After a one-year fling with holding training camp at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Rivers and general manager John Gabriel have decided that the Magic will return to the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

It will be the sixth time in the last nine years that camp will take place at UNF. No specific reason was given for the move, but an indication that the Magic would not be training in Tampa was when their preseason schedule included no dates at the Ice Palace. The Magic played there twice last preseason, although the second of those was a late addition after they and the Los Angeles Clippers were originally supposed to meet in Mexico City.

Tampa will host a preseason game Oct. 20 when the Detroit Pistons face the Miami Heat.

Training camp for the Magic at UNF begins Oct. 1.

ORLANDO MAKES MOVES

Mike Miller, whose name has popped up regularly this summer in trade rumors, finally became part of an actual Orlando Magic transaction Friday.

Beating the deadline to exercise the option on his contract by two months, the Magic picked up the fourth year of Miller's deal that he signed after leaving Florida in 2000. The 2001 NBA Rookie of the Year will make $3.38 million in the 2003-04 season.

If Miller is still with the Magic after that, their qualifying offer to him for the 2004-05 season would be expected to start at almost $4.5 million, according to the league's salary scale.

The news about Miller came on the same day the Magic officially hired Mark Hughes as an assistant coach. Hughes, 35, had been with the Magic during their rookie and free agent camp and leagues this summer after spending the previous five years coaching the Grand Rapids Hoops of the Continental Basketball Association.

Hughes, who played briefly with the Detroit Pistons after being a co-captain of Michigan's 1989 national championship team, joins Dave Wohl, Johnny Davis and Paul Pressey on the staff of coach Doc Rivers. Wohl, Davis and Pressey all received contract extensions of undisclosed length.

Tom Sterner, who had been with the Magic for eight seasons as a scout and then an assistant coach, was hired two weeks ago by the Golden State Warriors after one-time Magic assistant Eric Musselman became their head coach.

GONE CAMPING

Steven Hunter spent last week in Bradenton attending a camp designed for centers to improve their skills, speed and agility. Hunter was not included on the Magic's playoff roster after being the first of their two first-round draft picks a year ago, and a leg injury last month limited his summer league activity.

Clifford Ray, who tutored the Magic's centers during Rivers' first season as coach, and Robert Parish were among the camp's staff members.