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Rashard again linked to Orlando; A much more positive outlook
Topic Started: Jul 1 2007, 08:37 AM (264 Views)
TheFalcon
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Sounds as if J.J. Redick might have to start looking for a new uniform number with the Orlando Magic.

Rashard Lewis has been wearing Redick's No. 7 for the Seattle SuperSonics, but the way his camp is talking, he'd like to slip it on in Orlando.

"There is no better fit," said Tony Dutt, Lewis' agent.

The NBA's free-agent courting period began just after the stroke of midnight today, and the Magic were expected to contact Lewis -- their prime target this summer.

Also on the Magic's radar: Vince Carter and Gerald Wallace, along with their own free agents -- Darko Milicic and Grant Hill.

Teams can't start signing free agents until July 11.

Flush with ample salary-cap room (as much as $13 million) for the first time since acquiring Hill and Tracy McGrady in the summer of 2000, the Magic are searching for a scorer. A nine-year veteran, Lewis averaged 22.4 points last season with the Sonics.

"Orlando is a good situation. It's a fit that could work," Dutt said. "If the parameters are there, they can make it work.

"It's very intriguing to Rashard."

The Magic also have several other positives that Lewis finds appealing.

Dutt said they have "the big guy" -- all-star center Dwight Howard -- on their side and geography.

Better than even being in Florida, Orlando is located in the wide-open Eastern Conference. Lewis has been frustrated playing on an also-ran in the powerhouse Western Conference against the likes of San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix.

And while the Sonics drafted Kevin Durant -- lauded universally as the best player in college basketball -- he plays the same small-forward position as Lewis and will be marketed as the face of the franchise. Seattle fell back into a rebuilding mode, trading veteran Ray Allen to the Boston Celtics last week, leaving Lewis scratching his head.

The Magic mostly are intriguing to Lewis, 27, because they are one of the few teams who have enough cap money. He can average $15 million per year over five seasons, although the Sonics can top any offer to re-sign him.

...

The Magic likely will be speaking with the representatives for Milicic and Hill today.

Hill, who will turn 35 in October, told the Sentinel shortly after the season that he would listen to other offers, but still is leaning toward a return to the Magic.

...

Only the Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies and Bobcats have enough spending money to accommodate a healthy salary for Milicic. The Bobcats likely are out of the running after using cap room to acquire Golden State guard Jason Richardson.

...

The Magic have said they are intent on re-signing Milicic and getting a free agent, which could be tricky and require trading Hedo Turkoglu. "It can be done. Not easy, but it can he done," Smith said.

If the club and Milicic can't work out a deal, the Magic likely won't want their 7-foot asset to walk without compensation and will try to facilitate a sign-and-trade, perhaps for Lewis


I skipped through the article a lot, but you can read the full text here.


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NYCMagicFan
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TheFalcon
Jul. 1 2007 08:37 AM
Better than even being in Florida, Orlando is located in the wide-open Eastern Conference. Lewis has been frustrated playing on an also-ran in the powerhouse Western Conference against the likes of San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix.

This is a really good point. If he is that frustrated, then that could be a deterrent for him to possibly go to Houston.
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ec23456
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I sure Hope Not!
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Black and Blue
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This news was certainly welcome this morning. Hopefully he chooses us. Otis, you need to get some hookers for his time here. We'll all chip in.
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