March 2010 Orlando Magic Wiretap

Howard Undecided About Playing For Team USA

May 31, 2010 6:20 PM

Magic center Dwight Howard hasn't decided whether he'll play for Team USA at this summer's World Championships in Turkey.

"I haven't decided what I'm going to do," Howard said Monday. "I'm just going to get some rest and think about that later on."

It's the first time that Howard has wavered in his committment to Team USA.

Howard said he would let USA Basketball know of his intentions "soon."

ESPN

Tags: Orlando Magic, NBA

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Magic Expect To Have Quiet Summer

May 31, 2010 6:14 PM

Magic general manager Otis Smith doesn't plan on overhauling the team's roster this summer.

"We're not a team that's that far away, so I can't sit here and say, 'Yeah, we're going to make all these drastic changes because we're miles away,' " Smith said Monday. "We're not miles away. We're not at the bottom third of our league. We're at the top of our league.

"And with that said, we have to do things diligently and with the understanding of the aspect that we're putting the team-slash-puzzle together and that everything is going to have to fit."

Orlando made it to the NBA Finals last year, but still opted not to retain Hedo Turkoglu, while acquiring Vince Carter. They were eliminated by Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday.

"The season was great," center Dwight Howard said. "We just didn't finish what we started."

Smith made similar comments last spring, claiming he wouldn't shake up the team's roster before he pulled the strings that ultimately landed Turkoglu in Toronto and Carter in Orlando.

ESPN

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Barnes Will Opt Out Of Contract

May 31, 2010 12:49 PM

Matt Barnes will not exercise his player option for the 2010-11 season, but he added that he hopes to return to the Orlando Magic.

?As for me and my contract situation, I?m going to opt out,? Barnes told reporters gathered at RDV Sportsplex this morning.

?Always worrying about the team and stuff like that is something you have to do during the season, and I?m 100 percent with that. But now it?s about me and my family and what?s best for us. I?ve expressed throughout the season that I?ve loved my time here and would love to return. But I think I know more than anybody that this is a business. The organization has to do what?s best for the team. Hopefully, I impressed them enough to bring me back and give me something decent, but we?ll have to wait and see about that.?

Barnes was slated to make $1.6 million for the 10-11 season.

Orlando Sentinel

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Bass Isn't Sure Of Future With Magic

May 29, 2010 10:16 AM

Brandon Bass didn't have as big an impact in Orlando this season as was expected, but he's hoping his role might change next year.

Bass saw a little bit of playing time late in the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston.

"It's hard to say. It's for Stan [Van Gundy], Otis [Smith] and the guys in the front office to decide if I'm someone they need ... or if they want play four perimeter guys and one big, then I guess if they want to do that, it's not for me," Bass said Friday morning.

Tony Dutt, the agent for Bass, told the Orlando Sentinel earlier this season they he would push for a trade if the Magic didn't play his client more.

"Hopefully, this is the place for me because when I signed here that's what I felt, that this was the place for me," Bass said. "I feel I can help them."

Orlando Sentinel

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Howard Makes Subtle Comment About Changes In Orlando

May 29, 2010 2:01 AM

Magic center Dwight Howard had a strong game on Friday night in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but his team's season ended anyway.

The Celtics won 96-84, eliminating the Magic and taking the team's place as conference champions.

In his postgame press conference, Howard was gracious with reporters but one comment made about the disappointment of falling short of a championship stuck out.

Howard was asked by a reporter what it was like to say goodbye to his teammates after they focused on winning a title all season long.

"It's very tough but we've just got to learn from our mistakes," the center replied. "Next year we've got to have guys that are willing to give everything they've got to get wins.  

"In games like this or a series like this, it's not about skill or talent, because it's the Eastern Conference Championship. Both teams are talented and skilled. It's about who wants it the most and who is willing to do it for a series."

The Magic don't have the cap room to make a play for a significant free agent, but Howard's comment -- "we've got to have guys that are willing to give everything they've got to get wins" -- may come off to some as a plea for roster changes.

Orlando didn't retain Hedo Turkoglu after advancing to the Finals last year, instead replacing him with Vince Carter.

Carter and Rashard Lewis largely disappointed in the Boston series.

Andrew Perna/RealGM

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Van Gundy Says Locker Room Is Always The Same

May 28, 2010 7:46 PM

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said prior to Friday night's Game 6 in Boston that the same things are always said and done in the locker room.

A number of Magic players discussed a difference in energy starting in Game 4, the first game of the series that Orlando won, and I asked Van Gundy if he had seen anything different in the locker room.

"Everybody says the same things in the locker room," he said. "Everybody does the same things in the locker room."

Van Gundy said that he's seen better leadership from his players on the court, which has been the difference.

"You have to lead out on the court. What matters is what you do on the court," he said.

"The media makes a big deal out of what happens in the locker room."

Andrew Perna/RealGM

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Van Gundy Says Historic Comeback Is 'Still Doable'

May 28, 2010 7:16 AM

The Magic fell into an 0-3 hole against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they head into Friday night's Game 6 still very much alive.

No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series.

"I didn't like being in a 3-0 hole, but it's still doable. I don't think we've had a lack of belief," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We can't go back and get those first three. ... I don't know why we didn't get at it, I don't know why we didn't play with the same type of energy in the first three games. I really do not know."

Only four times in North American sports has a team come back from a 3-0 deficit. Boston teams have been involved in two of those cases; the Red Sox charged back against the Yankees in 2004 and the Flyers rallied against the Bruins earlier this month.

"I would doubt that players would get affected by what happened in another sport," Van Gundy said. "I would have a hard time believing that. I don't think most of our guys on any of our teams follow hockey very much."

The Celtics have never played in a Game 6 after going up 3-0 in a postseason series.

Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, NBA

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Celtics Lead In Techs Over Last 2 Years, Await Decision On Perkins

May 27, 2010 8:53 AM

Trying to stave off the Magic's comeback in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics await a ruling on whether Kendrick Perkins will have either of his two technicals in Game 5 rescinded by the league.

If not, Perkins would be suspended for a pivotal Game 6 that the Celtics need to win to avoid a decisive Game 7 in Orlando.  

No team has ever come back from down 0-3 to win an NBA series.

Perkins received one technical in a double-technical situation and received his next for a foul call he disagreed with.  But in the latter, Perkins was not particularly demonstrative and had turned his back to walk away from the referee.

Brian Windhorst of The Plain Dealer notes that the Celtics have been assessed more technicals than any other team in the last two years, 21 in the playoffs alone.  It is not clear whether this could impact the league's decision on Perkins.

The Plain Dealer

Tags: Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, NBA

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Ewing Sees LeBron Staying In Cleveland

May 27, 2010 8:37 AM

Patrick Ewing was asked where he thinks LeBron James will be next season.

"Cleveland," Ewing said. "That's what I think."

Ewing mentions money and the quality of the Cavs' roster as the primary reasons for his opinion.

"The league designed it that way," Ewing said. "If you stay you can make $30 million more. And if you already have a good team, why leave?"

New York Daily News

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, NBA

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Lewis Has Been Dealing With Viral Infection

May 26, 2010 3:47 PM

Magic forward Rashard Lewis has been playing with a viral infection.

Lewis, who has struggled mightily against the Celtics, says he has been sick the "whole series."

"Overall it affects you," he said Wednesday. "I've been throwing up. I haven't been at full strength. I've been feeling weak, my legs been feeling weak. I find myself getting tired very fast in the first quarter. You know, when you can't hold food down you have no energy in your body to go out there and perform."

Lewis is planning to take intravenous fluids before Game 5 for the fourth straight game.

After averaging 17 points per game in the second round against the Hawks, he is shooting 29 percent and is averaging seven points a game.

ESPN

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Barnes Won't Opt Out Of Contract

Orlando Sentinel

Rondo Downplays Muscle Spasms

ESPN

Redick: Magic Took Game 3 Personally

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Van Gundy: Critics Are Harder On Howard Than LeBron

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Peers Come To Defense Of Brown

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Van Gundy Takes Blame For Loss

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Rivers Acknowledges That Stars Get Blamed Too Much

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Magic Aren't Concerned About Rashard's Touches

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Magic Focus On Transition Defense For Game 3

Orlando Sentinel

Barnes, Carter Could Switch Assignments

Orlando Sentinel

Rivers Doesn't Want Celtics To Be Overconfident

ESPN

Van Gundy Looks To Get Lewis More Involved

Orlando Sentinel

Pierce Denies Tweeting About Sweeping Magic

ESPN

Howard Won't Be Suspended For Flagrant

ESPN

Howard Not Giving Up Down 0-2 In Series

Yahoo! Sports

Celtics Liked Wallace's Track Record Against Howard

WEEI

Barnes, Perkins Ailing But Expect To Play

ESPN

Van Gundy: Celtics Over Cavs Is No Upset

ESPN

Magic Enjoying Long Rest

Orlando Sentinel

Carter Backs Frank For Chicago Job

ESPN