John Denton of the Florida Today reports: Out of the playoffs last spring for the first time in 13 seasons, Patrick Ewing kept a close eye on the Orlando Magic and took particular note of the team's glaring hole in the middle.

Factoring in the rising stardom of Tracy McGrady, the expected return to health of close friend Grant Hill and his already strong relationship with head coach Doc Rivers, Ewing needed no free-agent recruitment to know that Orlando was the place for him.

On Wednesday Ewing signed a 2 year 4.5 million deal with Orlando.