Jerry Brewer of the Orlando Sentinel reports: The Orlando Magic intend to make one thing apparent during this NBA free-agency period: They have an opening for a starting point guard.

The Magic's sales pitch is that guards can move to Orlando and develop in a situation that is set up for them to succeed. Whether there will be any takers will be determined this month.

The Magic, hoping to avoid the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax, can only spend a portion of their $4.6 million mid-level salary-cap exception to do this. They want a little man willing to come at the right price, with the incentive that he could increase his value.

Since draft preparations began, General Manager John Gabriel and Coach Doc Rivers have been saying that finding a quality point guard rates high on their priority list, perhaps even ahead of frontcourt help.

That need is now increased by the uncertainty surrounding free-agent guard Troy Hudson, whose house was a murder scene Sunday night.

Gabriel worked the phones Monday, calling representatives of several potential signees, including point guards Travis Best, Chauncey Billups, Jeff McInnis and Chris Childs, and big men Malik Rose, Charles Oakley and Jerome James, among others.

There is no concrete plan and, apparently, no rush. The Magic may not entertain visiting free agents until next week and players cannot be signed until July 16.

"I think it's going to be a somewhat slower market than usual," said Lon Babby, the agent who represents Magic restricted free agent Pat Garrity, among others.

The Magic retained their rights to Garrity by meeting the Sunday-night deadline to make him a qualifying offer of $2.2 million for next season. They can match any offer made to Garrity.

Babby said he has been assured that Garrity is in the Magic's plans and is confident a deal can be made. However, he may only get a one-year deal because of Orlando's 2003 plans.

One certainty arose as the free-agency period began Monday: It's going to be a long summer.