But Redick said on Monday afternoon that he hasn’t received any indication that a trade is going to happen.

In fact, Redick said Magic general manager Rob Hennigan has told him that the team is “open” to re-signing him when he becomes a free agent this summer. Hennigan has stayed in touch with Redick and with Redick’s agent, Arn Tellem, in recent weeks.

“But this is a business. I have to make a business decision. And I know this from experience, regardless of any personal feelings or any emotional attachment to anything, a team is going to do what they feel is best for the team. And there won’t be any hard feelings if I get traded in three days or if they elect not to re-sign me this summer.”

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/blogs/magic-basketblog/os-mbb-jj-redick-orlando-magic-trade-20130218,0,5605615.post

Appearing in Treviso, Italy, as part of an adidas promotional tour,
Howard made clear that he has told Magic Owner Rich DeVos and CEO Bob
Vander Weide that Orlando’s roster needs to improve and have "14 other
guys" whose main goal is to win an NBA title.

"Sometimes guys are there wholeheartedly and then sometimes I’ve had teammates allow people getting in their ears and things like that affect the way that they play and approach the game," Howard said, according to NBA.com.

Howard’s contract runs through the 2012-13 season, but he can terminate the deal one year early and become a free agent in July 2012.

Magic President of Basketball Operations Otis Smith isn’t surprised that Howard plans to become a free agent.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-dwight-howard-free-agent-0614-20110613,0,2849988.story

Not "automatic" I’m told.

Magic CEO Bob Vander Weide told me he wouldn’t be surprised if Howard
waits to make a decision, largely because of the uncertainty of the
labor situation possibly affecting salary structures.

But there’s certainly more behind Howard’s thinking:

He might well make his mind up whether to accept an extension based on how the Magic fare through the playoffs this season.

Howard will determine if he needs more help to win a title (he does), which will put the front office into the proverbial front-court press to obtain another star (very difficult).

Let’s face it: This is the hammer Howard holds over the franchise — and he should swing it.

This is how the superstars are doing it now, calling their buddies and joining forces. It’s a league of copycats at levels great and small.

(I remember Carlos Boozer coming into the Magic dressing room last year to visit, wearing the newest, priciest headphones; weeks later several Magic players had them.)

Clearly, in ignoring Denver’s offer of a three-year, $65-million extension, Carmelo Anthony has taken his cue from the LeBron James-Chris-Bosh- Dwyane Wade trio in Miami and Boozer teaming with Derrick Rose in Chicago.

Why wouldn’t Howard?

He has another season left on his contract after this one before he can become a free agent. He has a player option at $19.2 million for 2012-13 if he desires.

Howard wants to remain with the Magic. But he wants to win a title even more.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-magic-schmitz-nba-column-1114-20101113,0,2707571.column

Decir lo que? (Say what?)

The Magic say Vazquez — who stood them up after they drafted him in the
first round in 2005 — is coming around to joining them for the 2011-12
season.

He has another year left on his contract with FC Barcelona.

"It’s more open now than it has been in the past with Fran," Magic assistant general manager Dave Twardzik told the Sentinel.

After the Magic surprisingly picked Vazquez No. 11 — ahead of Indiana’s Danny Granger — he burned and embarrassed the club with his no-show.

He put his name in the draft, but quickly became intimidated by the moment — even after arriving in Orlando, post-draft, for media interviews.

Barely able to speak the language and fearful of the culture shock as a small-town kid, Vazquez decided to stay in his native land. His father had died and his girlfriend — now his wife — wanted no part of the NBA.

Twardzik said barriers have now been knocked down, to some degree, because Vazquez has matured and learned a bit more English.

"All that has changed in many ways," Twardzik said.

A 6-foot-11, 230-pound power forward/center, Vazquez, 27, had a nice upside when the Magic selected him. He struggled mightily at times after signing a four-year deal with Akasuayu Girona.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-schmitz-nba-extra-column-1024-20101023,0,5025493.column

So, after watching Williams end all suspense on Wednesday by scoring six points in the final two seconds of the third quarter, you couldn’t blame Miller for looking over at the other bench and pondering what it would be like to play with a contender.

After scoring 16 points in the Wizards’ 121-94 loss to the Magic, Miller was asked about a possible return to Orlando, where he spent his first 2 ½ seasons and won rookie of the year in 2001.

"I would love to," Miller said. "Look at what they have. For a shooter, it is a dream come true. It would be exciting to go in there. Not only do they have a big guy who they have a chance to double, but they have shooters around the horn. It would be a fun experience for sure."

Now, the Magic doesn’t really need Miller, since signing him would require them to go deeper in luxury tax territory. And, while Miller could definitely be an asset for a good team, the Magic doesn’t appear to be lacking in perimeter shooting. After all, it shot 13 for 22 from beyond the three-point line against the Wizards.

Williams said that this Magic team is better than his Heat team that won the NBA title in 2006. "One through 15, this most talented team I’ve played on, the deepest team. So, we’ll see how it goes in the playoffs."

Miller said that he would look into being in a winning environment when he signs his next free agent deal. "Obviously, if you are not wanting to win, you are not in it for the right reasons. I definitely would like to win," Miller said. "The last couple of years have been rough for me. At the same time, we will see what is out there."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/2010/04/mike-miller-would-love-to-go-b.html?wprss=wizardsinsider

Team president Rod Thorn admits the Nets will have to look everywhere
to find players after this nightmare season concludes and at least six
player contracts expire.

And current Knicks forward Al Harrington hopes they look his way.

Hall of Famer Magic Johnson last night said he hopes the Nets get the first overall pick in the lottery and then find one player in the draft.

REPORT: GRIZZLIES OWNER INTENT ON KEEPING GAY

"I really can’t imagine a team being 7 and 60-something, not in today’s game," Johnson said, sitting courtside as the "60-something" Nets suffered their 61st defeat, a 108-97 loss to the 76ers, despite a lineup change that inserted Terrence Williams into the first five.

"I can’t fathom it," Johnson said. "And the worst thing is they may not even get the first pick, which they need. Be it John Wall, whomever, they need it for the fans, for the energy in the arena, for the organization.

"They need it for [Brook] Lopez, who is really good. The league needs it for them to build around."

Of course, LeBron James could help, but Johnson feels the Nets lost him with their temporary move to Newark before their relocation to Brooklyn.

"That took them out of it," Johnson said.

So maybe the Nets, with $23.3 million to spend, will get lucky with the second tier-type free agents that include Harrington, 6-foot-9, a 14.1 career scorer who stated he would be open to signing with the Nets.

The notion is not far-fetched. Multiple team sources agreed Harrington "would be someone to consider" during this summer’s free agency.

Thorn declined comment — teams are not permitted to discuss players under contract to other teams. But he didn’t do anything to squash the idea.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/nets/magic_can_ignore_nets_cry_for_help_0cDOXT38y7sBUNnUMG5ZZI#ixzz0iXIVLq4g

Magic General Manager Otis Smith said he has no plans to deal either C
Marcin Gortat or PF Brandon Bass, even though he can trade them
starting Dec. 15.

"It’s the same as it was before. I’m happy with those guys," Smith said on Monday after the club finished practice in Los Angeles.

Neither Gortat nor Bass can be dealt until that date because they were signed to free-agent deals this summer.

The Magic re-signed Gortat, then a restricted free agent, to a five-year, $34 million contract, matching the Dallas Mavs’ offer. Orlando signed Bass as an unrestricted free agent for four years, $18 million.

Smith plans on holding onto Gortat, who expressed his frustration over a lack of playing time last Wednesday. Bass had not been happy being buried on the bench until seeing more action recently.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-orlando-magic-notes-1208-20091207,0,2723721.story

Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy peppers his sentences with adjectives such as "incredible," "great" and "tremendous" when he discusses the moves GM Otis Smith has made this free-agency period.In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday, Van Gundy said the additions of power forward Brandon Bass and wing player Matt Barnes, as well as the decision to re-sign backup center Marcin Gortat, will provide plenty of lineup options once the season arrives.

"Otis has done a tremendous job, I think, not only in signing good players but really getting pieces that have a very good chance of fitting together well," Van Gundy said. "I think that we’ve got several very versatile guys. I think we’ve got about every situation covered. I don’t think that there’s really any kind of lineup that we can’t play."

Van Gundy said four players — Vince Carter, Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson — "would have to perform pretty poorly to play themselves out of the starting lineup."

For now, however, Van Gundy said he doesn’t have his mind made up on the fifth starter. The competition for that spot will begin when the Magic begin training camp on Sept. 29. Probably the only guys who won’t contend for a starting role are reserve point guard Anthony Johnson and Gortat because of the positions they play.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2009/08/orlando_magic_coach_stan_van_g.html

A day after the Magic acquired Vince Carter from the New Jersey Nets, Turkoglu’s agent said today that he sent a notice to Orlando earlier this week that his client will opt out of his contract to become a free agent. Agent Lon Babby said the Magic had made Turkoglu an initial offer that Orlando general manager Otis Smith described as a “jumping off point.”
But Carter’s acquisition signals the Magic are jumping in another direction.

Orlando’s payroll will likely rise into the luxury tax for the first time in franchise history, and Turkoglu is looking for a big payday after helping the Magic reach the NBA Finals last season. He will be a free agent Wednesday.

“We will see what the market holds on July 1, but that market will surely be robust for Hedo,” Babby said.

The Pistons are expected to be one of the few teams with enough salary-cap room to go after several high-priced free agents this off-season.

Turkoglu’s decision was first reported by the Orlando Sentinel.

http://www.freep.com/article/20090626/SPORTS03/90626041/1051/SPORTS03/Future%20Piston?%20Hedo%20Turkoglu%20opts%20out%20of%20contract%20with%20Orlando

Carter (6’6”, 220, 1/26/77) played in 80 games last season for New Jersey, averaging 20.8 ppg., 5.1 rpg., 4.7 apg. and 1.03 stlpg. in 36.8 minpg. He scored in double figures 71 times, had 20+ points 44 times, scored 30+ points 13 times and had 40+ points once, a season-high 41 points on Mar. 15 at L.A. Clippers. Carter led (or tied) the Nets in scoring 35 times, in rebounding 17 times and in assists 23 times. He recorded eight double-doubles and one triple-double last season. Carter ranked 16th in the NBA in scoring, tied for 26th in minutes played and tied for 30th in assists.

This is an interesting trade. It helps the Nets save some money, as they were going to say goodbye to Carter in the future anyway and aren’t winning much with him. Out with the old, in with the new. The team is basically building around Devin Harris and youth.

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=4458