March 2007 Orlando Magic Wiretap

Cavs Win In 4, Southeast Division Swept

Apr 30, 2007 10:37 PM

As expected, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the injury riddled Washington Wizards 97-90 on Monday, completing the team's first ever sweep in franchise history.

Washington's loss, however, meant that every team representative from the Southeast Division has been swept in the opening round.  Chicago took care of Miami, and Detroit defeated Orlando.

LeBron James was close to a triple double, finishing with 31 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, while Antawn Jamison again tried to carry his team, matching James' 31 points.

The Wizards were without two All-Stars, Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, throughout the entire playoffs, making their chances of advancing a long shot at best.

The Cavaliers will now play the winner of the New Jersey-Toronto series, which the Nets lead 3-1 and have an opportunity to close out Tuesday in Toronto

RealGM

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, NBA

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Magic: ''We Have To Do Some Creative Financing''

Apr 30, 2007 12:54 PM

The Orlando Magic will look to sign a top free agent such as Vince Carter during the summer and perhaps also sign a point guard.

"We have to do some creative financing," Magic General Manager Otis Smith said.

"I don't think it will be as uneventful as last summer," Smith said. "We just need a couple pieces here and there. We're not that far away."

Orlando Sentinel

Tags: Orlando Magic, NBA

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Grant Hill Mulling Over Retirement

Apr 29, 2007 2:36 AM

Seven-time All-Star Grant Hill, whose career was slowed by a recurring ankle injury, is contemplating retirement.

Hill scored 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting in Orlando's 97-93 season-ending loss to Detroit on Saturday, then said he planned to take a couple of months off to "see if some of the lingering pains go away" before deciding whether to play again.

"We'll see how I feel in June and July," Hill said. "The desire, of course, is to always play. But you don't want to live on anti-inflammatories and so forth. We'll just see, at least in my case, how I feel."

ESPN

Tags: Orlando Magic, NBA

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Pistons Advance To Second Round

Apr 28, 2007 8:39 PM

Chauncey Billups scored 25 points, Richard Hamilton added 19 and the Pistons avoided a fourth-quarter meltdown to beat the Magic 97-93 Saturday and sweep the first-round series.

"The one thing we had such a big advantage on them is experience, and the only way you can get better at that is to go through it," Billups said. "I'm sure there are a lot of things they would change coming down the stretch."

The sweep was Detroit's first in the playoffs since 1990, when the "Bad Boys" won a second consecutive NBA title.

Yahoo!

Tags: Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, NBA

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Wallace Reaches Out With Tips For Howard

Apr 28, 2007 6:30 AM

Piston bad boy Rasheed Wallace has a special interest in Magic center Dwight Howard, with whom he has chatted before and during games.

"I've been doing that with a few young guys that I like. Dwight is one of them. Earlier in the season, I told him we'd been watching him on film, and he really needed to learn how to pass out of double teams. He needed to work on some kind of jumper," Wallace said Friday after the Detroit Pistons practice. "I'm not saying do it now, but maybe over the summer."

Wallace said he has talked to Howard several times about diversifying his game and developing a stronger rapport with his point guard.

"I look at that team and I think Dwight and Jameer [Nelson] will be here longer than anyone, that's in my opinion. They should get that pick-and-roll down, like a [John] Stockton-and-[Karl] Malone thing, where they are really a threat with it. I told him, 'It could make you a force.'"

Orlando Sentinel

Tags: Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, NBA

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House Favors Giving Magic $60M

Apr 28, 2007 6:28 AM

The Florida House gave preliminary approval Friday to a second $60 million sales-tax rebate for the Orlando Magic that could provide backup funds for a new downtown arena.

But so far the Senate has refused to play ball on the idea of team subsidies, and the clock is running out on a legislative session that's scheduled to end Friday.

The House plan authorizes a $2 million-a-year rebate over 30 years for a new Magic arena and a renovated arena for the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team. The House is likely to grant final approval Monday.

If enacted, this would be the second $60 million rebate for the Magic. The team has yet to tap into the first pool of cash, but Orlando and Orange County officials have included that money in the plan for a new $480 million downtown events center.

Orlando Sentinel

Tags: Orlando Magic, NBA

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Pistons Beat The Magic To Take 3-0 Series Lead

Apr 27, 2007 1:55 AM

The Pistons showed they know how to close out quarters. Now they want to close out another series.

Tayshaun Prince scored 23 points, Chauncey Billups added 21 and the Pistons beat Orlando 93-77 Thursday night to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.

The victory ended a postseason trend for the Pistons -- they had lost their last six Game 3s when leading 2-0 -- and left them one victory from advancing to the second round.

Game 4 is Saturday in Orlando.

Yahoo!

Tags: Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, NBA

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Agent: "$120 Million Summer For Dwight"

Apr 24, 2007 12:51 PM

Dwight Howard was sick on Monday and it clearly affected his play during Orlando's Game 2 loss in Detroit. Howard was vomiting late Monday afternoon and was given some medication by the team.

Howard's agent Aaron Goodwin said Howard soon will sign a $40 million deal with adidas and stands to make more than $80 million by signing a contract with the Magic this offseason. "It's a $120 million summer for Dwight," Goodwin said.

Orlando Sentinel

Tags: Orlando Magic, NBA

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Nelson Extension Now Unlikely

Apr 24, 2007 12:31 PM

After an uneven season for Jameer Nelson, the Magic informed him that he's no longer guaranteed a contract extension this summer.

It is appearing unlikely that they will agree to terms this summer, allowing Nelson to become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2008.

Orlando Sentinel

Tags: Orlando Magic, NBA

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Darko Wants Bigger Role

Apr 24, 2007 12:15 PM

Darko Milicic met with GM Otis Smith prior to the start of the playoffs and expressed his desire to re-sign with Orlando and promised that the club has only seen a glimpse of what he can do.

"I would like to do more things and show them how they are going to see me next year if I stay here," Milicic said confidently. "They make the decisions on how much I'm a part of the games, but I'm happy to be here and a part of this team. But what I think is they've got to use me more."

Florida Today

Tags: Orlando Magic, NBA

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Pistons Take 2-0 Lead Over Magic

RealGM.com

Darko 'Doesn't Care' About Detroit Fans' Boos

Sports Illustrated

Pistons Cruise To Game 1 Win

Yahoo!

Atkins To The Rockets?

Memphis Commercial Appeal

Milicic Sprains Ankle, MRI Scheduled

AP

Orlando's Milicic Sprains Right Ankle Vs. Wizards

ESPN

Brian Hill Complains To League About Season's Closing Schedule

Orlando Sentinel

Magic Clinch Final Playoff Spot In The East

Yahoo!

Howard, Magic Keep Their Grip On Playoff Spot

Yahoo!

Retirement Is On Grant Hill's Mind

Orlando Sentinel

Detroit Clinches Home-Court Advantage In The East

Yahoo!

Wizards Lose But Clinch Playoff Spot

RealGM.com

Redick Promises To Become A Better Player

Orlando Sentinel

Diener Doesn't See Future In Orlando

Orlando Sentinel

Magic Return Interests Atkins

Orlando Sentinel

Howard Stunned By Garnett's Comments

Florida Today

Bosh On Howard: "Our Rivalry Will Be Good For Everyone"

Orlando Sentinel

Howard's Camp Restructuring Adidas Deal

Orlando Sentinel