The Orlando Magic probably won't take any more significant swings in the NBA's free-agent derby.

They likely will not use a $4.8 million disabled player's exception designated for Grant Hill -- even if it is granted by the NBA this week, as expected.

The Magic feel they've hit the biggest home run they can by bagging Juwan Howard, who apparently has agreed to accept the $4.8 million midlevel exception. Unless another team swoops in at the 11th hour, Howard is expected to attend a news conference at RDV Sportsplex on Wednesday to announce his signing.

It is the first day that free agents throughout the league can sign contracts.

An NBA source said several teams still were recruiting Howard aggressively, but he is expected to sign a contract with the Magic. Orlando has been waiting on the league's decision to award it a medical exception this season for the perennially injured Hill, but it all may be moot. They don't expect now to use the exception to sign another free agent (or free agents).

"That might be true," Magic General Manager John Gabriel said.

"At this point, there might not be a huge advantage to it.