The Orlando Magic are talking about the development of a new arena on a mostly undeveloped, 1,800-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center and near the area's bustling theme parks.

Joel Glass, a spokesman for the National Basketball Association franchise, has confirmed to Orlando Business Journal that Atlanta developer Stan Thomas has met with the team's management about building "a world-class sports and entertainment center," as well as building financial ties with the team as a limited partner.

Four days into a fresh opportunity at redemption, and Darko Milicic is already sulking. The name on the uniform is different, but the seat at the end of the bench hasn't changed. He doesn't get it. And he probably never will.
He can't even play on a team that has given up hope on the season.

"I didn't come here to sit on the bench...I tell myself that everything will be fine here, but right now, nothing has changed. I want to play. I need to play. I learn nothing sitting on the bench."

Nothing has changed. Darko still blames other factors for his inactivity. He eagerly embraced his emancipation from the Pistons, somehow convincing himself that liberation from his self-described "nightmare" would immediately register into consistent playing time with the Magic.
But Darko didn't play one second in his second game with the Magic, Wednesday at New Jersey.

"You have to ask them why," Darko said of the coaches.
Magic coach Brian Hill offered the same refrain that grew age lines in Detroit the last three years. Darko has "tremendous upside," Hill said, but he has to "learn his new surroundings" and grow comfortable with the situation. In other words, he needs to wake up.

Orlando will discover what the Pistons reluctantly learned before they traded him last week. Darko has an unyielding sense of entitlement that will prevent him from fully taking advantage of his physical gifts. He still equates playing time with something gift-wrapped under a Christmas tree.

It's time for Darko to grow up, sack up and maybe wise up. He still holds a grudge against the Pistons for how he thinks they treated him.

"I was pissed," he said. "It was always the same story, same story. They told me to be ready, and I was. They told me to have a good preseason, and I did. But my playing time went to nothing. They didn't want me, so I needed to leave."
But was his time in Detroit really "a nightmare," as he called it this week before he played his first game with the Magic? If anything, Darko's problem is that he has become too Americanized.

A concern remains that Milicic lacks motivation to push himself beyond the fruits already won from being the second overall pick in the 2003 draft. It's still easier to blame somebody else for his shortcomings.

Isn't there a local law on the books prohibiting the Magic from engaging in a business deal with Joe Dumars? Orlando hasn't recovered from the less-than-minimal return on its seven-year, $98 million investment in Grant Hill in 2000. The sign-and-trade deal involving Hill gave the Pistons the backbone of their championship revival - Ben Wallace.

But some people in Orlando think that vengeance is finally theirs, fleecing the Pistons of an unrefined talent they ruined solely by neglect.

Sounds like the Magic Kingdom has been sniffing Tinker Bell's pixie dust.

As expected, the Orlando Magic waived Anfernee Hardaway on Friday.

In a related move, they have signed Charles ?Bo? Outlaw.  Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.  

Outlaw was waived on Wednesday in order to complete the Steve Francis trade.

How many wins the Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis backcourt will produce for the rest of the season is yet to be seen, but there are plenty of skeptics, including some within the Knicks organization, but it doesn't appear to be the coach.

"I'm excited about it, and I'm anxious to see how Steph and Steve play together," said Larry Brown, adding that he "bugged Isiah when I saw" that Francis was available.

With Francis on the club, and skilled athletic players like Jamal Crawford and Jalen Rose in the rotation, Marbury said the Knicks should follow the Phoenix Suns model and go up-tempo. "I don't think we should run any set plays," he said. "I think we should just be pushing the ball every chance we get."

Orlando intends to waive Penny Hardaway and to re-sign Bo Outlaw, who was waived yesterday to make room on the roster.

Hardaway and Trevor Ariza came over in the Steve Francis deal on Wednesday.

Cleveland general Manager Danny Ferry isn't expected to make a drastic move today.

``I like coaching the players I have,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said Wednesday. ``You never say never, but if we do anything at this point it would be a surprise.''

According to several league executives, the Cavs have been looking around for help at the guard positions. Their most tradeable player is Drew Gooden because of his value and the fact he's going to be a free agent.

But Ferry seems reluctant to trade him for just a guard, especially because he's been an excellent team player and has gotten more consistent as the season has progressed. With that in mind and a lack of salary-cap space or draft picks to use, the chances of a significant deal are slim.

The Cavaliers have reportedly discuss adding one of four guards; Derek Fisher, Tony Delk, Earl Watson and Keyon Dooling.

Both the Knicks and Magic have been active before Thursday's 3 p.m. EST trade deadline.

Though the Knicks have been rumored to be involved in other trades, president Isiah Thomas indicated the team is probably done dealing.

"I would say that right now we're pretty satisfied with where we are," he said.

The Orlando Magic's massive rebuilding project that claimed veteran guard Steve Francis might also claim veteran forward Grant Hill, who could be traded this summer or before next season's trade deadline.

Hill told the Sentinel that he is aware "about next season's plans" and realizes that with an expiring contract he could be dealt. He did not comment further.

"I'm not sure Grant would want to be a part of the way this is going to go," said a Magic official.

The Orlando Magic have acquired forward Trevor Ariza and the expiring contract of guard Anfernee Hardaway from New York in exchange for guard Steve Francis, Assistant General Manager Otis Smith announced today. In addition, the team has waived forward Bo Outlaw.

?As an organization, you always look for ways to improve your team, both presently and in the future,? said Smith.  ?The moves we have made today and last week (Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo from Detroit) continue to build a solid foundation around our core players, such as Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson.  In addition, this particular deal has allowed us to gain significant salary cap flexibility in the future.?

?The moves we have made during the last few days are geared to grow and improve our team,? said Magic Head Coach Brian Hill.  ?Trevor (Ariza) is a young, athletic small forward, who will fit in defensively with what we are trying to accomplish.  I genuinely like Steve as a person and wish him nothing but the best.?

ESPN.com has learned that Steve Francis is headed to New York under a deal agreed to Wednesday by the Knicks and the Orlando Magic.

The teams agreed to a trade of Francis for Penny Hardaway and Trevor Ariza, two league sources with knowledge of the deal told ESPN.com.

The trade was expected to be announced later Wednesday afternoon after being called in to the league office.