[Orlando Sentinel]Magic's offseason is a snoozer so far

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NBA is abuzz, but Magic's offseason is a snoozer so far


By Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted July 17, 2005


The Orlando Magic will tell you they made all their noise -- and most of their changes -- last summer.

The big bang was the blockbuster trade of Tracy McGrady. An ensuing overhaul brought aboard 10 new players, creating what is now a very crowded, very expensive roster.

Thus, all is relatively quiet in the Magic's front office this summer.

They haven't been seriously linked to any free agents or sign-and-trade deals, although the Magic contend they are shopping.

While the Internet burns with media accounts of other clubs' courtships with free agents, Orlando's two new assistant general managers -- Dave Twardzik and Otis Smith -- prefer to remain as tight-lipped and secretive as international spies.

The Sentinel has learned through player agents and other sources that the Magic are trying to sign power forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and that point guard Earl Watson is a prime target. Also, the club has been approached with the idea of signing veteran point guard Damon Stoudamire.

It is not certain whom the Magic might add, but it's clear who they probably will subtract.

The Magic likely need another experienced guard, given the club's confirmation that Doug Christie has asked to be traded in a westerly direction.

Christie arrived, grudgingly, in a trade in January from the Sacramento Kings and owns a home in Seattle.

"Doug has represented to us that he likes being in the West," Magic President Bob Vander Weide told the Sentinel. "That's very clear to us."

Another player procurement option the Magic are considering: Acquiring a veteran cheaply through the amnesty loophole in the new labor deal.

The New York Knicks' Allan Houston and the Dallas Mavericks' Michael Finley might be waived to defray luxury-tax costs under a one-time-only provision in the new collective bargaining agreement that allows teams to waive a player without paying the tax penalty on his salary. If they are, they could become available for a pittance in free agency.

Christie also could be waived, although his expiring contract has trade value.

Free agents can begin signing contracts Friday. Smith said the Magic could "add a player or two in free agency," but there was "no hurry."

"The player -- or players -- we have interest in is still there, and we are still having dialogue," Smith said. "But it has to be right for us."

Unable to compete for the marquee names, the Magic might be waiting to land the best deals, continuing their silent auction.

"We may not be visible, but that doesn't mean we're not being as aggressive as we can," Vander Weide said.

The key phrase here might be "as aggressive as we can."

Twelve players are already under contract, and with at least one draft pick to sign (Spanish power forward Fran Vazquez), there is little room for flexibility, barring trades. NBA teams are limited to 15-player rosters.

The Magic also have piled up a costly tab.



They promised to open their checkbook last year -- and did. They are about $29 million over last season's $43 million NBA salary cap.

With a payroll beefed up last season to $72 million -- which reportedly ranks anywhere from No. 4 to No. 6 in the NBA -- the small-market club isn't wild about spending even more in the punitive luxury-tax age.

Teams are penalized a dollar-for-dollar amount by the tax. Orlando is expected to be hit hard, to the tune of about $18 million.

Signing Abdur-Rahim, say, for $5 million a season computes to $10 million because the Magic are over the tax threshold.

But that doesn't mean they won't pay the extra freight for the right player, Vander Weide said.

The club has the midlevel exception, starting at roughly $5 million, and the $1.6 million veteran's exception available to sign free agents.

"I hate to say we are limited," Vander Weide said. "But this is not the year to reinvent ourselves."

They plan to do that next offseason -- or the offseason after that.

The contracts of center Kelvin Cato, center-forward Tony Battie and Christie -- totaling about $22 million -- come off the books after this season. The final year of forward Grant Hill's contract -- $17 million -- expires after the 2006-07 season. A few more secondary contracts also expire, perhaps giving Orlando much-sought salary-cap room.

Until then, the Magic will explore landing free agents Abdur-Rahim (likely a long shot), Watson (a Brian Hill favorite) and perhaps Stoudamire (represented by agent Aaron Goodwin, who represents Abdur-Rahim and Magic forward Dwight Howard).

The Magic finished a league-worst 21-61 in 2003-04 and 36-46 last season. They will look to make improvements this season largely from within: Play more defense and coax Steve Francis into passing the ball to Howard, that kind of thing.

"We have done enough in the last three seasons to last a lifetime," Smith said, speaking of roster renovations. "So with that said, we have to let what we have built from last year take some form. Change for the sake of change is not good. I don't think we know how good this team can be."

Vander Weide, in a Joe Namath mood, even "guarantees" a better season. Beset by injury and underachievement, the Magic lost 19 of their last 27 games this past season to fade from the playoff race.

"I think we're big, we're athletic and I think we got most of the pieces. Not all the pieces, but most of them," said Vander Weide, who eventually will assume the stewardship of the franchise from owner Rich DeVos. "In the East, we can be competitive, and I'll guarantee that we'll not be the team people saw in April and March.

"We're too good for that. But we have to prove something back to the community."

Brian Schmitz can be reached at bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com.