Small problem for Magic Drew Gooden and Andrew Declerq for Caron Butler.

[jayC]

Small problem for Magic

By KEN HORNACK
Staff Writer

Last update: 04 July 2004


When the Orlando Magic acquired both Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill in sign-and-trade deals and drafted Mike Miller four years ago, they appeared to be overstocked at the small forward position.

With McGrady now a Houston Rocket, Hill an ongoing medical uncertainty and Miller on the Memphis Grizzlies' first playoff team, that cupboard is all but bare.

Magic general manager John Weisbrod admitted that much Wednesday, which was not only the day after McGrady was sent to the Rockets but the day before all NBA teams could begin contacting free agents. Weisbrod said the biggest need was at small forward but suggested the void could be filled by another trade instead of through the signing of a free agent.

There are reports the Magic will send power forward Drew Gooden and center Andrew DeClercq to the Miami Heat for Caron Butler, who had a mild sophomore slump last season in the midst of the Heat's overall improvement. The pickings among free agents at small forward that the Magic have for their $5.1 million middle-class exception are fairly slim, especially after Marquis Daniels -- the Orlando native who came on strong during his rookie season -- decided Friday to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks.

Keith Bogans, who made 36 starts at that position as a rookie, will be part of the Magic's entry in their rookie and free agent league that will be held this week at the RDV Sportsplex in Maitland. Not only might Bogans have a new role next season, but he will have a new jersey number because of the acquisition of Steve Francis. Bogans is switching from 3 to 10.

JUWAN GONE


Juwan Howard could have signed last summer with the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Detroit Pistons. But instead of joining a team that wound up posting the best record in the Western Conference or one that went on to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the finals, he chose the Magic.

With the Rockets, he'll have a chance to put that decision behind him. Howard should start at the power forward spot that was held down most of last season by Kelvin Cato, who came to the Magic along with Francis and Cuttino Mobley.

"We certainly didn't put him in the deal because we were unhappy with him," Weisbrod said.

In McGrady, Howard and Tyronn Lue, the Magic sent three of their top five scorers last season to the Rockets. The other two players in that group are Gooden and DeShawn Stevenson, who became a restricted free agent last week and has yet to be extended a qualifying offer from the Magic.

SENIOR-ITIS?


The next time Dick Vitale drones on about the supposed injustice that players with four years of college experience receive on draft night, perhaps he should first look at the Magic.

Reece Gaines, who scored a total of 69 points in 38 games before being a throw-in in the McGrady-Francis trade, was the third college senior in as many years to not pan out for them. Jeryl Sasser, a first-round pick in 2001, was waived during the preseason last year while Ryan Humphrey, a forward whose rights were obtained from the Utah Jazz the night of the 2002 draft, was sent halfway through his rookie season to the Grizzlies with Miller.

But Weisbrod is confident Jameer Nelson will reverse the trend and that coach Johnny Davis, director of player personnel Dave Twardzik and director of player development Otis Smith aren't bringing in rookies who will fail.

"To whatever degree it was development, I think that's been rectified based on the relationship that Johnny and I have and how that's different from the relationship Gabe and Doc had," Weisbrod said, referring to former general manager John Gabriel and coach Doc Rivers.