Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard said he knows that he is the reason that Shaquille O’ Neal found a new home in Cleveland.
After the way the Magic were able to beat up on the Cavaliers in the playoffs, Howard knew Cleveland had to do something to upgrade their post game.
Bringing in O’ Neal is one way of doing that, as at least the big man will eat up a lot of space on the interior.
Howard still believes there will be holes in the Cavaliers, as Shaq will likely have a tough time defending the Orlando center away from the basket.
Friday, August 21, 2009 at 4:29 pm by steve
After a year away from the NBA to spend more time with his family, PG Jason Williams is back, signing a one-year deal with the Magic on Wednesday believed to be worth the veteran’s minimum - $1.3 million.
Orlando continued its offseason of overhauling by signing Williams, a member of the 2006 NBA Champion Miami Heat, to back up All-Star PG Jameer Nelson. Williams fortifies a hole in the backcourt that resulted from the Magic’s inclusion of PG Rafer Alston in their trade with the New Jersey Nets earlier this summer that landed them G/F Vince Carter.
In August 2008, Williams signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, but never suited up for the Clips in a game partly due to pregnancy complications his wife faced with their third child. Williams sat out the entire season after his attempt to be reinstated was voted down by 24 of the 30 NBA teams (all 30 needed to agree on reinstatement).
The Clippers relinquished their exclusive negotiating rights with Williams when they expired on July 24, leaving the New York Knicks to claim Williams and the exclusive negotiations off waivers. Yet the Knicks never extended a contract offer to Williams and he soon became a free agent, which sent the Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies hot on his tail.
“Jason provides depth and leadership to our backcourt,” said Magic GM Otis Smith. “He is a veteran point guard that knows what it takes to help us reach our ultimate goal.”
Williams has maintained a residence in Isleworth, a nearby community to Orlando, for nearly 10 years.
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 5:48 pm by bryan
Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis has been suspended the first 10 games of the 2009-2010 season by the NBA for testing positive for a banned substance.
Lewis admitted that he tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, the first notable such case in the NBA.
The forward said he simply mixed a powdered substance in with his drinks that he thought was a supplement but turned out to be laced with a steroid.
It’s a very significant suspension for the Magic, as they will lose their star shooter for almost an eighth of the season. That certainly won’t help their chances of keeping pace with the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Monday, August 10, 2009 at 4:47 pm by steve
Anyone believing steroid use stayed just in baseball, despite evidence popping up in the NFL, boxing, wrestling, tennis and cycling, now has one more sport to add to the list after Rashard Lewis of the Orlando Magic was banned 10 games by the NBA for failing a drug test, according to ESPN.
Lewis tested positive for an enhanced testosterone level – when steroid users stop using, they often need something to restart their natural testosterone production (MLB superstar Manny Ramirez was suspended 50 games earlier this season for similar reasons).
The Orlando Sentinel broke the news about the positive test on Thursday.
Lewis, a 6’10” forward for the Magic, will be suspended without pay for the first 10 regular season games that he would be eligible to play. The suspension will cost nearly $1.6 million from his $18 million salary for the upcoming season.
ESPN cites league sources reporting that Lewis tested positive for DHEA, a steroids precursor, and asked for a retest (which is his legal right under the CBA).
Lewis said in a statement that he took an over-the-counter supplement late last season that included a substance he did not realize was banned by the NBA.
He will miss the first game between the Magic and LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team they upset en route to their first NBA Finals apperance in 15 years.
Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 10:24 pm by bryan
The Orlando Magic, fresh off their first NBA Finals appearance in nearly two decades, have made a number of moves in the offseason to ensure their spot at the top of the Eastern Conference. Recognizing that G/F Hedo Turkoglu would most likely leave the team in free agency, the Magic started the offseason aggressively.
Orlando made a huge splash before the NBA Draft when they traded the pair of Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee, their starting guards for the second half of the season, along with Tony Battie to the New Jersey Nets for Vince Carter and second-year forward Ryan Anderson. Carter grew up in nearby Daytona Beach and lives in Orlando in the offseason.
The Magic stayed hungry in free agency, however; matching the Dallas Mavericks’ offer sheet to backup center Marcin Gortat (5-year, $34 million) to retain his services, and acquiring PF Brandon Bass in free agency (from the Mavericks). They also added free agent Matt Barnes from the Phoenix Suns, a 6′7″ forward capable of playing multiple positions and stretching the court. Barnes should fit into the Magic’s overall team philosophy quickly.
The Magic have made the moves in the offseason to keep their name near the top of the list when discussing potential 2010 NBA champions.
Monday, August 3, 2009 at 10:23 pm by bryan
