Notes from the first day of training camp

From Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel:

The Orlando Magic started training camp Tuesday with two practices at RDV Sportsplex. Players scrimmaged for about 27 minutes apiece during the morning session, and Coach Stan Van Gundy said he liked his players' effort, but added that they were "very, very, very sloppy."

"We want players to get comfortable with a style of play right now," Van Gundy said.

The team worked on its pick-and-roll defense and its double-team defense in the low post during its late-afternoon practice.

Carter's first day

Vince Carter sounded upbeat after his first official practice with the Magic.

Carter, 32, believes his trade to Orlando gives him the best chance of his pro career to win a championship.

"There's a lot of great players who've had wonderful and outstanding careers who didn't get it, and they're still Hall of Famers," Carter said. "I don't think you need it to become a Hall of Famer, but I want it. I wasn't able to accomplish one in college for one of the better teams in the country, but I'm playing on one of the better teams in the country once again. And I want that opportunity."

Layups

•Shooting guard J.J. Redick sat out most of the afternoon session after he suffered a minor back spasm in the morning. Dwight Howard said Redick was "impressive" during the scrimmage, though.

•Van Gundy said point guard Jason Williams has gotten into "great shape" after sitting out all of last season. Williams and Jameer Nelson each will play more minutes than usual this preseason to knock off the rust.

•Third-string center Adonal Foyle didn't practice Tuesday because of a sore knee. Foyle, who received an injection for the inflammation, said he could return to practice as early as today.

•Van Gundy said he hasn't decided whether Rashard Lewis will start or come off the bench this preseason. Lewis will still get his minutes and see some time at small forward in exhibition games, but the team also must prepare for Lewis' 10-game suspension to start the regular season.

•Van Gundy said the team will scrimmage again this morning. In all, the team will scrimmage two or three more times before it departs for Dallas on Sunday for Monday's preseason opener against the Mavericks.

•Foyle's absence forced Van Gundy to play training-camp invitee Linton Johnson III, a 6-foot-8 small forward, a bit at center during the scrimmage.

Josh Robbins

Magic to extend deals for Van Gundy, GM Smith

Here is an article from cbssports.com today:

ORLANDO, Fla. - A person familiar with the negotiations says the Orlando Magic have extended the contracts of General Manager Otis Smith and Coach Stan Van Gundy.

The person says the team picked up options that extend Van Gundy through the 2010-11 season and Smith through 2011-12. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deals have not been officially announced.

The Orlando Sentinel first reported the extensions Monday.

The duo led the Magic to only their second NBA Finals and first since 1995 last season.

Van Gundy has led the team to consecutive division titles since taking over before the 2007-08 season. He has a 111-53 record since taking over as coach of the Magic before the 2007-08 season, replacing Billy Donovan after the Florida Gators coach decided to return to college only days after going to Orlando.

Smith has overseen the franchise's resurgence since being promoted to general manager ahead of the 2005-06 season.

His trade to acquire Rafer Alston from Houston last season after All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson suffered a shoulder injury kept the Magic as contenders last season and propelled them to the Finals. This offseason, Smith helped the Magic acquire Vince Carter from New Jersey as the team parted ways with Hedo Turkoglu.

Training camp begins in a week

Just a few minor notes regarding the Magic as we near training camp next week, courtesy of the Magic BasketBlog:

The Magic have added two free agents --- guard Morris Almond and forward Linton Johnson III --- to their training-camp roster, said General Manager Otis Smith.

Almond, 6-feet-6, was a former first-round pick in 2007 by Utah and played 25 games with the Jazz last season. He averaged 3.7 points and 1.4 rebounds.

Johnson, 6-8, is a six-year pro out of Tulane. He has averaged 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds over his career, and played briefly with the Charlotte Bobcats and Chicago Bulls last season.

Also, Magic backup center Marcin Gortat averaged 14.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game for Poland over his six tournament games at the European basketball championships, which Spain won.

Not much going on the last few weeks with the Magic

After a whirlwind off-season full of transactions, things have quieted down for the Magic the last couple of weeks, with the opening of training camp less than three weeks away.

The only news of note for the Magic lately are that backup center Marcin Gortat will represent Poland in the EuroBasket 2009 tournament that started earlier this week, and that he is looking forward to playing with the Magic again this season.

Also, all 82 Magic regular season games will be televised in Orlando (38 games on Sun Sports, 32 games on Fox Sports, and the remaining 12 on TNT, ESPN, or ABC).

News will no doubt be picking up for the Magic as training camp nears, in what promises to be arguably the most anticipated season in Magic franchise history.