Magic Trade Rumors

"Redick's camp has asked repeatedly for a trade out of Orlando so that he can seek more playing time elsewhere. The Magic denied his request in February, but will likely revisit it this summer. Shooting guards Keyon Dooling and Evans will be free agents, and Keith Bogans can opt out of his contract."

"Patrick Ewing is upset that Donnie Walsh has not reached out to him regarding the Knicks' head coaching vacancy."

"Patrick Ewing wants the job. Now let's see if Donnie Walsh will grant him an interview."

"The agent for Magic shooting guard Maurice Evans says his client isn't necessarily counting on the Orlando Magic offering a new deal during the offseason... Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing, who carved out his Hall of Fame playing career in New York, said he has not been contacted about the head-coaching position with the Knicks."

"Magic General Manager Otis Smith flatly refused to trade J.J. Redick before this season's trade deadline, but he is a little more open to moving the unhappy Duke icon now. Smith told me that he'd look at dealing Redick either in the June draft or in another trade this summer. Redick, frustrated with his lack of playing time, requested a trade early this season. Smith now says he doesn?t rule out dealing Redick this summer, but would prefer he remain patient and stay with a promising team."

"Smith appears firmly behind point guard Jameer Nelson as his starter, but the playoffs might determine if the Magic need more help. President Bob Vander Weide mentioned recently that while the club considers Nelson among its top seven players, his status doesn't preclude them from signing another point guard."

"Knick legend Patrick Ewing, guaranteed to be named to the Hall of Fame today, gave an endorsement for his former teammate, Mark Jackson, to coach the Knicks. If Jax is hired, Ewing likely would be on his staff."

"Walsh and Thomas still have to meet, but that's merely a formality. Soon enough, Thomas will be dismissed as Walsh will be naming a new coach. And that new staff could very well include Patrick Ewing."

"Ewing, an assistant coach on Stan Van Gundy's Orlando staff, will be honored before tonight's game against the Magic at Madison Square Garden. But whomever Walsh chooses to replace Isiah Thomas as head coach likely would extend an invitation to Ewing - who is credited in the development of Yao Ming and Dwight Howard - to work with the Knicks' big men, especially if Eddy Curry is to have a future in New York."

"Point guard Jason Williams of the Miami Heat isn't the only one who will go into free agency this summer hoping the Orlando Magic will give him a call. With the Magic having so many guards in the final year of their contracts -- and with center Dwight Howard locked in for many years -- there are players all over the league hoping for a ride to Orlando. Shooting guard Corey Maggette of the Los Angeles Clippers will be another one looking to see what the Magic will do, which is why he smiled last week when he was asked about opting out of the final year of his contract to become a free agent this summer."

"Allan Houston, who has become close to Stephon Marbury, told The Post the Coney Island Kid will be better off if he's not a Knick next season... Though Marbury is not invited to the Garden, a host of free-agent point guards this summer will be, including the Magic's Carlos Arroyo."

"Arroyo is a free agent this summer and could be interested in the Knicks."

" Ewing, who was disappointed the Knicks did not hire him last summer when assistant Phil Ford left, is not likely be considered for a potential opening in New York any time soon. But he has friends in the league, and Michael Jordan could one day hire him in Charlotte. "

"Ewing, 45, is in his first season as an assistant with the Orlando Magic after previous stints with Washington and Houston. He has built an impressive resume, and his goal is to become a head coach. There may even be an opening in New York in the not-so-distant future."

"With changes anticipated in the Knicks' organization this offseason, and the potential for a coaching search should Garden chairman James Dolan decide to sever ties with Isiah Thomas, Ewing could be ready to make another arrival in New York."

"In that case, the Heat could make an all-or-nothing run at Toronto's Jose Calderon, with the Raptors expected to match any outside offer for the restricted free agent. The unrestricted choices at the position include the less tempting likes of former FIU star Carlos Arroyo, former Dillard star Keyon Dooling, Tyronn Lue and Beno Udrih."

"Players, such as point guard Carlos Arroyo, shooting guard Maurice Evans and even veteran power forward Pat Garrity, could finally rest easy again after hearing and reading about the rumors of the past few weeks. Had Orlando used its expiring contracts in a trade -- something fans practically begged for the team to do -- it would have meant those players would have been elsewhere for the rest of the season and the playoffs."

"Magic General Manager Otis Smith said Wednesday that teams have inquired about the club's point-guard situation, but Smith is not inclined to make a deal before today's 3 p.m. deadline. The Magic are leery of trading Carlos Arroyo, who has fallen out of the rotation behind Jameer Nelson and Keyon Dooling."

"Smith did admit he's had preliminary trade talks with the Seattle SuperSonics about power forwards Kurt Thomas and Chris Wilcox, but said nothing is imminent on that front. He also said there was no truth to a rumor the Magic were interested in Sacramento's Brad Miller, adding the Kings "only want one thing off my roster and that's (Hedo Turkoglu)... Barring somewhat of a miracle, the Magic won't be dealing with a Miami franchise that is trying to unload long-term contracts. "

"A league source told The Post the Knicks and Orlando discussed trades in recent days involving their two backup point guards, Carlos Arroyo and Keyon Dooling, but were in a stalemate. Arroyo is a prototype European passing point guard, a 28-year-old from Puerto Rico who has been in and out of the Magic's rotation."

"Seattle power forwards Kurt Thomas and Chris Wilcox are available, but at what cost? Sacramento's Ron Artest could give the Magic the toughness they lack, but how would he affect the locker room dynamics? And the free-falling Miami Heat are willing to move Udonis Haslem (a Van Gundy favorite), but they are certainly in no hurry to assist the Magic after their summer spat over Van Gundy."

" The Magic might have a shot at getting someone like reserve power forward Brian Skinner of Phoenix, which recently acquired O'Neal. The Suns are looking for another guard, which the Magic have in Redick. Also available are veteran power forwards Kurt Thomas or Chris Wilcox of Seattle, a team that wants to rebuild with younger players."

"The lack of a true power forward is an issue, and Smith has been in talks with several teams about filling Orlando's gaping hole along the front line. Seattle's Kurt Thomas and Chris Wilcox are available and favorites of Smith's, but the package Orlando would send back to the Sonics is up in the air."

"A free agent-in-waiting, Orlando Magic combo guard Keyon Dooling knows where he's headed this offseason -- and the club can't stop him from leaving."

"Dooling, 27, has started the process of evaluating his place on the Magic's roster because he will become an unrestricted free agent at season's end. He left his native South Florida and the Miami Heat to sign a three-year, $10 million deal with the Magic back in 2005."

"With the Lakers adding the 7-foot Gasol and the Phoenix Suns trading for the 7-foot-1, 325-pound Shaquille O'Neal, some Magic fans are understandably wondering if Orlando is in the market of adding some much-needed size."

" Although he reiterated that the club is unlikely to make a deal, Magic General Manager Otis Smith continues to look at trade possibilities, including acquiring another big man."

"General Manager Otis Smith reiterated that he isn't inclined to make a trade before the Feb. 21 deadline, though the Magic are loaded with expiring deals."

"Frustrated for a second consecutive season, Orlando Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick said Wednesday that he had his agent explore possible trades to see if he could find playing time elsewhere. "We want to see what's out there," Redick said. "I want to stay here, but it's been frustrating." Magic General Manager Otis Smith, however, said he has told Redick's agent, Arn Tellem, that he currently has no plans to deal the club's 2006 first-round pick out of Duke."

"Representatives for J.J. Redick repeatedly have approached the Orlando Magic about a trade that could provide the seldom-used shooting guard more playing time, but general manager Otis Smith said there are no plans to move Redick anytime soon."

"General Manager Otis Smith said there was no validity to an ESPN report that Orlando is interested in signing PG Damon Stoudamire. Stoudamire was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies and becomes a free agent. Smith, in fact, said he has no plans to make any trades before the Feb. 21 deadline."

"A story in Tuesday's Orlando Sentinel quoted a friend of Heat guard Jason Williams saying Williams has always wanted to play in Orlando and could do so next season after his contract with the Heat expires. Williams said Tuesday night he doesn't know where that story came from."

"The Orlando Magic missed the opportunity to grab Jason Williams at the start of his NBA career. They will have the chance to get him at the end. Take a look Wednesday to see if he could fit."

"Anyone looking for small shooting guards could probably get Mike James from Houston or J.J. Redick from Orlando, neither of whom play much. Seattle also is a likely target with Wally Szczerbiak, Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour doing little and all available. Ron Artest, with the Kings last week beating the Pistons and Pacers back to back, amazingly listed Indiana and Detroit—where his fight helped ruin the Pacers' franchise—as two of his preferred destinations when he opts out after this season. He also said he could stay in Sacramento. Or go to New York or Miami."

"Smith said he didn't expect F Fran Vazquez to join the team this season after the club's 2005 lottery pick told a Spanish newspaper that he hopes to soon play with the Magic."

"Orlando general manager Otis Smith isn't expecting 2005 runaway lottery pick Fran Vazquez to show up in a Magic uniform anytime soon, but he hasn't ruled veteran center Tony Battie out for the season just yet."

"Quite Frankly, Lawrence, after last week's surrender to the Knicks New York Knicks , I've seen more than enough; you gotta go and that also goes for Jason Kidd Jason Kidd and Vince Carter Vince Carter and maybe Richard Jefferson, too."

" So sound the starting pistol. Here are the guys you might see changing addresses over the next 30 days: Pau Gasol, Memphis: They're 11-28 with him as it is, and he doesn't really fit the track-meet style they're going to play anyway, so what's the point of keeping him around exactly?"

"Fran Vazquez, the 2005 lottery pick who stunned the Orlando Magic by refusing to play for them so he could remain in Europe, has told a Spanish newspaper he hopes to soon play in the NBA with the Magic."

"General Manager Otis Smith said Monday before the Magic-Chicago Bulls game that he doesn't expect the team to make a move. While the Magic lack a true power forward they can start, Smith has no interest in either Chris Webber or P.J. Brown, veterans who are free agents."

"Fran Vazquez, the Magic's first-round draft pick in 2005, spoke with an ESPN correspondent in Spain last week, and it didn't sound very promising that he would be arriving anytime soon."

"Second-year guard J.J. Redick still can't find a real role with the Magic, yet General Manager Otis Smith said Tuesday it doesn't mean he has given up on him. He also said that Redick — the No. 11 pick in 2006 — still has value around the league, despite hardly playing in his first two seasons."

"Could a Magic team that has been strangely inconsistent for weeks be shopping Dooling, or even point guard Carlos Arroyo, who moved into the starting lineup four games ago? Magic guard J.J. Redick, another player who could be used in a potential trade, is again out of Stan Van Gundy's rotation and has to be wondering if he'll ever get his shot in Orlando... The Magic aren't allowed to comment on players on opposing teams, but they are keeping their eye on the availability of Golden State small forward Mickael Pietrus."

"The Warriors, once again, are in need of a reserve point guard now that they've learned Troy Hudson is possibly out for the season after unavoidable hip surgery. In Hudson, the Warriors hoped to address one of their notable weaknesses -- a backup for starting point guard Baron Davis, who has a history of injury and is playing a lot of minutes already this season. That need has suddenly resurfaced now that Hudson is expected to go under the knife in the coming days. So, how can the Warriors refill this hole? Glad you asked. Here are some feasible options:"

"There was reported interest from the Mavericks and Magic late in the summer and into camp. Rick Adelman's sagging Rockets need help, particularly at power forward, where 6-foot-6 Chuck Hayes starts but doesn't play half the game, essentially splitting time with rookie Luis Scola. Webber's interest in the Lakers might be back now that the Lakers are back, too, just as the Heat, his second choice a year ago, might have gone over a cliff."

"Players who signed free-agent contracts this summer can be traded beginning today. Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith said that could start some movement, perhaps involving Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant."

"Chris Webber: He's still unemployed, and we don't get it... He turned down a lucrative deal in Greece (reportedly two years, $10-12M) because he said he could only play with the Pistons, but that ship sailed when they were unable to move Nazr Mohammed's salary. Still, it's hard to believe the Cavs or Magic can't sell him on the idea of helping them get to June."

"Smith said he has not offered the Magic's $2.6 million injury exception -- relief for the season-ending injury to Tony Battie -- to any free-agent big man. He said there have been no serious trade discussions, although he conceded that dealing for a big is the more likely route."

"Getting the injury exception gives the Magic a significantly greater amount of money to throw at Chris Webber or P.J. Brown, the two best power forwards available on the free-agent market... Some power forwards or centers who the Magic might have interest in trading for include: Michael Doleac, Mark Madsen, Wayne Simien, Robert Swift, Saer Sene, Calvin Booth, Lorenzen Wright, Earl Barron, Melvin Ely, Johan Petro, Jarron Collins, Aaron Williams and Brian Skinner."