before deciding if any of them will join him for the coming season. All of the current assistants from former coach Brian Hill's staff have another year left on their contracts.

"I like what I heard from Coach [Van Gundy]," said Magic guard J.J. Redick, who was at the RDV Sportplex doing a promotion with NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Jeff Burton. "He told me he wanted offense. He wanted shooters on the floor. I told him all I want this season is an opportunity, a fair shake to earn playing time."

Redick and Burton played a promotional game of H-O-R-S-E, trying to drum up support for next month's race at the Daytona International Speedway. Burton finished 13th Sunday in the rain-shortened Pocono 500 in Pennsylvania.

Redick, whose rookie season was mostly wasted by a lack of playing time, is one of the few Magic players who has been working out daily at the RDV Sportplex. He will be part of their Rookie League team that will convene early next month.

"It has been a little awkward around here [with all the coaching upheaval] lately," Redick said. "I'm glad that's all over, and everyone can focus on improving. He [Van Gundy] seemed like he really wants to communicate with the players. He wants our input. That's kind of nice."

What To Watch For With Magic under Stan Van Gundy

More points: The offense should open up considerably under Stan Van Gundy, who said he wants his best scorers on the floor. Under Hill, defense was the top priority, and his best defenders usually played.Quicker shots: Hill wanted the team to milk the shot clock before trying to score. Van Gundy said he wants his team in a constant attack mode. He doesn't want his point guard walking the ball up the floor.Defense may suffer: The Magic became one of the best defensive teams in the Eastern Conference under Hill because he played the best defensive players. That won't be the case under Van Gundy.Long-distance shooting: The Magic just didn't put a priority on 3-point shooting under Hill, which is a big reason why J.J. Redick hardly played. Van Gundy wants to utilize the 3-point shot more, and Redick will get a better chance to shoot it.Dwight Howard moving more: Hill wanted Dwight Howard deep in the post, relying on his power to score. Van Gundy, in a more up-tempo style, might get Howard more scoring chances in the open court.

Stan Van Gundy's deal with Orlando Magic may be for 4 years, $16 million

A win-win negotiation ended Thursday with former Miami Heat Coach Stan Van Gundy taking over as coach of the Orlando Magic.Within hours of announcing they had let University of Florida Coach Billy Donovan out of his six-day-old contract to return to the Gators, the Magic completed negotiations with the Heat for the services of van gundy.In exchange for allowing Van Gundy out of the final year of his consulting contract, the Heat will receive a second-round pick from the Magic in the June 28 NBA Draft, plus other considerations.While the teams have yet to release the details of the agreement, an NBA source said the Heat also would have the right to swap first-round draft positions with the Magic in a future first round, likely 2008, provided Orlando's selection is not in the lottery. The Magic does not hold a first-round pick in the upcoming draft. Should the first-round swap not be made, the Heat instead would receive a future Magic second-round pick.After Donovan backed out of a five-year, $27.5 million package, Van Gundy is believed to have received four years at roughly $16 million.Van Gundy had targeted the Magic as his desired destination since Brian Hill was dismissed as Orlando coach shortly after the regular season. However, because the Heat and Magic both play in the Southeast Division, Heat Coach Pat Riley, in his dual role as team president, stepped in and requested compensation.With the initial request involving a first-round pick, similar to the compensation the Heat paid to get Riley out of his Knicks contract in 1995, Van Gundy found the situation with the Magic at a stalemate and traveled Wednesday to Sacramento to consider the Kings' coaching vacancy.That, however, was when Riley and the Magic reached the compensation agreement that now will have Van Gundy coaching against the Heat four times during the upcoming regular season."Pat was great at the end,'' Van Gundy said Thursday. "The last call with him was fabulous."Van Gundy, who turned down an offer last month to coach the Indiana Pacers because of lifestyle concerns, said he arrived in Sacramento with the intention of pursuing the Kings' vacancy."I wouldn't have flown out there just to negotiate with the Magic. I know it was a crazy day, but why would anybody do that?" Van Gundy said. "When we went out there, we were not only thinking about it, we took stuff for the press conference and everything."There was not believed to be a Heat compensation demand from the Kings. The Heat are limited to two games per season against Western Conference Sacramento, which it could not face in the playoffs until the NBA Finals.The Kings were looking for a replacement for Eric Musselman, who was dismissed at the close of the season, after one year in Sacramento.Van Gundy stepped down as Heat coach in December 2005, citing family issues. He said by using the past 18 months to reconnect with his wife and four children, he was ready only now to commit to a coaching return."I didn't want to do it sooner," he said. "This year was the year. This is when I started thinking about it and wanted to get back in, but only in the right situation."I wasn't desperate to get back in. This was just from a professional and family standpoint the way to go."The Orlando job affords Van Gundy proximity to his parents, who live in the Miami area, and his mother-in-law, who lives just outside of Orlando in Lake Mary. The Sacramento vacancy offered a similar comfort zone, with Van Gundy raised in Northern California.With Riley yet to commit to coaching the Heat this coming season, Van Gundy was asked about possibly having waited for that job to reopen."The thing is," he said, "I wanted to get back into it now. I didn't want to be out a longer period of time or anything, and I did not want to go back as an assistant or anything like that."I felt if you're out longer, then it gets tougher to get back in, so I think that was all part of the timing also."Van Gundy joined the Heat as an assistant coach on Sept. 20, 1995 and took over from Riley as coach on Oct. 24, 2003. He left as Heat coach December 12, 2005, after recording a 112-73 record in his two-plus seasons as coach.It is possible Van Gundy seeks permission to bring some of his former Heat staff with him. Van Gundy had grown particularly close to Bob McAdoo and Keith Askins during his Heat coaching tenure, with the two now serving on Riley's staff. Van Gundy also is close with Erik Spoelstra, but Riley's lead assistant is now viewed as Riley's eventual successor.Ira Winderman can be reached at iwinderman@sun-sentinel.com.

Stan Van Gundy named new Orlando Magic coach

Stan Van Gundy named new Orlando Magic coach - Orlando Sentinel :

Latest update of the local soap opera that is the Orlando Magic:

The Orlando Magic announced that they have signed Stan Van Gundy to coach the team after reaching a compensation agreement with his former team, the Miami Heat, early today.

Van Gundy replaces Billy Donovan, who was officially released by the Magic from a contract he signed with the team last Friday. The Magic have scheduled a news conference for 5 p.m. today to introduce Van Gundy.

I guess we'll know for sure by 5 p.m. today, then hold our breath and check the headlines Monday morning to see if it stuck.

Orlando Magic likely to lose Stan Van Gundy to Kings

Former Miami Heat coach Stan Van Gundy arrived Wednesday in Sacramento, according to an NBA source, and appears to be on the verge of becoming the next coach of the Kings.Van Gundy, who had been linked for days to the Orlando Magic coaching vacancy that Billy Donovan initially accepted and then bypassed in favor of a return to the University of Florida, previously had met twice with Kings management and ownThe Kings fired Eric Musselman after one year with the team at the end of the season.Van Gundy had been non-committal as recently as Tuesday regarding the vacancies in Orlando and Sacramento.However, once the Heat requested compensation from the Magic, those talks hit a roadblock.Tuesday, upon his return from an overseas trip, coach Pat Riley, in his dual role as Heat president, stepped in with a compensation claim, with Van Gundy still under contract to the Heat through June 2008.Riley is not believed to be seeking a similar compensation from Sacramento, with the Kings scheduled to face the Heat only twice a season, as opposed to the four games a season Orlando plays the Heat as a Southeast Division rival.Generally, assistant coaches are free to pursue higher-level positions without compensation. However, when Van Gundy stepped aside for Riley in December 2005, he already was working under a coaching contract.Riley generally has been more willing to allow his staff to depart for positions in the Western Conference, as was the case with former Heat assistant Jeff Bzdelik surfacing in Denver and former Heat assistant Marc Iavaroni taking a similar position in Phoenix. Bzdelik later became coach of the Nuggets, while Iavaroni last week was named coach of the Grizzlies.Van Gundy joined the Heat as an assistant coach on Sept. 20, 1995 and took over from Riley as coach on Oct. 24, 2003. He left as Heat coach December 12, 2005, citing family reasons, after recording a 112-73 record in his two-plus seasons as coach.Had Riley been softer in his stance with the Magic, it is possible the Heat could have secured one or more second-round picks from the Orlando. The Heat does not currently hold a second-round pick in the June 28 NBA Draft.It is unlikely the Magic would have considered a Heat request for a future first-round pick, with Orlando not holding a pick in that round this year.Ira Winderman can be reached at iwinderman@sun-sentinel.com.

Mock Draft: There's Talent After The First Round...

round 1
PICK
TEAM
SELECTION
#1

Greg Oden -C

19 years old; 7'0"; 260 lbs.
Ohio State, Freshman
#2

Kevin Durant -SF/PF
18 years old; 6'10"; 225 lbs.
Texas, Freshman
#3

Mike Conley Jr. -PG
19 years old; 6'1"; 180 lbs.
Ohio State, Freshman
#4

Brandan Wright -PF
19 years old; 6'10"; 210 lbs.
North Carolina, Freshman
#5

Yi Jianlian -SF/PF
19 years old; 7'0"; 230 lbs.
Guangdong Tigers, China
#6

Al Horford -PF
20 years old; 6'10"; 235 lbs.
Florida, Junior
#7

Jeff Green -SF
20 years old; 6'8"; 225 lbs.
Georgetown, Junior
#8

Corey Brewer -SF
22 years old; 6'8"; 185 lbs.
Florida, Junior
#9

Joakim Noah -PF/C
22 years old; 6'11"; 227 lbs.
Florida, Junior
#10

Spencer Hawes -C
18 years old; 7'0"; 240 lbs.
Washington, Freshman
#11

Julian Wright -SF
19 years old; 6'8"; 210 lbs.
Kansas, Sophmore
#12

Al Thorton -SF/PF
23 years old; 6'7"; 208 lbs.
Florida State, Senior
#13

Nick Young -SG/SF
21 years old; 6'6"; 195 lbs.
USC, Junior
#14

Thaddeous Young-SF
18 years old; 6'8"; 217 lbs.
Freshman, Georgia Tech
#15

Javaris Crittenton -PG
19 years old; 6'5"; 195 lbs.
Georgia Tech, Freshman
#16

Jason Smith -C
21 years old; 7'0"; 230 lbs.
Colorado State, Junior
#17

Marc Gasol -C
22 years old; 7'1"; 265 lbs.
Akasvayu Girona, Spain
#18

Tiago Splitter -PF/C
22 years old; 7'0"; 245 lbs.
TAU Vitoria, Brazil
#19

Rudy Fernandez -G
22 years old; 6'6"; 172 lbs.
DKV Joventut, Spain
#20

Acie Law -PG
22 years old; 6'3"; 185 lbs.
Texas A&M, Senior
#21

Derrick Byars -G/F
22 years old; 6'7"; 225 lbs.
Vanderbilt, Senior
#22

Marcus Williams -G/F
20 years old; 6'7"; 205 lbs.
Arizona, Sophmore
#23

Daequan Cook -SG
19 years old; 6'4"; 185 lbs.
Ohio State, Freshman
#24

Ante Tomic -C
20 years old; 7'2"; 220 lbs.
KK Zaqreb, Croatia
#25

Nick Fazekas -PF/C
21 years old; 6'11"; 225 lbs.
Nevada, Senior
#26

Arron Afflalo -SG/SF
21 years old; 6'5"; 205 lbs.
UCLA, Junior
#27

Josh McRoberts -C
20 years old; 6'11"; 245 lbs.
Duke, Sophmore
#28

Marco Belinelli -PG/SG
21 years old; 6'5"; 192 lbs.
Climamio Bologna, Italy
#29

Rodney Stuckey -G
21 years old; 6'4"; 205 lbs.
Eastern Washington, Sophmore
#30

Gabe Pruitt -PG
21 years old; 6'4"; 170 lbs.
USC, Junior
round 2
PICK
TEAM
SELECTION
#31

Alando Tucker -SF
23 years old; 6'5"; 205 lbs.
Wisconsin, Senior
#32

Aaron Gray-C
22 years old; 7'1"; 280 lbs.
Pittsburgh, Senior
#33

Dominic McGuire -SF
21 years old; 6'8"; 210 lbs.
Fresno State, Junior
#34

Morris Almond -SG/SF
22 years old; 6'6"; 215 lbs.
Rice, Senior
#35

Taurean Green -PG
21 years old; 6'0"; 177 lbs.
Florida, Junior
#36

Kyle Visser -C
21 years old; 6'11"; 255 lbs.
Wake Forest, Senior
#37

Jared Dudley -SF/PF
21 years old; 6'7"; 210 lbs.
Boston College, Senior
#38

Russell Carter -SG
22 years old; 6'4"; 220 lbs.
Notre Dame, Senior
#39

Herbert Hill -PF/C
22 years old; 6'10"; 240 lbs.
Providence, Senior
#40

Demetris Nichols -SF
22 years old; 6'8"; 215 lbs.
Syracuse, Senior
#41

Petteri Koponen -PG
19 years old; 6'5"; 194 lbs.
Honka Playboys, Finland
#42

Trey Johnson -SG/SF
22 years old; 6'5"; 218 lbs.
Jackson State, Senior
#43

Glen Davis -PF/C
21 years old; 6'8"; 315 lbs.
LSU, Junior
#44

Zabian Dowdell -PG/SG
22 years old; 6'2"; 195 lbs.
Virginia Tech, Senior
#45

J.R. Reynolds -PG/SG
22 years old; 6'3"; 197 lbs.
Virginia, Senior
#46

Wilson Chandler -F
19 years old; 6'8"; 210 lbs.
DePaul, Sophmore
#47

Ivan Radenovic -PF
22 years old; 6'10"; 245 lbs.
Arizona, Senior
#48

Jermareo Davidson-C
22 years old; 6'11"; 220 lbs.
Alabama, Senior
#49

Reyshawn Terry -SF
23 years old; 6'8"; 230 lbs.
North Carolina, Senior
#50

Bobby Brown -PG
22 years old; 6'1"; 165 lbs.
Cal State Fullerton, Senior
#51

Carl Landry -PF
23 years old; 6'7"; 235 lbs.
Purdue, Senior
#52

Sean Williams -C
20 years old; 6'10"; 230 lbs.
Boston College, Junior
#53

Ali Traore -PF
22 years old; 6'9"; 240 lbs.
Le Harve, France
#54

Ron Lewis -SG/SF
22 years old; 6'5"; 195 lbs.
Ohio State, Senior
#55

DaShaun Wood -PG
21 years old; 5'11"; 180 lbs.
Wright State, Senior
#56

Mirza Begic -C
21 years old; 7'3"; 220 lbs.
KK Geopilin Slovan, Slovenia
#57

Aaron Brooks -PG
22 years old; 6'0"; 160 lbs.
Oregon, Senior
#58

Joao Gomes -SF
22 years old; 6'7"; 190 lbs.
Barreirense, Portugal
#59

Kyrylo Fesenko -C
20 years old; 6'11"; 240 lbs.
SK Cherkassy, Ukraine
#60

Avid Wyatt -F/C
22 years old; 6'11"; 220 lbs.
Virginia State, Senior

Magic Announce Contract Settlement

Orlando Magic to announce contract settlement with Billy Donovan -

Legal representatives for the club and Donovan worked late Tuesday into finalizing the deal. One of the stipulations agreed upon by both parties is that neither publicly discuss the particulars.

After officially parting with Donovan --- who asked to be released from his Magic contract less than a half day after signing it last Friday ---- the Magic are expected to name Van Gundy as their coach.

But the club might wait a few more days to introduce Van Gundy, allowing the Donovan controversy to die down .

The Magic apparently have worked through some compensation issues with the Miami Heat, who still have Van Gundy under contract for another year as a consultant. It was reported by the Sentinel that the Heat perhaps wanted a draft choice or choices from the Magic.

Move along. Nothing to see here. It's all hush, hush. Danny Devito should be arriving shortly to take over as coach.

Now back to your normally scheduled front office incompetence...

Magic offer job to Stan Van Gundy

Orlando Magic offer job to Stan Van Gundy to replace Billy Donovan

Stan Van Gundy wants to coach in Orlando, but Heat President Pat Riley wants compensation.

Sources close to the situation told the Sentinel that the Heat entered the Magic's bizarre coaching saga Tuesday, threatening to possibly ask for compensation from the Magic for Van Gundy.
Van Gundy has a year left on his contract as a consultant with the Heat.

Heat Coach and President Pat Riley could demand draft picks from the Magic for Van Gundy, who was replaced by Riley as Miami coach in December 2005.

Let me get this straight. Riley pushes SVG out of a dream job so he can get the glory of winning an NBA championship. This had to be a huge embarrassment to SVG and his family but he keeps his mouth shut to be a good company man. Now Riley wants compensation to allow him to get another head coaching job?

What a prick.

Van Gundy

Van Gundy becomes Magic's top option -

Van Gundy compiled a 112-73 record, taking the Heat to their first playoff appearance in three years in his first full season -- one year before Shaquille O'Neal arrived.

In his second season -- O'Neal's first -- they won 57 games and reached the Eastern Conference finals. An injury to Dwyane Wade and to O'Neal likely cost them a chance at the NBA title that season. He resigned early in the third year and Riley took the Heat to a championship.

Although Van Gundy is known as a defensive stickler, his first team in Miami -- without O'Neal -- raised its scoring average to 90 points, five more than it did under Riley. With O'Neal, the Heat jumped another 10 points per game, finished fourth in the league in scoring, under Van Gundy.

According to one person in the Heat organization, the young players in Miami particularly liked playing for Van Gundy, who is known for his personable self-effacing style. He also is known as more flexible than his brother Jeff, an earlier Riley disciple who reached the NBA Finals in New York.

Should Magic Call on Donovan Mentor Pitino?

There aren't many coaches on the NBA scrap heap who can produce the sort of buzz --- shortlived as it was --- that Billy Donovan did for the Magic in his three days as coach.
There is one coach, however, who could wipe away most of the Donovan discord: His mentor, Rick Pitino.
Ironically, Pitino counseled Donovan over the wacky weekend, either encouraging him to remain the Magic's coach --- or just acting as a big-brother sounding board.
Pitino is apparently very happy back in Kentucky, only as the coach at Louisville.
But don't the Magic have to at least try to call on Pitino or another "big name."
Pitino has pizazz. He's just 54. He is Billy Donovan all grown up --- and with better hair. He has been there on the NBA front lines, having coached the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics. He had a decent run with the Knicks, but bombed in Boston, and that apparently was a harsh reminder for him to say he belonged in the colllege game.
But who knows what Pitino might say now?
In Boston, Pitino had a lot of bad luck, missing out on Tim Duncan in the lottery, despite all the Celtics' losses. If he gets Duncan, we are talking about Pitino with reverance as he shows off his rings.
He might not be Duncan, but Dwight Howard could give Pitino a head start in Orlando.
Nothing against Stan Van Gundy, rumored to be Donovan's replacement. Fine coach, terrific guy.
But his arrival, especially after Orlando fans were run over by the Donovan emotional rollercoaster, doesn't quite excite the masses.
So don't the Magic have to go trolling again for that big fish --- even if it's back in the college ranks? Tom Izzo, anyone?
An aside: Pitino, frustrated after a Celtics' loss in 2000, addressed the media with a diatribe that has become lore and legend:
"Larry Bird is not walking through that door, fans. Kevin McHale is not walking through that door, and Robert Parish is not walking through that door. And if you expect them to walk through that door, they're going to be gray and old. What we are is young, exciting, hard-working, and we're going to improve. People don't realize that, and as soon as they realize those three guys are not coming through that door, the better this town will be for all of us because there are young guys in that (locker) room playing their asses off. I wish we had $90 million under the salary cap. I wish we could buy the world. We can't; the only thing we can do is work hard, and all the negativity that's in this town sucks. I've been around when Jim Rice was booed. I've been around when Yastrzemski was booed. And it stinks. It makes the greatest town, greatest city in the world, lousy. The only thing that will turn this around is being upbeat and positive like we are in that locker room... and if you think I'm going to succumb to negativity, you're wrong. You've got the wrong guy leading this team."

Stan Van Gundy to get offer to coach team

Orlando Sentinel

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel has reported that former Miami Heat Coach Stan Van Gundy is on the verge of being offered the seemingly vacant Magic coaching job.

Van Gundy told the Sentinel on Monday morning that he couldn't comment on the situation. However, a source told the Sentinel that Billy Donovan and Van Gundy were the only two people interviewed for the job. So, once the Donovan situation started to unravel, it was clear that Van Gundy would rise to become the top choice.

MAGIC: Orlando Magic Statement Regarding Billy Donovan

MAGIC: Orlando Magic Statement Regarding Billy Donovan: "Orlando Magic Statement Regarding Billy Donovan

June 4, 2007

The following statement has been issued by the Orlando Magic:

While Central Florida, the Orlando Magic and Billy were energized with the announcement of his contract signing on Friday, we know there was a different feeling in Gainesville and people have been tugging at him since that time.

Billy is conflicted with those emotions and the opportunity he has ahead in Orlando and in the NBA.

We've had numerous conversations and a personal visit in Gainesville with Billy over the last 48 hours and we have a commitment from him that the dialogue between us will continue. "

Pardon my French, but WTF!?

Orlando Magic will allow Billy Donovan to return to Florida
Dave Curtis and Lynn Hoppes Sentinel Staff Writer

The Orlando Magic today will allow Billy Donovan out of his 5-year, $27.5 million contract that he signed on Friday.

"It's over," said a source close to the situation.

Donovan had reservations about leaving the Florida Gators for the NBA on Friday and spent all weekend trying to find a way to get out of his contract. On Saturday, Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith went to Gainesville to try to convince Donovan to honor the deal. Smith talked with Donovan again on Sunday, and so did Magic President Bob Vander Weide.

Unless Donovan wakes up today and changes his mind, the Magic will let him go, the source said.

Almost everyone at Florida, from people on his staff to other NBA coaches to even his wife, told Donovan to go to the Magic -- but after Friday's emotional news conference in Gainesville, he started thinking he might have made a mistake. That was the first time he even mentioned there being a problem.

The Sentinel visited Donovan's house early this morning, and UF assistant basketball coach Larry Shyatt answered the door. He said Donovan would not comment.

"You guys can't talk to him now," Shyatt said.

Messages left with UF Athletic Director Jeremy Foley on Sunday were not returned. UF spokesman Fred Demarest said Sunday night that the school would have no comment. Messages left for Magic officials -- Chief Operating Officer Alex Martins and General Manager Otis Smith -- were not returned.

Donovan was hired as Magic head coach Thursday and introduced in his new job Friday, the end of a weeklong Magic courtship. Donovan appeared confident in his decision in news conferences in Gainesville and in Orlando, but things changed.

Foley flew to Richmond, Va., on Saturday to interview Anthony Grant, the Virginia Commonwealth University coach. Grant is a former Gators assistant and the leading candidate to replace Donovan.

But that meeting never happened -- Foley flew away from Richmond after learning of Donovan's second thoughts before the athletic director even left the airport's grounds.

That's when the Magic's Smith leaped into action. He went up to Gainesville to try to convince Donovan he was making the right decision. But Donovan still was waffling.

That's why Grant, who was the front-runner and was looking to make $6 million over 5 years at Florida, issued a statement Sunday night saying he has had no in-person contact with UF officials and hasn't received an offer to be Florida's head coach.

"I have been contacted by the University of Florida regarding their coaching vacancy," the statement said. "I have not had any in-person contact with any Florida representative, nor have I been offered the job.

"At this point in time, I will have no further comment on this situation as my focus is on my responsibilities at VCU."

Grant, who emerged Thursday as the top and seemingly lone candidate to replace Donovan, spoke with several Rams recruits and their coaches Thursday and Friday to prepare them for his possible departures.

Donovan did not attend Florida's boys basketball camp, which started Sunday afternoon on campus. He was at home trying to find guidance on his future.

Several members of his staff, including Shyatt, ran the camp. In his news conferences Friday, Donovan said Shyatt would join him with the Magic. In fact, Donovan talked with the Magic about Shyatt's new contract that afternoon.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, reached at home early this morning, said he had heard nothing about Donovan possibly backing out of the deal. After learning of the report from a Sentinel reporter, Dyer said he still had no comment.

Nick Calathes and Chandler Parsons, high-profile recruits from Lake Howell High School who signed with the Gators, had communicated with each other late Sunday night but indicated they had not heard from UF's coaching staff.

It's unclear whether the Magic will ask for a settlement to allow Donovan to break his contract. It's also unclear where the Magic will be turning to now, but the second choice behind Donovan had always been ex-Miami Heat coach Stan Van Gundy.

An unexpected coup for Magic, and good for Donovan too

The following column was written Thursday on CBS SportsLine.com by SportsLine staff writer Tony Mejia. He's right on with a number of his observations...

I wasn't sure Billy Donovan had it in him to leave Florida. Not after spurning Kentucky and not after giving his blessing to his four star underclassmen to abandon his program, essentially holding their hand through it as they wept, and then planning on staying put in the aftermath.

No Florida Gators fan should begrudge him for taking what is rumored to be a $6 million dollar deal. He leaves on top, following repeat championships, with his legacy intact.

Most shocking of all is that the Orlando Magic ponied up the cash to complete this transaction and woo Donovan away. This franchise has done nothing but take the safe and often stupid route time after time over the past decade.

I've seen this all up close, and everyone, from front office to fan base, is guilty of it.

This is indeed a magical turn of events for Orlando basketball. Kudos to GM Otis Smith, who becomes a hero. Bob Vander Weide, Dave Twardzik, all those guys who convinced owner Rich DeVos to open his wallet and get Donovan to venture south from Gainesville - if I were in town, I'd invite you all down to CityWalk to celebrate. A round on me.

You've guaranteed yourselves not only a new arena but a winner as well. Consider what Orlando has done since losing Shaquille O'Neal; there has been a player mutiny led by Penny Hardaway; a 3-1 playoff choking against Detroit that came after the best player to come through the city since the Diesel declared victory a foregone conclusion; they hired a hockey guy, John Weisbrod, to run the team; they gambled on Steve Francis and thankfully were able to fleece the Knicks to remedy that; they re-hired Hill, who cultivated little improvement.

The only smart thing they did was draft Dwight Howard, who will benefit so much from Donovan that I expect to see astronomical improvement by the time 2008 comes around.

Orlando has, in one single move, become relevant again. And even if Donovan fails, conventional wisdom is that he can always return to the college game the way mentor Rick Pitino did. He has had a nice re-birth, no?

But he won't fail. He's walking into a wonderful situation and was smart enough to recognize that. The Magic made his choice all the easier by ponying up the jack. I honestly never felt they had it in them. The climate has changed. Orlando wants to be more than mediocre.

The only loser in all this is the game of college basketball, specifically the University of Florida, losing a man who now becomes a living legend. They will suffer but ultimately will rise again thanks to the spirit Donovan created, one that proved you can win at a football school.

Congratulations, Billy. You made the right choice. See you soon.

- by Tony Mejia, CBS SportsLine.com