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As the Eastern Michigan men’s basketball program sits in limbo, coach Rob Murphy’s contract is an issue.
Murphy, who reportedly wants to leave the Eagles for a job with the Orlando Magic, would be required to pay the university $210,000 to break his contract.
That is equivalent to one year’s salary and would need to be paid in a lump sum or in monthly payments over the remaining term of the five-year contract, which is four more years.
— Reported by Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press
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Afflalo will be competing for the starting shooting guard with veteran J.J. Redick. He has become one of the league’s steadier defenders, a role he embraced in Denver.
He said last season, “I developed more confidence (offensively), hit some big shots. It’s an opportunity for me to continue to grow.”
Afflalo, originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 2007, averaged 15.2 points and 2.4 assists last season.
— Reported by Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel
How Deron Williams reacted to Magic trading Dwight Howard to Lakers
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Deron Williams had checked out of the Dwight Howard rumors after Team USA’s Las Vegas training camp. Honestly. Too many twists and turns.
So when he woke up Friday and found out Howard was headed to the Lakers, his disappointment was only marginal.
“We went down that road,’’ the Nets’ franchise player said after Team USA made it to the gold-medal game by trouncing Argentina Friday night.
“Mentally I wasn’t in the Dwight sweepstakes anymore. It just got kind of old. I’m happy for him. I know he wanted to get out of Orlando. He did that and he’s going to a great franchise and I wish him the best of luck.’’
— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post
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The Lakers revamped their roster by acquiring Steve Nash in a sign-and-trade with Phoenix, and with the addition of Howard, the NBA’s most dominant big man who was left off the Olympic roster following back surgery.
“I’ll probably play two or three more years and (after that) the team is his,” Bryant said. “I’m excited for the Lakers franchise. Because this is a guy who can carry the franchise well after I’m gone. So it should be his. He should be willing to accept the challenge.”
Bryant whispered as he spoke to a large group of reporters after the U.S. defeated Argentina for the third time in three weeks. He was trying to play it cool but after expressing disappointment in December when the NBA voided a deal that would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers, Bryant couldn’t contain his excitement.
“All of a sudden, that gets pulled out from underneath us,” Bryant said of the rejected Paul trade. “Then (the Lakers front office) regroups and they come up with something that’s even better. It’s . . . it’s unprecedented.”
— Reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News
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The Orlando Magic have acquired six players and five future draft picks in a four-team, 12-player trade, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.
Orlando acquired guard Aaron Afflalo (ah-FLAH-low) and forward Al Harrington from Denver, forward Maurice Harkless and center Nikola Vucevic (KNEE-coal-uh VOOCH-uh-vitch) from Philadelphia, as well as forward Josh McRoberts and guard/forward Christian Eyenga (eye-EN-gah) from the Los Angeles Lakers.
In addition, the Magic have also acquired five additional draft picks over the next five years. Orlando receives: a second round pick from Denver in 2013, a first round pick from either Denver or New York in 2014, a conditional first round pick from Philadelphia and a conditional second round pick from the L.A. Lakers in 2015, and a conditional first round pick from the L.A. Lakers in 2017.
The Magic have traded center Dwight Howard, guard Chris Duhon and forward Earl Clark to the L.A. Lakers, while sending guard Jason Richardson to Philadelphia. As part of the deal, Philadelphia has acquired center Andrew Bynum, while Denver has acquired guard/forward Andre Iguodala.
“A primary goal for our basketball team is to achieve sustainability while maintaining a long-term vision. We feel this deal puts us in a position to begin building in that direction,” said Hennigan. “In addition to the six players joining our team, we will be in a position to maximize our salary cap flexibility in the near future, as well as utilize the multiple draft picks we have acquired going forward.”
“Dwight Howard accomplished tremendous success on and off the court during his eight years in Orlando,” said Hennigan. “We wish him, Chris (Duhon), Earl (Clark) and Jason (Richardson) all the best in the future.”
Afflalo (6’5”, 215, 10/15/85) played and started in 62 games last season with Denver, averaging a career-high 15.2 ppg., 3.2 rpg. and 2.4 apg. in 33.6 minpg. He shot .471 (329-699) from the field, .398 (88-221) from three-point range and .798 (197-247) from the free throw line. Afflalo ranked 24th in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage and 39th in scoring. He led (or tied) the team in scoring 11 times, in rebounding twice and in assists once. Afflalo scored a career-high 32 points on Mar. 5 vs. Sacramento. He also played and started in seven playoff games, averaging 10.9 ppg., 3.6 rpg. and 2.7 apg. in 32.7 minpg.
Harrington (6’9”, 245, 2/17/80) played in 64 games last season (one start) with Denver, averaging 14.2 ppg., 6.1 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 27.5 minpg. He scored in double figures 53 times, and had 10 games with 20-or-more points, including a season-high 31 points on Feb. 20 vs. Minnesota. Harrington also appeared in seven playoff outings, averaging 9.7 ppg. and 4.3 rpg. in 23.3 minpg.
Harkless (6’8”, 210, 5/11/93) was selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft by Philadelphia. He played and started all 32 games as a freshman last season with St. John’s University, averaging 15.5 ppg., 8.6 rpg., 1.5 apg., 1.59 stlpg. and 1.41 blkpg. Harkless ranked second in the nation in rebounding among freshmen and sixth in scoring. He was named the 2011-12 Big East Conference Rookie of the Year.
Vucevic (7’0”, 240, 10/24/90) played in 51 games (15 starts) during his rookie campaign last season with Philadelphia, averaging 5.5 ppg. and 4.8 rpg. in 15.9 minpg. He ranked among all NBA rookies in rebounding (t-sixth), blocked shots (t-sixth) and field goal percentage (.450, eighth). Vucevic led (or tied) the Sixers in scoring four times and in rebounding nine times. He also played in one playoff outing.
McRoberts (6’10”, 240, 2/28/87) played in 50 games last season (six starts) with the Lakers, averaging 2.8 ppg., 3.4 rpg. and 1.0 apg. in 14.4 minpg. He scored a season-high 16 points on Apr. 26 @ Sacramento. McRoberts also played in six playoff contests.
Eyenga (6’5”, 210, 6/22/89) played in seven combined games last season with both Cleveland and the Lakers, averaging 2.4 ppg. and 2.0 rpg. in 14.7 minpg. He was acquired by Los Angeles along with Ramon Sessions in exchange for Luke Walton, Jason Kapono, a future first round pick and other considerations on Mar. 15. Eyenga also played in three playoff contests.
Howard appeared in 621 career regular season games with Orlando from 2004-12, averaging 18.4 ppg., 13.0 rpg., 1.5 apg., 2.16 blkpg. and 1.01 stlpg. in 36.2 minpg. He was named to the All-NBA First Team five times (2007-12), was a six-time NBA All-Star (2007-12) and was the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons (2009-11).
Clark played in 78 regular season games during his two seasons with Orlando (2010-12), averaging 3.3 ppg. and 2.7 rpg. in 12.2 minpg.
Duhon played in 114 regular season games during his two seasons with Orlando (2010-12), averaging 3.2 ppg., 2.4 apg. and 1.4 rpg. in 17.5 minpg.
Richardson played and started in 109 regular season games during his two seasons with Orlando (2010-12), averaging 12.8 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 2.0 apg. and 1.09 stlpg. in 32.2 minpg. He also shot .377 (229-608) from three-point range.
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The Los Angeles Lakers have a deal in place to acquire Dwight Howard from Orlando in a four-team, eight-player trade also involving Denver and Philadelphia, and the NBA has scheduled a conference call Friday with the four general managers to finish the deal, according to multiple reports…
Philadelphia would get Andrew Bynum from Los Angeles and Jason Richardson from Orlando, while Denver would get Andre Iguodala from the 76ers.
Orlando would receive Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington from Denver, Nikola Vucevic and Moe Harkless from Philadelphia, and lottery protected first-round picks from each of the three teams.
— Reported by the Associated Press
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The Orlando Magic have signed rookie forward Kyle O’Quinn, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.
O’Quinn was selected in the second round (49th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft. He averaged 8.8 ppg. and 6.2 rpg. in 21.4 minpg. during last month’s AirTran Airways Orlando Pro Summer League.
O’Quinn (#9, 6’10”, 240, 3/26/90) appeared in 129 career games at Norfolk State University, averaging 12.5 ppg., 8.5 rpg. and 2.2 blkpg. in 27.3 minpg. and shot .553 (610-1,104) from the field during his collegiate career. He was the 2012 Lou Henson recipient as the nation’s top mid-major player. O’Quinn was the 2011-12 MEAC Player of the Year and a two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year (2010-11, 2011-12). He was also named MVP of the 2012 Portsmouth Invitational, averaging 11.7 ppg., 11.7 rpg. and 3.7 blkpg. in three games.
As a senior (2011-12), O’Quinn played in 36 games, averaging 15.9 ppg., 10.3 rpg., 1.4 apg. and 2.7 blkpg. in 31.3 minpg. He helped the #15-seed Spartans to a historic upset of #2-seed Missouri in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament with 26 points and 14 rebounds. O’Quinn, an All-MEAC First Team selection and MVP of the 2012 MEAC Tournament, led the conference and tied for fifth in the nation with 20 double-doubles. He also ranked 14th in the country in field goal percentage (.573, 205-358), 15th in blocked shots and 16th in rebounding.
During his junior year (2010-11), O’Quinn appeared in 32 games, averaging 16.4 ppg., 11.1 rpg. and 3.44 blkpg. in 32.8 minpg. He ranked in the top 10 in the nation in blocked shots (fourth), rebounds (fifth) and double-doubles (eighth, 19). O’Quinn led the MEAC in blocked shots and rebounding, while ranking second in field goal percentage (.556) and fifth in scoring. He set single-season school records (Division I era) with 110 blocked shots and 355 rebounds. O’Quinn was named MEAC Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week four times, and was voted to the MEAC All-Tournament Team.
As a sophomore (2009-10), O’Quinn appeared in 30 games, averaging 11.5 ppg., 8.7 rpg. and 1.7 blkpg. in 28.3 minpg., while shooting a conference-best .549 from the floor. He was named to the All-MEAC Second Team. During his freshman season (2008-09), he averaged 5.3 ppg. and 3.4 rpg. in 16.2 minpg.
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According to an official at his annual basketball day camp for children, Dwight Howard will not attend this year, and families who paid the camp’s $199 registration fee were sent e-mail messages Monday to inform them Howard will remain in Southern California in order to continue rehabilitating his back.
Originally, Howard was scheduled to be back in Orlando a few days after having out-patient back surgery, but he hasn’t been seen by the Magic in Orlando in more than three months. He has, however, attended at least two Los Angeles Dodgers games and a portion of the adidas Nations basketball tournament in L.A.
Howard’s annual camp originally was scheduled for July 1-2 at UCF, and Howard was supposed to attend both days. But it was postponed and rescheduled for Aug. 13-14 at Orlando Volleyball Academy.
— Reported by Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel (Blog)
The Oklahoma City Thunder signed forward Daniel Orton to a contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.
Orton (6-10, 255 pounds) appeared in 16 games (two starts) during the 2011-12 season as a member of the Orlando Magic and recorded averages of 2.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per contest.
After attending Bishop McGuiness High School in Oklahoma City, Orton spent one year at the University of Kentucky where he averaged 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.40 blocks during his freshman season.
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“I don’t think I’ll pigeonhole myself into a certain style,” he answered. “I’ve been kind of inclusive about the different styles I’ve played against. Coach [Jerry] Sloan had a style that he used for 20 years. Pop [Gregg Popovich] has been extremely innovative. I watch the game of basketball internationally, and I love some of the things that they do.
“For me, it’s about putting guys in a position to make plays. I will not call a play every single time down the floor. My demeanor on the sideline is more calm, not garish at all, and I think players will be receptive to that and want to play. As long as I can teach them, and they’re receptive to teaching, then I’ll let them make plays.”
— Reported by Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel