The Magic don't expect the Rockets help this summer...

Miller could be bait to get a big man in draft

The Orlando Magic, concerned they may receive the stiff-arm from other NBA teams in their pursuit of free agents this summer, could trade rookie of the year Mike Miller if a deal can assure them of landing a quality big man in the June 27 draft.

Magic General Manager John Gabriel would hate to part with Miller, but he said Thursday that the club would have to consider using Miller in a package to trade up should high school stars such as Kwame Brown or Tyson Chandler become available. Seton Hall's Eddie Griffin, a 6-foot-9 rebounder and shot-blocker, also would tempt the Magic to deal.

Brown, Chandler and Griffin are expected to be long gone when the Magic pick 15th in the first round. It's doubtful Orlando can move up high enough even by dangling Miller, the No. 5 pick in last year's draft, plus its Nos. 15 and 22 picks.

Gabriel has been looking hard at the draft to find a center or power forward because he expects little, if any, cooperation from other teams the Magic might need to broker free-agent sign-and-trade deals this summer. After prying Grant Hill away from Detroit and Tracy McGrady away from Toronto in a free-agent bonanza last summer, and after pulling off a few other shrewd deals, Gabriel says, "We're a marked team. I don't think we're going to get any help at all."

The Magic will make a run at Toronto forward/center Antonio Davis. But the Raptors might not be in any mood to assist Davis in a possible sign-and-trade with Orlando, given that McGrady left for the Magic. Gabriel also acknowledged the Magic's 11th-hour decision to exercise an option to receive Phoenix's first-round pick (which later was conveyed to Houston) upset a few teams affected by the move.

Meanwhile, the Magic continue bringing in draft hopefuls for private workouts. Iowa State point guard Jamaal Tinsley was the star in Thursday's two-on-two game also featuring Ohio State center Ken Johnson, St. John's point guard Omar Cook and former TCU forward Marquise Gainous, a Jones High grad.

Gabriel said if there were no quality big men left and Tinsley was available at No. 15 -- which isn't likely -- the Magic might pick him. Tinsley drew praise from Magic Coach Doc Rivers after making one fancy drive and pass.

Like many NBA hopefuls, Gainous, 24, has taken a circuitous route. He graduated from Jones in 1995, then played for Florida Community College at Jacksonville and TCU. He was not drafted and played in France for L'Hermine last year, averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds.

When Gainous stepped off a plane in France, he might as well have landed on the moon. "A guy held up a sign that had my name on it," Gainous said, "and that was the only English I heard for a while. I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Now, being from Orlando, it would be a dream to play for the Magic."

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I thought that the Rockets were chivalrous about the Magic's decisions... but the Magic shouldn't expect help from the Rockets, regardless of this move.

The Rockets are competing with the Magic. The Rockets need big men. The Rockets need Antonio Davis and Webber as much as, if not more than, the Magic.

Gabriel can still bug off though.

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When this guy started smoking 40 years ago, people had no idea it was bad for you. People had to guess based on the hacking cough, shortness of breath, and bloody phlegm

girl you looks good won't you mock that draft up?!

[This message has been edited by Achebe (edited June 15, 2001).]