The Orlando Magic have recalled forward James Augustine from the Anaheim Arsenal of the NBA Development League, General Manager Otis Smith announced today.  Augustine was assigned to Anaheim on January 10.

Augustine played in eight games with Anaheim, averaging 10.1 ppg., 8.9 rpg., 1.0 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 27.1 minpg.  He led the Arsenal in scoring once and in rebounding five times.  On January 17 @ Tulsa, Augustine tallied 14 points and a game-high 17 rebounds.  He then recorded team-highs of 26 points and 10 rebounds on January 19 @ Colorado.  Augustine has not appeared in a game this season for the Magic.  He has been on the Inactive List a total of 39 times and has registered four DNP-CDs.

Carlos Arroyo is unhappy, having slid to third on Orlando's depth chart at point guard, but he doesn't want to be dealt.

"I want to stay here. My feelings are the same as when I got here. I want to help this team win, and I love the support from the Puerto Rican community."

Arroyo discounted a rumor that he had gone on a local radio or TV station and asked the Magic to trade him. Asked if he has suggested to the franchise that the Magic trade him, Arroyo said, "I've never been like that."

Magic GM Otis Smith returned from Europe with the impression that Fran Vazquez is considering playing in the NBA before his four-year contract is up in Spain, but since they were burned before he will tread carefully.

"No, I didn't get that impression. Quite the contrary, actually," Smith said when asked if Vazquez would remain in Spain through the 2008-09 season. "But I don't know what to make of that. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

The Magic will look into trading the rights to 2005 lottery pick Fran Vazquez, perhaps as soon as the Feb. 22 trade deadline, said General Manager Otis Smith.

Smith reached the conclusion after the 6-foot-11 Spanish forward told him last week that he wasn't ready to join the Magic anytime soon. He has a four-year contract with FC Barcelona.

"If something makes sense, we'll do it," Smith said of possibly trading Vazquez's rights. "I think he has value . . . The thing is, he's hard to trade because he's still over there."

The Magic chose Vazquez with the 11th pick in the 2005 draft but he jilted them, electing to stay in Spain to play.

He recently said in an interview that he was "happy" playing in Spain and intended to honor his contract with FC Barcelona.

"I think his confidence about playing here [in the NBA] is better than it was a couple of years ago," Smith said. "I'm not saying he's 100 percent warming up to the idea, but he's better."

"I know one thing: We picked the right guy. That's what I know after watching him play over there," Smith said. "I like Vazquez. He looked good. I think he could help us."

Dwight Howard's representatives are lobbying hard for the Magic center to appear in the Slam Dunk Contest at the NBA All-Star Game.

Said Howard: "If it happens, it happens and I'll be excited. I've got to come up with some good stuff. I just hope I have my legs that day."

Howard can literally kiss the rim and then dunk two basketballs.

Magic general manager Otis Smith traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, and Barcelona, Spain, Thursday and Friday to watch 2005 draft pick Fran Vazquez play.

Vazquez was selected 11th overall by the Magic after giving indications that his dream was to play in the NBA. However, he then signed a four-year contract with a Spanish professional team, ruining Orlando's plans.

Smith is expected to meet with Vazquez on Saturday to demand an answer as to whether he plans to play for the Magic next season or remain in Spain.

Magic forward Trevor Ariza claims he was injured after slipping on a wet spot on the floor Wednesday at Oracle Arena, home of the Golden State Warriors.

Ariza is out six to eight weeks after sustaining a grade 2 sprain of the medial collateral ligament of his right knee.

"I went to make a move and I hit a wet spot, and my knee just gave out," Ariza said.

Magic Coach Brian Hill agreed, saying, "That's all it was. There was no contact on the play. I didn't see it happen, but I knew what it was. His knee just buckled."

Grant Hill said that several Magic players could see moisture on the floor and tried alerting the Warriors ball boys, who work the mops during games.

"Bo [Outlaw] was yelling from the bench, 'Hey, it's wet out there! Get that up!' " Grant Hill said. "It's a tough break for Trevor."

Duke will retire the jersey numbers of Shelden Williams and J.J. Redick, coach Mike Krzyzewski said Thursday.

Williams' No. 23 will be retired Jan. 28 while the ceremony for Redick's No. 4 is Feb. 4.

"Both of these players are deserving of this honor," Krzyzewski said. "They were very different players, but worked amazingly well together for four years."

They will become the 12th and 13th Duke players to have their numbers retired.

The Orlando Magic are still interested in Chris Webber but they are not guaranteeing him a starting position.

"He doesn't want to come off the bench," said a Magic official who wants to remain anonymous.

The Magic do believe the rumors that the Detroit Pistons are the frontrunner's for Webber's services.

However, Magic General Manager Otis Smith has not thrown in the towel just yet.

"No. We're still talking."

Free-agent forward Chris Webber and the Lakers took another step toward each other Thursday, with Webber's agent saying his client was highly interested in heading west, and the Lakers acknowledging they were more than willing to listen.

"They're definitely a team that Chris is considering," agent Aaron Goodwin said. "He wants to be in a situation where he can continue to play and get significant minutes. He's rested, healthy and ready to go. The Lakers are playing well. Kobe's doing a great job of integrating everybody and turning it into a winning organization this year."

"There's a few teams that he's reviewing and then we're going to move forward. He's definitely excited."

Webber has narrowed his choices to the Lakers, Dallas, Detroit, Miami and Orlando, Goodwin said.

Should Webber choose to join the Lakers, Aaron McKie appears to be the player most likely to be waived.