Although he has no salary-cap room remaining -- only the veteran's minimum of $1.2 million to offer -- Magic General Manager Otis Smith still has his sights set high as he continues working to fill the last two spots on the roster for next season.

Smith said Friday that he has been talking with free-agent veterans Chris Webber and P.J. Brown, among others. Webber finished last season in Detroit, but the Pistons may not re-sign him. Brown played last season in Chicago, but the Bulls are not interested in re-signing him. He said he will consider retirement but may play another year.

The Orange County Commission's late-night Thursday vote to build a new arena for the Orlando Magic means more than giving the team a new place to play. It ensured a lifetime of Magic here.

"The team is now here for its entire life -- beyond the 25 years that's in the lease," Magic Chief Executive Officer Alex Martins said.

For the Central Florida Sports Commission, the 5-2 decision means its healthy list of potential events for Orlando to host now becomes target practice for aggressive sales pitches.

"We can now move forward with a plan on securing the nation's most coveted sporting events. This moves us to the next tier of events," said John Saboor, CFSC's executive director. "It allows us to move from what has been a great record of success in hosting good sporting events to a place where we now will become a portal for the nation's greatest sporting events."

Chicago power forward P.J. Brown remains available in the free agent market, and according to the Arizona Republic he reportedly favors a Florida team, the Magic or Heat, or possibly retirement.

The Magic have decided to keep James Augustine for a second season. They still have an option to void at least part of his contract if they waive him by Aug. 1, but they have decided against exercising that option.

"What we do [the rest of the summer] may impact the roster, or it may not," Smith said. "There are all types of names out there right now."

The Magic have the option of making a trade for a backup big man on another roster, offering one of their backup guards, such as Keith Bogans, Carlos Arroyo or Keyon Dooling. Or they could use those players in a sign-and-trade for one of the better free agents available.

Free agents such as Anderson Varejao, Chris Mihm, Andray Blatche, P.J. Brown and Chris Webber are looking for teams. But they are either restricted free agents, which means their current teams can match offers to keep them, or they will command considerably more than the minimum.

It's more likely the Magic will be left to choose among Michael Olowokandi, Calvin Booth, Pat Burke, Kelvin Cato, Vitaly Potapenko, Brian Skinner, Iakovos Tsakalidis, Scot Pollard and Mike Sweetney.

Polish center Marcin Gortat, who impressed with his strong play last week in the Pepsi Pro Summer League, will apparently get his wish to play in the NBA for the Orlando Magic.

Magic general manager Otis Smith informed the 7-foot, 240-pound center that franchise officials want him on the roster this season. Contract talks are in the works, and the deal is expected to be for one year with an option for a second season.

Point guard Jameer Nelson was a big part of the Magic's red-carpet rollout this month that helped convince free-agent forward Rashard Lewis that Orlando was the place to be for the next several years.

Nelson now wants to know if he is part of that future.

With Lewis delivered and center Dwight Howard recently signing his five-year contract extension, the Magic turned their attention to Nelson, who is hoping to land his own long-term deal.

Magic General Manager Otis Smith flew to Philadelphia this weekend to meet with Steve Mountain, Nelson's agent, to spark negotiations on a possible contract extension. He returned without a deal, or the prospect of one anytime soon.

"It went well,'' said Smith, who was back in his office Monday. "We'll continue to talk. That's a good sign. But this is not something that has to be done yesterday. If it makes [financial] sense, we'll do it. If not, we won't.''

Weeks ago, Portland and Orlando executives discussed a trade that would have sent center Joel Przybilla to the Magic for small forward Hedo Turkoglu, but it?s not going to happen.

?We have no interest in trading Turkoglu,? says Dave Twardzik, Orlando?s director of player personnel.

?We intend to keep Joel,? Portland General Manager Kevin Pritchard says. ?You can?t have too many quality bigs.?

The Orlando Summer League released their all-league teams on Friday afternoon.

1st Team

G ? J.J. Redick, Orlando          
G ? Marcus Williams, New Jersey
F ? Tyrus Thomas, Chicago
F ? Thabo Sefolosha, Chicago
C ? Marcin Gortat, Orlando

2nd Team

G ? Chris Quinn, Miami            
G ? Hassan Adams, New Jersey
F ? Jared Dudley, Charlotte
F ? James Augustine, Orlando
C ? Jermareo Davidson, Charlotte

The Orlando Magic have signed center Dwight Howard to a contract extension, General Manager Otis Smith announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Howard was named to the 2006-07 All-NBA Third Team, becoming the fourth player in Magic history to earn All-NBA honors (O?Neal, Hardaway, McGrady).  He played and started in all 82 games last season for Orlando, averaging a team/career-best 17.6 ppg., a team-high 12.3 rpg., 1.9 apg. and a team/career-best 1.90 blkpg. in a team-high 36.9 minpg.  Howard also averaged 15.8 ppg., 14.8 rpg., 1.8 apg. and 1.00 blkpg. in 41.8 minpg. during the NBA Playoffs.