Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy will coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, to be played on Sunday, Feb. 14, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

With a 91-86 road victory tonight over the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills, the Magic (32-16, .667) have clinched the second-best record in the Eastern Conference through Jan. 31.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' Mike Brown coached the East in last year's game and is not eligible for the honor this season.

Magic general manager Otis Smith still isn't willing to trade reserve big men Brandon Bass and Marcin Gortat.

Bass and Gortat are both looking for more playing time, but Smith likes Orlando's depth.

"Everyone needs a couple bigs, but what they're looking to give you back is not that much," Smith said of trade inquires. "And as I've said, I like our team. Our guys aren't 100 percent thrilled with their playing time, but they come to work every day."

Smith added that he doesn't expect to make a trade prior to the Feb. 18 deadline.

"Sometimes, I think you have to let things settle as opposed to agitating them and move things around. We just haven't settled yet," he said.

"So it's hard to say, 'Let's go out and do another move.' "

Magic guard J.J. Redick can become a restricted free agent after the season, but he has made it clear that he wants to stay with the team.

"I'd love to stay here," Redick told the Orlando Sentinel.

"This is where my home is. I'm comfortable with the city. I'm comfortable in Florida. I'm comfortable with the organization. I love the team and I love my teammates and the coaching staff."

Orlando will be able to match any offers Redick receives on the market this summer.

Magic point guard Jameer Nelson will be in the lineup against the Kings on Friday night.

Nelson missed the team's practice on Thursday with a swollen left knee.

The point guard had surgery on the knee in late November. The procedure was done to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.

Nelson returned on Dec. 21, but his production has been inconsistent over the last month.

Orlando defeated Indiana by a final of 109-98, but Vince Carter continues to struggle, scoring just six points on 2-for-8 shooting.

?Look, it?s just too much scrutiny on one guy. That?s all we come in and talk about every game," said Stan Van Gundy. "?What did you think of Vince, what did you think of Vince?? We played well.?

Vince Carter has no interest in returning to the dunk contest, even at the urging of Shaquille O'Neal.

"No. Dwight (Howard) can do it," Carter said after Wednesday morning's practice. "Nobody should feel obligated to do anything they don't want to do."

Orlando has been broached as a possible landing spot for Gilbert Arenas due to his close relationship with GM Otis Smith.

But Smith dismissed the concept on Monday.

"I have a lot of love for Gilbert, but this is something I've not given a whole lot of thought to," Smith said. "?I don't know where this is coming from. There is nothing in the works. No talk about it on this end or any other end."

Magic center Dwight Howard thinks the team needs to change the way they prepare for games.

Orlando lost to the surging Lakers on Monday night, dropping their seventh game in nine tries.

"We started [the season] out great, and then teams started changing their game plans against us," Howard said. "So we've just got to do a better job of figuring out other teams' game plans and go forth from there. I know we've been in a tough stretch, but we've just got to continue to work. We're going to get over this."

Howard scored 24 points against Los Angeles, but was limited to just one field goal after halftime.

"I don't think they put the clamps on me [in the second half]," Howard said. "They just double-teamed, and I had to pass it out to guys who hit shots. We just turned the ball over too much in the second half, and they went on a big run."

Orlando, 26-15 after Monday's loss, has dropped to second place in the Southeast Division behind Atlanta.

Magic stars Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis are trying to learn how to work together on the court.

Orlando is 26-13 this season. The Magic had 38 wins before losing 12 games last year.

"Vince and I were talking. We have to make this work," Lewis said. "It feels different (this season). But we got to make it work. Nobody's going anywhere.

"We're not jelling. We're playing OK, but we're not elite. ... where we need to be. It feels like we're one of last-place teams."

Lewis is averaging 14.2 points per game, his lowest total since he posted 8.2 per game in his rookie campaign, due to fewer shot attempts.

"You look at the stat sheet, it kind of speaks for itself every night. I think in order for me to have a good game I have to make every shot, every last one of them. Because I'm not getting very many of them," said Lewis. "Guys coming off the bench are getting more shots. There's nothing I can do about it. ...

"I don't think were just playing with a good rhythm on the offensive end as a team."

Magic point guard Jameer Nelson says that sitting out to rest his surgically-repaired knee isn't an option.

"Have I thought about it? I don't know. My thing is I've always played through things," Nelson said.

Nelson missed 16 games after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in mid-November. He returned 13 games ago, but hasn't been the same player.

"Just got to find a way, man. I definitely want to get going (offensively). That's not necessarily about offense, either. I have to do a better job, defensively, and do other things," he said.

"It's tough. I'm out there. There's nothing I can do. If I felt I wasn't well enough to play, I wouldn't play. One day, this thing will get right."