Orlando Magic Blog – Page 41 – NBA Blog

Orlando Magic announce front office promotions

The Orlando Magic and Chief Executive Officer Alex Martins announced the following promotions within the executive office: Charlie Freeman— executive vice president and chief revenue officer; Chris D’Orso— senior vice president of sales & ticket operations; Joel Glass—senior vice president of communications; Audra Hollifield—senior vice president of human resources & administrative services; Catherine Carlson—vice president of corporate partnership activation; Michael Forde—vice president of corporate partnership sales; and Anthony Perez—vice president of business strategy.

In addition, the Orlando Magic announced the following front office promotions: Nyea Sturman to assistant director of legal services and Pat Gallagher to assistant director of legal services.

Freeman is entering his 17th year with the Magic. His primary responsibilities include oversight and management of corporate partnerships, marketing, ticket sales, premium sales & client services, ticket operations, arena operations and retail. Freeman was an integral piece in the building of the Amway Center. He was recently named to SportsBusiness Journal’s Forty Under 40 list.

D’Orso enters his 24th season with the team. He oversees the day-to-day operations of sales for the Amway Center including ticket sales, premium hospitality, Chairman’s Suite, tourism, Junior Magic, camps, retail and ticket operations for both the Magic and Amway Center. In addition, he oversees the arena operations for the Amway Center.

Glass joined the Magic in 1995 in the communications department. He directs the Magic’s communication and media/public relations efforts. He is responsible for media operations, strategic communications, media releases, publications and statistical material, while also coordinating media interviews with players, coaching staff members and front office personnel. In addition, he oversees the team’s website, orlandomagic.com and Orlando Magic broadcasting.

Hollifield has been with the Magic since 1999, entering her 14th season with the team. She handles oversight of recruiting, compensation and benefits, employee relations, training and development and administrative services for the “team behind the team.”

Carlson joined the Magic in February 2009. In her role she oversees the corporate partnerships activation team, and is responsible for activation, fulfillment and renewals of corporate sponsor contracts. Carlson is also focused on the strategic growth of corporate partnerships in the Amway Center.

Forde is entering his ninth season with the team. He is responsible for establishing strategies targeted to bring new corporate clients to the organization. He also oversees a sales team dedicated to finding marketing solutions for local, regional and national companies seeking an affiliation with the Orlando Magic brand.

Perez originally joined the Magic in August 2004, working on the team’s arena development efforts until June 2007. He then spent a year working in investment banking before returning to the Magic in June 2008. His responsibilities include the organization’s long-term strategic planning and use of analytics to improve business performance. Perez focuses on yield management, customer targeting & retention, and the organization’s overall data integration strategy among other initiatives.

Fran Vazquez continues overseas career

If Fran Vázquez ever plays for the Orlando Magic, it won’t be before the 2014-15 season.

The Magic’s former first-round draft pick has decided to keep playing in Europe. Again.

In an interview Tuesday, Vázquez’s agent, José Cobelo, confirmed that Vázquez has agreed in principle to a new contract with Unicaja Málaga, a team in Spain’s top league.

Cobelo said the new deal is guaranteed for two seasons and does not include an out clause that would enable the 6-foot-10 big man to leave Spain for the NBA. The contract includes an option to extend the deal for a third year, the 2014-15 season.

“We haven’t had much communication with Orlando,” Cobelo said. “They didn’t have much interest, so they didn’t affect our situation.”

— Reported by the Orlando Sentinel

Jacque Vaughn wants Magic coaching job

According to multiple reports, Indiana assistant Brian Shaw and Golden State aide Michael Malone have been crossed off the list of candidates for the coaching job in Orlando.

That leaves the 37-year-old Vaughn, three seasons retired from backing up Tony Parker, as one of the leading applicants to fill Stan Van Gundy’s old chair with the Magic.

Others remaining in the hunt include Utah assistant Jeff Hornacek, Chicago assistant Lindsay Hunter and Philadelphia aide Michael Curry, a former head coach in Detroit.

For players, summer league often represents a chance to showcase new skills or audition for a roster spot. For Vaughn, this week has become an opportunity to try on the head coach’s shoes — in this case, casual white sneakers — and see if he likes them.

So far, they fit.

“It’s fun,” Vaughn said. “It’s good fun to get a group together in a short time and get them to play together. That’s the test and the joy of it.”

— Reported by the San Antonio Express-News

Magic trade Ryan Anderson to Hornets for Gustavo Ayon

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have acquired forward Ryan Anderson from the Orlando Magic in exchange for forward/center Gustavo Ayon.

“We are very excited to add a player of Ryan’s caliber to the Hornets Organization and the New Orleans Community,” Hornets General Manager Dell Demps said. “Ryan is a high character person, a good teammate and a player we believe will make the Hornets a better team.”

Anderson (6-10, 240), was drafted with the 21st overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets, averaged career-highs of 16.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and shot 39 percent from three-point range in 61 games last season (all starts) en route to being named the NBA’s Comeback Player of the Year. Anderson made at least seven three-pointers in a game four times last season and made at least five in a game 11 times. He was just the second power forward in NBA history to lead the league in three-pointers made. The University of California product scored at least 20 points in a game 11 times last season, including a career-best 30 points at New York on Jan. 16. He collected 10 or more rebounds 16 times including a career-high 20 on Jan. 30 against Philadelphia. Anderson has played four seasons in the NBA with the Magic and the Nets, his career averages are 10.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 254 career games (111 starts).

Ayón (6’10”, 245, 4/1/85) played in 54 games last season with the Hornets, averaging 5.9 ppg., 4.9 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 20.1 minpg., while shooting a team-high .536 (140-261) from the field during his rookie campaign. He started in 24 games, averaging 8.3 ppg., 6.4 rpg., 2.0 apg., 1.38 stlpg. and 1.08 blkpg. in 28.5 minpg. during that span. Ayón ranked in the top ten among all NBA rookies in field goal percentage (second), rebounding (fifth), blocked shots (fifth, 0.85 blkpg.) and steals (seventh, 0.98 stlpg.).

Ayón led (or tied) the Hornets in rebounding nine times and in assists twice last season. He scored in double figures 11 times, including a career-high 16 points twice, the last time on Mar. 15 vs. Washington. Ayón also pulled down 10+ rebounds five times and recorded two double-doubles. He tallied a career-high 17 rebounds on Feb. 22 @ Cleveland.

Originally signed as a free agent by New Orleans on Dec. 21, 2011, Ayón is the third Mexican-born player in NBA history (Horacio Llamas, Eduardo Najera). Prior to joining the Hornets, he played two seasons (2009-11) in Spain with Fuenlabrada of the ACB League, Spain’s top division, which is widely regarded as the best domestic league outside of the NBA. Ayón was named the 2010-11 ACB “Best Newcomer” after averaging 10.8 ppg. and 6.3 rpg. in 22.6 minpg. He also played professionally in Mexico for three seasons (2006-09) with Halcones de Xalapa, leading them to back-to-back championships in 2007-08 and 2008-09. Ayón was a member of the Mexican National Team in 2009.

Quin Snyder bows out of Orlando Magic coaching search

After leaving his assistant-coaching job with the Los Angeles Lakers to accept a similar position with CSKA Moscow, Quin Snyder has notified the Orlando Magic that he is not interested in their head-coaching vacancy.

It’s unclear whether the Magic add to their list of candidates now that Snyder has decided not to pursue the job in Orlando.

The Magic’s current list of candidates are Utah Jazz assistant coach Jeff Hornacek, Phoenix Suns player development coach Lindsey Hunter, Golden State Warriors lead assistant coach Michael Malone, Indiana Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw and San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Jacque Vaughn.

— Reported by Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel

Magic seek more Dwight Howard trade bids

The Orlando Magic have re-opened negotiations with teams other than the Brooklyn Nets for Dwight Howard, a league source told ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher.

The Atlanta Hawks are one of the teams but “not the best option,” the source said.

The Nets have been trying to acquire the Magic’s star center but need other teams to help facilitate the blockbuster trade. Sources told ESPN.com on Monday that the Nets and Magic were cautiously optimistic that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers would help them facilitate a four-way trade to send Howard to Brooklyn.

In that proposed trade, according to sources, the Nets would receive Howard, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark. The Magic would get Brook Lopez, Luke Walton, Damion James, Shelden Williams, Armon Johnson and three first-round picks — two from the Nets and a lottery-protected first from the Clippers. The Cavs would get Kris Humphries, Quentin Richardson, Sundiata Gaines, a first-round pick from the Nets and $3 million in cash. The Clippers would receive MarShon Brooks.

— Reported by ESPN.com news services

Deron Williams and Dwight Howard discussed teaming up in past

Deron Williams and Dwight Howard talked about being NBA teammates four years ago during the Olympics. Now Williams knows there’s speculation that it could happen soon.

He’s aware of reports that Orlando and Brooklyn are trying to arrange a trade – possibly involving two other teams – but he’s not paying too much attention to that.

“There’s been a lot of rumors over the last year as far as he’s concerned, so early on I concerned myself with it, but lately just let it play out and whatever happens, happens,” Williams said Monday at training camp for the latest Olympic team. “I think we’ll have a good team without him, I think we’d have an even better team with him.”

— Reported by Philadelphia Inquirer news services

Monty Williams helped sell Ryan Anderson on trade to Hornets

As New Orleans Hornets General Manager Dell Demps pushed to work out the specifics of a contract offer last week, Coach Monty Williams talked extensively with Orlando Magic restricted free-agent power forward Ryan Anderson to convince him to join New Orleans. Impressed with Williams’ plans, Anderson initially accepted the Hornets’ four-year, $36 million offer sheet before the Magic stepped in to facilitate a sign-and-trade agreement with New Orleans on Sunday.

As part of the deal, the Hornets agreed to trade forward Gustavo Ayon to Orlando. The trade will be finalized Wednesday, when the league’s trade moratorium on player transactions ends.

“What he likes about New Orleans, I say first and foremost is Monty,” Anderson’s agent, Chris Emens, said Monday. “He thinks Monty is a great basketball mind, really a great communicator, and I think they have a common bond. They talked extensively during this process.

“I think one of the things that certainly helps make Monty a standout among NBA coaches is that he’s very invested in his players, not just professionally but personally. I think players feel that.”

— Reported by John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune

Magic will send Ryan Anderson to Hornets

The Orlando Magic are in advanced talks with the New Orleans Hornets about a sign-and-trade deal that would send restricted free agent Ryan Anderson to New Orleans for 27-year-old center Gustavo Ayon, the Orlando Sentinel has learned from league sources.

Anderson, a 24-year-old power forward, was on the verge of signing a lucrative offer sheet for four years and, according to Yahoo! Sports, about $36 million with the Hornets. Magic general manager Rob Hennigan decided it was not prudent to match an offer sheet because of the long-term salary-cap implications.

So, instead of seeing Anderson sign with the Hornets and the Magic receiving no assets in return, Orlando decided to discuss a sign-and-trade deal with New Orleans.

— Reported by Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel

Magic sign first round pick Andrew Nicholson

The Orlando Magic have signed rookie forward Andrew Nicholson, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

All players drafted in the first round are guaranteed to receive a contract. This signing is standard.

Nicholson was selected in the first round (19th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft. He will participate in the upcoming 2012 AirTran Airways Orlando Pro Summer League, taking place at Amway Center from July 9-13.

Nicholson (#44, 6’9”, 250, 12/8/89) appeared in 123 career games at St. Bonaventure University, averaging 17.1 ppg., 7.2 rpg. and 1.98 blkpg. in 29.9 minpg. and shot .575 (809-1,407) from the field during his collegiate career. He earned All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors all four seasons and was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year as a senior in 2011-12. Nicholson also earned All-American honors by The Associated Press in 2011-12. Nicholson led the Bonnies in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots for three straight seasons (2009-12).

Nicholson ranks second all-time in school history in scoring (2,103 points), second in blocked shots (244), second in field goal percentage and fourth in rebounds (887).

As a senior (2011-12), Nicholson played in 32 games, averaging 18.5 ppg., 8.4 rpg., 1.0 apg. and 2.0 blkpg. in 30.1 minpg. He scored in double figures 29 times. Nicholson grabbed a career-best 23 rebounds (along with 21 points) against Duquesne, and led the Bonnies to the NCAA Tournament.

During his junior year (2010-11), Nicholson appeared in 31 games, averaging 20.8 ppg., 7.3 rpg. and 1.5 blkpg. in 33.8 minpg. He scored in double figures 30 times, including a career-high 44 points against Ohio University.

As a sophomore (2009-10), Nicholson appeared in 30 games, averaging 16.4 ppg., 7.1 rpg. and 1.8 blkpg. in 30.2 minpg. During his freshman season (2008-09), he averaged 12.5 ppg., 6.0 rpg. and a team-high 2.7 blkpg. in 25.1 minpg.

Nicholson, son of Fabian and Colmaleen, graduated with a degree in physics from St. Bonaventure.