"The Magic are beginning the season the way they ended last season: looking for a dependable veteran back-up center.

"We'd like to get another big at some point," Coach Stan Van Gundy said.

For now, Glen "Big Baby" Davis is backing up Dwight Howard. Davis, 6-foot-9, 290 pounds, is also battling to start at power forward alongside Howard.

Asked about being Howard's sidekick, Davis laughed, "I'll be his sidekick, back kick, front kick. Whatever kind of kick."

Daniel Orton is the Magic's only other center on the roster, but the second-year player did not see action last year because of a troublesome left knee. And it's doubtful that Orton gets on the floor much this season, if at all.

The Magic traded Howard's sturdy back-up, Marcin Gortat, to the Phoenix Suns last December in a multi-player trade.

The Magic finished the season with power forwards Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson playing behind Howard when Howard ran into foul trouble or was suspended for exceeding the technical-foul limit."