McGrady will play Magic in late October The Magic also signed center Michael Bradley and are expected to sign veteran Stacey Augmon soon. By Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted July 29, 2004, 11:45 AM EDT Orlando Magic fans won't have to wait long this coming season to cheer -- or jeer -- Tracy McGrady. Traded by Orlando to the Houston Rockets this summer, T-Mac returns to face the Magic on Oct. 23 in an exhibition game at TD Waterhouse Centre, according to several league sources. Sources also say that the Magic will get a double dose of Shaquille O'Neal -- another of their departed superstars -- during the preseason. The Magic take on Shaq's Miami Heat on Oct. 15 in Tampa and then on Oct. 27 at TD Waterhouse Centre to close out the seven-game preseason schedule. The rest of Orlando's itinerary was not known. The NBA's preseason and regular-season schedules will not be released until next week. Looking for more big men after trading Drew Gooden and rookie Anderson Varejao to the Cleveland Cavaliers last week, the Magic have signed forward-center Michael Bradley. Bradley, 6-11, 225 pounds, played three seasons with the Toronto Raptors and last season with the Atlanta Hawks. Bradley, taken in the first round by the Raptors in 2001, has averaged 3.5 points and 4.2 rebounds during his career. Meanwhile, the Magic are expected to sign veteran forward Stacey Augmon to a one-year contract. Augmon, who turns 36 on Sunday, has also been talking to the Chicago Bulls. He recently spoke with New Orleans teammate and former Orlando guard Darrell Armstrong about joining the Magic. Augmon is known for his defense, and will provide depth at the small-forward position. The Magic's preseason game against the Rockets will give fans their first glimpse into the trade, and the chance to see McGrady teamed with 7-6 center Yao Ming. It also will resemble a reunion for players who switched teams. Orlando traded McGrady, power forward Juwan Howard and point guards Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines to the Rockets last month for point guard Steve Francis, shooting guard Cuttino Mobley and center Kelvin Cato. The teams also will play twice during the regular season. But with the Magic and Heat located in the new Southeast Division, the Magic will face O'Neal a half dozen times, counting the two preseason games. After winning three titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, O'Neal -- who played his first four NBA seasons in Orlando -- was traded to the Heat for forwards Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, Caron Butler and a future first round draft pick. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-bk-spt-magicsked072904,0,2277905.story?coll=orl-home-headlines there is gonna be some pretty good hype for a preseason game, can't wait.
awesome not just that after the first meeting between the magic and heat, they take on the pistons...but tmac back to orlando ..we normally take them on in preseason
