Jerry Brewer of the Orlando Sentinel reports: The Magic know that if they spend too much time haggling over free-agent bargains, they stand to lose two double-figure scorers in forward Pat Garrity and guard Troy Hudson.

Troy Hudson said that he might stay for less and that he likes playing for another and the situation is good for him. However, there was no comments ftom Garrity.

So unlike the past few seasons, when the issue was who might join them, the Magic begin free agency today needing to keep their own.

With monetary concerns limiting their options, the Magic are interested in improving by doing two things: Keeping the core of this team together and finding a good deal on an available tough guy.

General Manager John Gabriel considers draft-night acquisition Rashard Griffith, a 27-year-old center who has played overseas since 1995, a player who will at least be in the rotation next season.

With that in mind, the Magic are likely to add just one player during free agency. If they can sign Hudson, they will go for a rugged power forward/center.

Charles Oakley, who has said he would like to play for Orlando, Philadelphia or the Los Angeles Lakers, is at the top of the Magic's wish list.Gary Trent, Popeye Jones, Scott Williams and Malik Rose are other free-agent power forwards that the Magic are expected to consider signing.

If they cannot sign Hudson, then point guard becomes a concern.It's likely that if his leg holds up that Grant Hill will start at the point with Darrell Armstrong coming off the bench. If Hudfson's leaves, Travis Best, Jacque Vaughn, and Chris Childs become possible options.

The way the Magic are built, with Tracy McGrady dictating the offense and passing to open shooters, signing Pat Garrity is a must. His value is increased for two reasons: Hill's ankle injury and the fact that the Magic will still listen to callers wanting them to trade their most tradable commodity, Mike Miller.

"They are going to be a bit of a struggle," Gabriel said of signing his free agents. "It's not going to be easy."

By Mike McGraw Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted on June 29, 2002
The Orlando Magic has been desperate for a big man ever since Tim Duncan refused to sign as a free agent in 2000. The latest candidate to fill the role is a familiar name to Chicago basketball fans.

In a deal completed late on draft night, Orlando acquired the rights to Rashard Griffith by sending second-round choice Jamal Sampson to Milwaukee. The former King High School star was a second-round pick by the Bucks in 1995 and has been playing overseas for the past seven seasons.

The Magic then flew Griffith to Florida to join fellow draft-night acquisition Ryan Humphrey in an introductory news conference.

"I had basically accomplished everything I could in Europe and my dream has always been to play in the NBA," said the 6-foot-11 Griffith. "I've been dreaming and praying that the day would come. I just wanted the opportunity to be able to play."

Griffith's European resume includes four seasons in Turkey, one in Israel and the past two playing for Kinder Bologna in the Italian League. He averaged 8.5 points and 6.4 rebounds in 22 games last season.

If all goes well, Griffith might step in as the Magic's starting center, where rookie Steven Hunter and an aging Patrick Ewing failed last year.

"My experience in Europe was a great one in terms of helping me develop as a person and as a player," said Griffith, who played two seasons at Wisconsin. "It got me into the attitude where I wanted to win. I accomplished the great goal that I set for myself and that was to win the European championship. I won that last year, and finished second this year. Winning's followed me wherever I've been."

Miller trade still possible: The biggest news Wednesday during the draft might have been the trade that was not made. Even after selecting guard Dajuan Wagner with the No. 6 pick, Cleveland hung on to point guard Andre Miller.

There was heavy speculation that the Cavaliers were going to deal the NBA assists leader to the Los Angeles Clippers for the Nos. 8 and 12 picks, plus a player.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Cavs asked for Darius Miles. The Clippers offered Corey Maggette, then switched to Lamar Odom. After drafting Wagner, Cleveland reportedly called back to accept the trade for Odom and wanted the Clippers to take Connecticut's Caron Butler with the eighth pick.

The problem was, the Clippers had already phoned their selection of Chris Wilcox into the league. When the Clippers tried to swap Wilcox for the No. 9 pick, Phoenix had already chosen Amare Stoudemire. Miami then decided to keep Butler with the 10th selection.

There is always a chance Miller could leave Cleveland this off-season. Indiana is thought to be making an offer, and there has been talk of a possible three-way deal with Miller going to the Hornets and Baron Davis to the Clippers.

Clippers ready to spend: Some longtime NBA observers were surprised to hear that notoriously frugal Clippers owner Donald Sterling was willing to trade for Cleveland's Andre Miller, who is looking for a contract extension near the maximum salary this summer.

The Clippers already need to re-sign restricted free-agent center Michael Olowokandi and deliver an expensive extension for Elton Brand.

"Money is no factor to me," Sterling told the Los Angeles Times. "I spend that kind of money on any given day in some of my (real estate) business dealings and maybe that much twice a month."

Small sum at stake: The Atlanta Hawks are offering season-ticket buyers a playoff guarantee for next season. Anyone who buys a full-season package will get a free ticket to the Hawks' first home playoff game next season. If Atlanta fails once again to make the playoffs, season-ticket holders will receive a $125 refund per seat.

Ryan Humphrey is not the Magic's savior. Rashard Griffith and Mario Kasun aren't going to lead Orlando to the Eastern Conference final.

But then the Magic's new players from the 2002 draft are not supposed to do any of these things.

All they have to do is make Orlando bigger, stronger, tougher and more productive in the paint than it has been during the past few seasons -- and do it at bargain basement prices.

That's what Wednesday's flurry of what general manager John Gabriel admitted were minor deals was all about, giving Orlando solid players, not future superstars, who it hopes can soon step into the rotation and bolster a soft front court.

And do so at a price that doesn't include 2001 rookie of the year Mike Miller, veteran point guard Darrell Armstrong or its ambitions to sign a top-flight free-agent big man in 2003.

"We feel we've accomplished our goals and taken some steps without touching any of our major assets in Mike or Darrell," Gabriel said. "Or our future cap room."

Thursday, two of the Magic's new players, Humphrey and Griffith, were introduced to the media.

"Obviously, when I look to my right, I see two guys that are bigger than what I've been used to," coach Doc Rivers said.

"And that's a really good feeling for me."

Humphrey, a 6-foot-8, 235-pounder from Notre Dame, showed he can make up for his lack of size for a power forward during workouts in Orlando and at the Chicago predraft camp, displaying a 34-inch vertical leap, tenacity and a knack for floor burns.

"I throw my body around recklessly," Humphrey said. "I feel playing high school football has helped my mentality. If I get knocked down, you're going to have to keep knocking me down.

"They'll be like, "Man, is this dude ever going to quit?"'

Griffith was drafted by Milwaukee out of Wisconsin in 1995 but has not played in the NBA. The 7-foot, 27-year-old is ready to return but will have to take a pay cut from his estimated $2-million salary he earns in Europe.

"It's always been a goal and a dream to play in the NBA," Griffith said.

Last year's top pick, 7-0 DePaul center Steven Hunter, is expected to become a major contributor after playing little last season. Together with Humphrey, a fifth-year senior, and Griffith, a seven-year European veteran, Orlando hopes it has big men who can make it tougher.

"We were better at helping people up than putting them down," Gabriel said.

Orlando received Humphrey and Griffith for the price of one, Stanford center Curtis Borchardt. Orlando knew of Utah's interest in Borchardt, and the Magic needed a second-round pick.

Utah agreed to pick Humphrey at No.19 and send him and its second-round pick, the 47th overall, to Orlando for Borchardt. The 47th pick was traded to Milwaukee for the rights to Griffith.

Kasun, a 7-1 Croatian center with small forward skills, was picked 41st overall in the second round, acquired from the Clippers for future considerations.

The Magic maintains Kasun's rights for as long as he plays overseas, however, and might want him to remain there and develop.

Several rumored trades involving the Magic, and Miller, did not come to fruition.

One involved Orlando Cypress Creek's center Amare Stoudemire, the lone high schooler chosen in the draft.

If Stoudemire fell to Washington at No. 11, the Wizards reportedly would have sent him and Jahidi White to the Magic for Miller, center Andrew DeClercq and the 18th pick. But Phoenix took Stoudemire at No. 9.

Ryan Humphrey knew that he had aced his workout with the Orlando Magic, dominating high-profile prospect Amare Stoudemire on the court and also charming the team's front office and coaching staff during personal interviews.

   So when the Orlando Magic momentarily passed him during Wednesday's NBA Draft, Humphrey was understandably dejected.

   "I had such a good feeling about Orlando and I prayed that I would come here," Humphrey said Thursday. "So when (the Magic) selected (Stanford's Curtis) Borchardt, I kind of slumped down in my seat. . . . But when my agent, Mark Bartelstein, called me later in the night and told me that I had been traded to Orlando, a big smile came across my face."

   Unable to significantly move up and land one of the draft's top-tier power forwards, the Magic instead made a deal with Utah that allowed them to snag Humphrey and also add 7-footer Rashard Griffith, a seasoned 27-year-old center who has spent the past seven seasons playing in Europe.

   The 6-foot-8, 235-pound Humphrey is a bit undersized as a power forward, but what he lacks in size he makes up for with hustle and muscle. His 35-inch vertical leap, 20-plus repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press and 7-foot wing span convinced the Magic that he was just too good to pass up.

   "Every season, I love it when there's one guy you interview and you can pick out as a no-miss player," Magic general manager John Gabriel said. "A couple of years ago for me it was (Seattle's) Desmond Mason. Usually there's one guy who has the whole package. Humphrey was one of our first workouts, and when I saw him I told our guys, 'This is my no-miss guy.' He's a bit undersized and we thought about not taking him to play power forward. But soon we all found out the guy in our hearts was Ryan. He'll be the guy Doc can turn to from the bench and get something from immediately."

   A potentially bold move by the Magic never materialized when Stoudemire, the teen from Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, was picked ninth by the Phoenix Suns. Had Stoudemire fallen to 11th, Orlando would have traded shooting guard Mike Miller and reserve center Andrew DeClercq to the Wizards for 300-pound center Jahidi White and the 11th pick (Stoudemire).

   "We had more opportunities to move up than we didn't," Gabriel said. "After the ninth, 10th and 11th picks, we just didn't see the value in moving up after that."

   An Orlando team that finished next-to-last in the NBA in rebounding last season and was battered mercilessly in the playoffs by the Charlotte Hornets made it a point to use this draft to beef up. That's why the team is nearly as excited about getting the rights to Griffith as it is Humphrey. At 7-foot, 280 pounds, Griffith brings some much-needed size, rebounding and shot-blocking to the Magic's smallish frontline.

   Griffith, who starred at Wisconsin for two seasons, was originally picked 38th overall in 1995 by the Milwaukee Bucks. He's won four titles the past six seasons in Europe, including the past two while playing for Italian powerhouse Kinder Bologna.

   The goal now is to somehow get Griffith into camp. He made about $2 million last season in Italy and is a free agent. If the Magic are willing to come close to that salary he assuredly will play in the NBA next season.

   "I had basically accomplished everything I could in Europe and my dream has always been to play in the NBA," said Griffith, a Chicago native. "The time is right now. I'm older and more mature as a person. It's time to give it my best shot."

   Orlando also acquired Croatian center Mario Kasun with the 41st pick following a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. Kasun, a 7-foot-1, 260-pound center, could play on the Magic's summer league team in two weeks, but will likely spend next season in Germany.

   The Magic have also contacted Fordham point guard William "Smush" Parker about playing in the team's two free-agent camps in July. Parker, who was thought to be a late first-round pick, was not drafted Wednesday night.

   The Magic liken Humphrey to a Dennis Rodman or Ben Wallace type, a player who can overwhelm foes with his reckless, high energy style of play. Magic player personnel director Gary Browkaw said Humphrey caught his eye with his ability to jump once, twice and even three times without having to gather himself. Because of his ability to block shots with either hand -- his 2.81 blocks a game were 18th in the nation -- and rebound over bigger forwards, Brokaw said Humphrey compares favorably to New Jersey's Kenyon Martin.

   "Every time I step on the floor I play with a chip on my shoulder because I know that this a job now," said Humphrey, who also led Notre Dame in scoring (18.9 ppg.) and rebounding (10.9 rpg.). "I love challenges and I love to prove people wrong. Stuff like, 'he's too small' and 'he can't do that,' those are things I've heard all my life. This is another challenge for me."

   Humphrey's hustle and Griffith's brawn helped the Magic meet two of their greatest needs, Gabriel said. Getting hammered in the playoffs by the Hornets still sticks with Gabriel and he said this draft was all about doing something about it.

   "We got beaten up pretty good and it was time to do something," Gabriel said. "Two years ago, Don Reid and Andrew DeClercq shared the honor of leading the league in fouls per minute. We kind of got away from that last season and it bothered us. We got better at helping guys up than we did putting them down on the floor. We needed to do a better job of protecting the basket. We think we did what we need to to address those needs."

George Diaz of the Orlando Sentinel reports: Beyond working in three draft-night newcomers, the Orlando Magic are not through tweaking their roster this summer.

Smush Parker, anyone?

An undrafted 6-foot-4 point guard from Fordham, Parker is a 21-year-old New York playground star with excellent passing skills and a nice outside shooting touch who still needs experience running a team.

Parker, who declared himself eligible for the draft after his sophomore season, would fit well because the Magic want to use Darrell Armstrong as a reserve and Troy Hudson, an unrestricted free agent, may play elsewhere.

Parker heads a list of about 20 players the Magic hope to bring in for summer-league play that begins July 9. Although the list of veteran free agents is sparse, the Magic expect to pare their options within the next few days before pursuing anyone. Their free-agent, middle-class exception is about $4.5 million, though a nice chunk of that may go to center Rashard Griffith.

As usual with NBA capology, the Magic will need calculators and creative juggling.

Hudson, Monty Williams and Pat Garrity -- each valuable in the patchwork Magic lineup last season -- may not return. Garrity has less leverage as a restricted free agent, but the others are unrestricted, allowing them to test their full market value.

"It's going to be a bit of a challenge," Magic General Manager John Gabriel said Thursday. " We're going to have luxury tax. It's just a matter of making all the pieces fit and what dollars are left after the tax."

Whoever remains in the mix will hear the "we need better rebounding" edict from Coach Doc Rivers, who lists that -- and the return of a healthy Grant Hill -- as his priorities.

"In three years I've had three completely different teams," Rivers said. "That's one of the things that's been difficult as a coach. This year at least it looks like the core guys will have been together now for a second year. I really believe we're starting to build something here."

Dan Dickau seems to have risen high on the Jazz's list of potential selections in tonight's NBA Draft, but the Gonzaga point guard may not be on the board when it's Utah's turn to pick at No. 19.

Several guard-seeking teams selecting before the Jazz have interest in both Dickau and Czech combo guard Jiri Welsch, including Washington, which on Tuesday acquired New Orleans' No. 17 pick for young Wizards shooting guard Courtney Alexander, and Orlando, which chooses 18th and also likes Frank Williams of Illinois.

Before Washington even picks at 17 (the Wizards also own the draft's 11th selection), Philadelphia could tap either Dickau or Welsch at 16 ? then deal whichever it takes to Golden State.

John Denton of the Florida Today reports: The Orlando Magic might attempt to move up from the 18th pick in the first round of tonight's NBA Draft, but Magic general manager John Gabriel and head coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday if such a deal is made, it won't involve shooting guard Mike Miller.

Several teams have called the Magic in the past week inquiring about the availability of Miller, the second-year guard who averaged 15.2 points a game last season. But the Magic stressed that they have no plans of unloading Miller -- even if it means them not getting the much-needed muscle and rebounding they had hoped to cull from tonight's draft.

"The chances are very minimal," Gabriel said of a possible Miller trade. "We have no interest in losing Mike Miller. I think he would go in the lottery if he were in this draft. And if you know that, then why would you make the transaction? But with his salary ($2.5 million) and the two fantastic years he's had, it's only natural that our phones have been ringing from people asking about Mike."

Hanging onto Miller means the Magic likely will remain at 18th -- meaning they will have to chose from a list of big men that include Fresno State's Melvin Ely, Tennessee's Marcus Haislip or Duke's Carlos Boozer.

Of course, the Magic could address their needs at point guard and might have their choice between Illinois' Frank Williams or Gonzaga's Dan Dickau. Orlando is also holding out hope that Memphis guard Dajuan Wagner, Stanford center Curtis Borchardt, Orlando high school sensation Amare Stoudemire or Northeast Mississippi Community College forward Qyntel Woods will plummet to the middle of the first round.

"There are going to be some (centers and power forwards) at 18, but what kind of big guys will they be?" Rivers asked. "And we could always take a point guard there, too. There could be a couple of opportunities to move up. If we think somebody is going to take our guy, we might move up a couple of spots.

"But if everything is equal (between a power player and a guard), it would come down to who had the biggest upside. I'd probably go big because that's more of a team need than at point guard.

RealGM Note: There is also a chance that Orlando might move out of the first round to save caproom for the summer of 2003.

The Heat have the 10th pick in the draft and are getting some phone calls. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that Portland or Orlando could be interested in moving up in the draft. Miami?s pick could be available to them.

According to two league sources, Portland has interest in a trade that would send the Blazers' first-round pick (21st overall) and power forward Zach Randolph to Miami for the 10th pick, if it would allow the Blazers to select power forward Amare Stoudemire. For that trade to work within the salary cap, additional players would need to be added, such as Miami's Anthony Carter and Portland's Steve Kerr. Complicating matters is the fact Phoenix is considering Stoudemire at No. 9. Miami would have little incentive to make the trade if it can select a player it covets at No. 10.

The Heat would like Portland?s Bonzi Wells, but as a free agent, he can?t be traded until he signs a new contract in July. The Blazers aren't believed to be interested in reacquiring Brian Grant, so a trade involving Wells likely would require a third team. Interest in Grant is limited.

Orlando, which selects 18th, covets one of the top power forwards in the draft and has spoken to the Heat about exchanging picks, sources said. The Heat's interest would be piqued if forward Mike Miller is dangled. The Magic reportedly offered Miller and its pick to Memphis for the fourth pick and Denver for the fifth pick.

If the Heat can?t use the pick to gain a quality veteran, they will likely keep the pick and choose the best player available. Among the players they would like to see drop to #10 are Carton Butler, Jarred Jeffries, Qyntel Woods and Maybyner Hilario.

Tim Povtak of the Orlando Sentinel reports: In a perfect draft, the Orlando Magic could leapfrog high enough to take one of the top frontcourt players available -- without giving up a key piece of their team.

But this draft -- and their current pick at 18 -- is anything but perfect.

"Can we address some of our needs with [pick No.] 18? Yes, but to what level? I don't think anything extensive," said Magic General Manager John Gabriel. "At that spot, for a team that expects to reach the next round [of the playoffs], it's tough to think a rookie there is really going to help you."

While the best big men are out of reach, it's likely that one of the next tier of power players will be available. Someone such as Melvin Ely (Fresno State), Marcus Haislip (Tennessee), Amare Stoudemire (Cypress Creek High School) or Carlos Boozer (Duke) could be there when the Magic pick.

That's not exactly what they wanted, but it's beginning to look like reality as the chance of moving higher in the draft diminishes. Although the Los Angeles Clippers (with Nos. 8 and 12) likely will trade a pick, it is not expected to be to the Magic.

"It's unlikely now that we'll move up," Gabriel said. "There's a lot of talk this year -- maybe even more than usual -- but that's all it is. We just don't have anything imminent or hot on the screen right now."

The Magic are trying to use their stockpile of future draft picks -- seven first rounders in the next four years -- to move higher. But they have been a little reluctant to trade Miller, who will be going into his third NBA season. He originally was the No. 5 overall pick in 2000.

No one else on the Magic's roster (except for Tracy McGrady, who is untouchable) has much trade value.

Miller has been part of several recent discussions -- one with Cleveland involving point guard Andre Miller and one with Memphis involving power forward Stromile Swift -- but Gabriel dismissed the possibility of anything happening in either case. According to one report from Memphis, the Grizzlies were not interested in trading their No. 4 pick for Miller.

RealGM Note: Every year at this Gabe dismisses trade rumors but he has made at least one trade in each of the past three drafts.

Raptors? GM Glen Grunwald isn?t impressed with the talent in this years? draft. Doug Smith of the Toronto Star reports that the Raps may try to trade out of the first round of Wednesday?s draft.

Grunwald said yesterday he'd seriously consider trading his team's first-round pick ? for a future draft choice, a pick lower in the first round or a player already under contract ? if he isn't entirely thrilled with the talent available when it's his turn to choose. "I don't think we'd move up (in the draft)," Grunwald said yesterday as another gaggle of would-be Raptor point guards traipsed through the Air Canada Centre to work out. "I think we'd trade out if the guys we want aren't there."

While most teams are laying smoke screens and releasing misinformation to try and disguise who they want to pick, the Raptors have made it clear that they need back court help, including yesterday's prime workout attraction, 6-foot-3 Illinois point guard Frank Williams. He and Gonzaga's Dan Dickau, who is scheduled in for a second workout this weekend, are mentioned the most when experts, and others, discuss Toronto's draft intentions.

The fact that the Raptors have been working out players that should be available at the end of the first round adds credence to the theory that Grunwald may trade down. Two of those ? Fordham's William (Smush) Parker, a 6-foot-4 scorer, and Fresno State's 6-foot-4 Tito Maddox ? were in for second looks yesterday and will undoubtedly be on the board for selections 25 through 28.

The players the Raps really want, Dickau and Williams, could be selected by Orlando and Utah with the 18th and 19th picks. Both teams have shown interest.

Grunwald said if he were to move back in the draft or out of it entirely, it would be relatively easy to work out a trade. He said he's talked to a few teams already in preliminary discussions but nothing would be finalized until the draft starts to unfold. The Miami Heat, who have the 10th pick, have made no secret they want a second pick, somewhere in the range of Toronto's 20th selection.