Orlando Magic seem unlikely to land Corey Maggette, GM says
Posted by cenaysbf on July 8, 2008
Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith said Monday that the club is seriously interested in signing free agent Corey Maggette but concedes they’re a dark horse in the race. “Is it a long shot?” Smith said. “Uh, yeah.”
Smith said the Magic are in the running as long as Maggette can command only the midlevel exception, worth about $6 million per year. There are a few other teams with money under the salary cap to give Maggette more, but not many.
Smith said he originally wanted to split the midlevel exception. Then Baron Davis opted out of his deal with the Golden State Warriors, which started a chain reaction of possible player movement.
Davis apparently has agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, which would set Maggette free and makes him available.
“That changed things,” Smith said.
Smith said the Magic still want to bring back combo guard Keyon Dooling. He said Monday the Magic have yet to offer him a contract.
The Magic just lost out on point guard Chris Duhon, who has agreed to sign with the New York Knicks.
“Chris, he has a chance to start,” Smith said. “That was important to him.”
Why Ewing stayed
Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing said he finally was told by the New York Knicks — his former team — why he wasn’t contacted for an assistant-coaching job on Mike D’Antoni’s staff.
Ewing, head coach of Orlando’s summer-league team, said he spoke with Knicks President Donnie Walsh during the predraft camp in Orlando.
“Donnie just said why I didn’t get an interview [with the Knicks] was because we [the Magic] were in the playoffs,” Ewing said.
Asked why the Knicks couldn’t wait until Orlando’s postseason ended, Ewing said, laughing, “I don’t know. That’s what I was told.”
Former Sonics adjust to plan to move to Oklahoma City
It’s been just more than a week, but the players of the former Seattle SuperSonics are adjusting quickly to what life in its new home of Oklahoma City will be like.
Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant is on hand in Orlando this week mostly to check out and support Oklahoma’s incoming rookie class. But he said between games that he is a little sad to see the franchise relocating.
“Personally I didn’t think we’d move this soon,” Durant said. “I bought a house with my mom and family. That’s our home. But it’s part of the business, so I’m looking forward to a new city and new fans, and we’ll see what happens. . . . Even though it was just a year, being with the fans, it grew on me.”
Monday the team unveiled a nickname-less jersey as they have yet to settle on a branding for the Oklahoma City version of the team.
One of the new squad’s rookies, former UCLA standout Russell Westbrook, said he is looking forward to at least one thing about the team’s move.
“I know it’s a lot cheaper than L.A., that’s for sure,” he said of his knowledge of Oklahoma City. “But that’s about it. One thing you know, though, moving to a new town is that we’re gonna have lots of fans. . . . Wherever the team goes, you just have to be ready to play.”
People-watching
Among those taking in the action were Los Angeles Lakers forward Trevor Ariza, traded by the Magic last season; Indiana Pacers President Larry Bird; Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers; and Heat President Pat Riley. . . . The Magic face Oklahoma City today at about 5|p.m. at RDV Sportsplex.
