Orlando Magic guard Tracy McGrady was placed on the injured list Wednesday with left knee tendinitis and will miss the rest of the season.

McGrady had missed the team's past two games with the tendinitis.

"It just isn't getting any better," McGrady said. "The organization doesn't want to me to rush it, and I don't want to rush it. I just don't want to put pressure on myself to try and come back too soon. We're just being cautious."

Even though he will miss the team's final seven games, he is very likely going to win the NBA's scoring title with a 28 ppg average.

The next closest player is Sacramento's Peja Stojakovic, who is averaging 24.7 points per game.

The Magic are a league worst 19-56 this season.

The Orlando Magic signed forward Britton Johnsen for the remainder of the season, General Manager John Weisbrod said today.

Johnsen has played in 13 games with four starts this season for the Magic, averaging 2.4 points, 1.6 rebounds in 13.8 minutes a game. He originally was signed as a free agent on Sept. 11 and was waived on Nov. 16.

Johnsen later signed a 10-day contract on Mar. 10, then a second 10-day contract on Mar. 20.

Is it about time the NBA got serious about establishing a viable minor-league system?  While the Continental Basketball Association and the National Basketball Development League are nice, as Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel writes they are just not doing enough for the game.

Imagine how much it would have benefited Magic rookie point guard Reece Gaines to be sent down for seasoning? Or Magic center Zaza Pachulia? Or Detroit center Darko Milicic, the No. 2 pick in last year's draft?

Instead of languishing on the bench, Gaines could have repaired his broken confidence -- and maybe his shot. Then he could have been called back up from the minors to the majors without the Magic losing his rights.

Players in the Continental Basketball Association and the National Basketball Development League, which has NBA ties, are brought up routinely in a procedure similar to those in baseball and hockey. But it's never worked the other way with youngsters and rookies already in the NBA.

"I like the idea. That would be terrific," Magic Coach Johnny Davis said. "I think that's something that is needed for our league. Baseball does it."

Chicago is experiencing first hand the effects of players coming into the league too young and taking longer than expected to develop.  While Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford have all shown flashes - some bright - in their young NBA careers thus far, all three would have benefited from a minor system which allowed them to hone their skills under the watchful eye of the Bulls rather than lose big and often.

Maybe Portland would not have given up on a young teen named Jermaine O'Neal if there was a minor-league alternative.

The idea would have its rules.  Schmitz' idea is to limit the concept to a player's first two seasons. Or maybe even expand NBA rosters or allow flexibility. Teams would retain rights to players, maybe several clubs -- say Orlando, Miami and Atlanta -- could field a farm team in a joint venture.

As one league scout and former coach says, "It would be a win-win deal. We really need it now with all the young guys coming in. Guys who sit on the bench for a year or two lose their value."

With yet another draft containing a strong High School representation something has to be done.

Tracy McGrady didn't play Sunday, but that didn't stop him from creating a stir during the Orlando Magic's 118-88 rout at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.

McGrady said in an interview with ABC sideline reporter Michele Tafoya that the Magic need to sign more free agents in the upcoming offseason and players that "don't take days off." But forward Drew Gooden claimed he wasn't offended by McGrady's comments "because I don't take days off."

The game was the eighth that McGrady has missed this season because of injury, illness or a death in his family. The Magic's record in those games is 0-8.

"Sometimes he gets frustrated and says some things he probably doesn't mean at the end of the day," Gooden said. "It just goes in one ear and out the other. He's young, just like me."

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Orlando Magic guard Tracy McGrady did not play against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night because of tendinitis in his left knee.

McGrady's knee was bothering him during a recent West Coast trip, but he thought the pain would subside while he was taking a two-game absence because of his great-grandmother's death.

He played in Orlando's 105-90 loss to Miami on Wednesday night, but sat himself down in the closing minutes.

McGrady, the NBA's leading scorer, is averaging 28 points and has a good shot at a second straight scoring title. Philadelphia's Allen Iverson is second at 26.4 points.

Starting in McGrady's place was Drew Gooden, making only his second start since late November.

Gooden is averaging 11.5 and 6.4 rebounds.

Drew Gooden knows why the early-season experiment using him and Juwan Howard together didn't work this season.

They didn't get enough of a chance.

Gooden and Howard, both power forwards, were cast together on the Orlando Magic roster this seasons in hopes of overcoming the team's lack of an established center.

But less than a month into the season, the experiment was shelved, leaving Gooden as a reserve, the Magic in disarray and Doc Rivers out as the Magic coach.

"I think it could have worked if given a better chance,'' Gooden said Tuesday after practice at the RDV Sportsplex. "But that wasn't my decision. I still think it could work in the future. I'd like to try it again.''

There are several ways the Magic can revive this fractured franchise -- and one choice is unthinkable and unsettling.

Trading Tracy McGrady is the last option after the last option.

What the Magic might consider is dealing the No.1 or No. 2 lottery pick should they land one of them.

This isn't a superstar draft, no LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony. There are some Dwyane Wades and some Chris Boshes. And more high school kids and nondescript foreigners than you care to name.

Normally, a franchise shouldn't feel the need to panic. Draft (Emeka Okafor), sign free agents (Mark Blount, Brent Barry) and stir. But McGrady, frustrated as the franchise has bottomed out, can leave after next season. The timer's on.

The Magic can go fishing and see what T-Mac could fetch in a trade. But unless you get, say, Theo Ratliff and Zach Randolph or Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson for him, what's the point? And would other teams tear up their blueprints for T-Mac's marquee magic?

Orlando Magic guard-forward DeShawn Stevenson, who can become a restricted free agent this summer, doesn't really want to have go condo-hunting again.

"I love it here. I love playing with Tracy [McGrady]," Stevenson said. "I love the organization, the way they handle things. I hope everything works out well. I'm happy with the situation."

The Magic are also happy with Stevenson, but they will be regrouping after a disastrous season.

And that means that while they can match what another might offer Stevenson, the Magic will have to first make him a qualifying offer this summer. If they do not, Stevenson can become an unrestricted free agent.

"DeShawn is really one of those guys who brings it every night," Magic Coach Johnny Davis said. "Guys like that can be part of the foundation we're trying to build here."

"You could tell by the first quarter it was going to be a long night and a struggle. It was one of those games you just already put it in the books, man," Tracy McGrady said after the Magic were routed 110-85 by the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, 48 hours after scaring the purple and gold out of the L.A. Lakers.

"You get up for those games. [But] a team that's not going to the playoffs. Two bad teams out there. . . . It's like, 'What are you playing for?' "

T-Mac added: "Whoever comes out with the most energy and is willing to work throughout the whole game is going to win the game. Obviously, they [Warriors] had a lot more pride than us, and that's why they won."

Unaware -- and surprised -- by his postgame comments, Magic Coach Johnny Davis and General Manager John Weisbrod said Thursday that they would speak with Tracy McGrady.

Neither was particularly pleased to hear any player ask, "What are you playing for?" but they gave McGrady -- frustrated and emotionally spent -- the benefit of the doubt. Davis and Weisbrod didn't know if he was speaking for himself -- or castigating an entire team that appeared to be going through the motions.

"Every game has implications. . . . From Day 1 to Game 82," Davis said. "I'll have to ask Tracy what he meant by that comment. I think Tracy is a competitor, that he has pride. I don't want to indict him on that statement."

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Tracy McGrady will miss the final two games of the Orlando Magic's road trip to attend the funeral of his great-grandmother.

McGrady, the NBA's leading scorer, told reporters he was leaving the team after Orlando's 110-85 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.

He had 18 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds against Golden State, but shot just 5-of-14 and later admitted he was distracted.

``I've got a lot on my mind,'' McGrady said. ``I wasn't really into the game.''