After nine seasons and 900 floor burns at TD Waterhouse Centre, point guard Darrell Armstrong may have worn his Orlando Magic uniform for the last time.

Armstrong, the symbolic heart and soul of the franchise, said Thursday that he is preparing mentally for the possibility of leaving the only NBA team he ever has known.

"They say that all good things have to come to an end one day," he said from his summer home in Atlanta. "It's a tough situation, but I'm ready to face it. I would just feel badly for the fans in Orlando who have been so good to me."

Armstrong, 35, became an unrestricted free agent July 1, completing a five-year $18-million contract. He made $4.01 million last season.

Although Magic General Manager John Gabriel said Thursday that he expects to re-sign Armstrong, he has spent the past two days talking with younger free-agent point guards Antonio Daniels of the Portland Trail Blazers and Speedy Claxton of the San Antonio Spurs. They also drafted point guard Reece Gaines last month.

"Darrell means tons to us," Gabriel said. "We want him back. We want what's best for both of us. He's in our plans, but we've got to put the whole thing together."