The Orlando Magic have signed free agent center Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje, President/CEO Bob Vander Weide announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Boumtje-Boumtje (7?0?, 257, 5/20/78) appeared in five games with the Magic during the 2005 Reebok Vegas Summer League.  He averaged 4.8 ppg. and 3.6 rpg. in 16.8 minpg., while shooting .563 (9-of-16) from the floor.

Originally selected by Portland in the second round (50th overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft, Boumtje-Boumtje has played in 44 regular season games during his NBA career with the Trail Blazers and Cleveland, averaging 1.0 ppg. and 1.3 rpg. in 6.3 minpg.

The Orlando Magic have signed guard Travis Diener, President/CEO Bob Vander Weide announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.  Diener was selected by the Magic in the second round (38th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft.

Diener (6?1?, 175, 3/1/82) appeared in 120 career games during four seasons at Marquette University.  He averaged 14.1 ppg., 5.1 apg., 3.1 rpg. and 1.32 stlpg. during his career, while shooting .413 (284-687) from beyond the three-point arc and .837 (385-460) from the free throw line.

Even before reluctantly parting with Michael Finley by trade or waivers, the Mavericks have found a replacement.

The team has reached an oral agreement with veteran swingman Doug Christie on a one-year, $3 million deal, a source said. Christie, 35, was waived Thursday by the Orlando Magic as part of the NBA's luxury-tax amnesty provision.

Before Christie officially becomes a Maverick, he must wait seven days to clear waivers, according to league rules. It is unlikely any team will claim Christie and his $8.2 million salary, making him an unrestricted free agent who could then sign with the Mavericks on Wednesday.

Christie's agent, Bradley Marshall, declined comment other than to say than Christie and his wife, Jackie, would be visiting Dallas soon to meet with the Mavericks.

If Christie is healthy and happy, he could be a key acquisition and address a targeted need for the Mavericks.

He was always a top candidate for all-defensive team honors in Sacramento, a point of emphasis under Mavericks coach Avery Johnson. And Christie has played in 58 career playoff games and could provide the Mavericks with locker room leadership.

The Orlando Magic have waived guard Doug Christie.  

The team also announced that Christie will be designated as the team?s amnesty player, as allowed in the new collective bargaining agreement.

Doug Christie wants to sign a one-year, $3 million contract offer from the Mavericks when he becomes a free agent next week, according to a league source.

He won't do anything, though, before he and his wife visit the area.

A 6-foot-6, 205-pound swingman, Christie would provide the Mavs with the defensive presence they've lacked on the perimeter since Raja Bell left in 2003.

Christie would also replace Michael Finley, whom the Mavs are expected to waive by Monday, barring an unexpected trade.

"Dallas is definitely one of the teams that are high on Doug's list, because of the type of team, the coaching staff, the city, and the way that his game is," Christie's agent, Bradley Marshall said.

"All those things, we think, are a good fit for Doug."

While the Magic continue their efforts in forming the team for the upcoming season, the franchise has reportedly approached several local businessmen with and idea of selling a piece of the team.

The club already contacted or will contact pest-control magnate Harvey Massey, Jimmy Hewitt, the one-time minority owner who sold his share of the team in 1991 to Rich DeVos, CNL exec Jim Seneff, Publix Super Markets executive Barney Barnett of Lakeland and Leonard Williams, the man behind Wayne Densch Inc.

The reasoning behind this seems simple: the team has struggled to find public support for a new or renovated arena -- something that would involve tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars. And part of the resistance stems from taxpayers' reluctance to help finance a team owned by one of the richest men in America -- one who lives in Michigan, for that matter.

The plan to counter that: build local support by involving local owners.

While most of the Chicago free agent talk has focused on their restricted core, Othella Harrington is another player that the Bulls would like to retain.

"Othella is definitely somebody that we want to re-sign if we're in position to do it," Bulls general manager John Paxson said. "He was a big part of our success last season."

The question is whether Harrington can realize an offer in excess of the so-called $1 million exception (actually $1.5 million), which may be all the Bulls will have to offer him.

Orlando is one of the teams that has expressed interest in the Georgetown product.

"I would like to play in Chicago again next season," the 31-year-old Harrington said. "It was great to be a part of what we built there last season. At the same time, basketball is a business. This may be the last time that I'm a free agent, so I want to make the most of it."

Free-agent guard Nick Van Exel apparently is leaning toward signing with the Houston Rockets.

Van Exel told a Houston radio station that he considered the Rockets a good fit. Soon after Van Exel was waived by Portland, Rockets officials talked with Van Exel's agent, Tony Dutt.

Dutt could not be reached Thursday.

Miami and San Antonio are also possibilities for Van Exel.

The Mavericks could be interested in swingman Doug Christie if Orlando releases him.

Making use of the newly installed amnesty clause, league sources in New York confirmed that the Orlando Magic would waive the disgruntled Doug Christie.

Although Christie would still be paid the $8.2 million that he is owed for the upcoming season, waiving him using the amnesty clause would save the Magic just as much in luxury tax payments.  

This ends Doug Christie's tumultuous stay in Orlando after being acquired in a trade with Sacramento for Cuttino Mobley.

After only 21 games with the Magic, and with a bone spur surgery looming, Christie left the team shortly after being taken out of the starting lineup.

He reportedly asked to be traded to a West Coast team this offseason.

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Keyon Dooling, President/CEO Bob Vander Weide announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

?Keyon (Dooling) brings additional athleticism to our team,? said Assistant General Manager Otis Smith.  ?He adds the depth we needed in our backcourt and even more versatility to our roster.  We?re happy to add Keyon to our team.?

Dooling (6?3?, 195, 5/8/80) played in 74 games last season with Miami, averaging 5.2 ppg., 1.8 apg. and 1.2 rpg. in 16.0 minpg.  He also appeared in all 15 playoff outings with the Heat, averaging 7.3 ppg., 1.7 apg. and 1.1 rpg. in 17.6 minpg., while shooting 49.4 percent (43-87) from the field.  Dooling led the Heat in scoring once and in assists four times during the regular season.

?Signing Keyon (Dooling) gives us size at the guard position and helps solidify our backcourt,? said Head Coach Brian Hill.  ?He brings experience and athleticism to our team and we are proud to have him as part of the Magic family.?