Orlando Magic Blog – Page 46 – NBA Blog

No major Magic shakeup expected

Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith indicated Monday that he has no plans to make a major move to alter his team’s roster in the near future.

“If a string of losses causes you to change your plans, then I’m in the wrong job,” Smith said Monday night, before the Magic fell 74-69 to the Philadelphia 76ers to lose their fourth consecutive game.

“I think you look at your team as a whole and understand that we have to fight through whatever we have to fight through and you continue to evaluate everything top to bottom. That’s what you do. When it’s time to make a change, you make a change.”

Smith generally does not like to make trades in-season, but he did so last season after the Magic lost five of six games from Dec. 4-14, 2010.

— Reported by Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel

Dwight Howard is open to joining Bulls

If Magic center Dwight Howard has any reservations about playing for the Bulls, it has nothing to do with sharing the spotlight with Derrick Rose. In fact, the five-time All-Star is open to uniting with the reigning MVP.

Approached Friday night in New Orleans after a 26-point loss to the Hornets, Howard shared his thoughts on a long-shot trade to the Bulls.

“If I could play with Derrick right now and God wanted that to happen, it will happen,” Howard told the Tribune. “It has nothing to do with me not wanting to play with Derrick Rose. I love him. That’s my brother.”

— Reported by Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune

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Dwight Howard calls out teammates

Magic star Dwight Howard says if his teammates should stay home or in the lockeroom if they don’t want to play hard.

Howard was frustrated and disgusted with his team’s play after a 93-67 loss to the hapless New Orleans Hornets on Friday night, the Magic’s third loss in four games.

“Looked like guys didn’t want to play,” he said. “I told them at halftime, if you don’t want to play, just stay in the lockerroom. It doesn’t make sense for a teams we should beat to just demolish us.

“You bring everything down,” Howard said, referring to a player who isn’t playing with heart and soul.”

— Reported by Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel (Blog)

Dwight Howard breaks single-game NBA free throw attempts record

Dwight Howard broke Wilt Chamberlain’s nearly 50-year-old NBA record for most free throw attempts in a game, making 21 of 39 in the Orlando Magic’s 117-109 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.

The Warriors hacked Howard intentionally throughout, sending the notoriously poor shooter to the line in record-setting fashion. Chamberlain shot 34 for the Philadelphia Warriors against St. Louis on Feb. 22, 1962.

Howard finished with 45 points and 23 rebounds, and Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points to propel the Magic to their third straight victory.

Monta Ellis had 30 points and 11 rebounds and David Lee added 26 points and 12 rebounds for the short-handed Warriors, playing without starters Stephen Curry and Dorell Wright.

The Hack-a-Howard routine reached a whole new level.

Howard had never shot more than 24 free throws in a game – which he had four times previously – and fouled so early. Certainly, nothing compared to the Warriors’ ways.

Howard eclipsed his old mark with 2:09 remaining in the third quarter, getting hacked and held intentionally at the end of each quarter with mixed results. If nothing else, Golden State rookie coach Mark Jackson’s strategy slowed down the pace and refused to let the Magic’s potent shooters find their rhythm.

— Reported by the Associated Press

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Dwight Howard still hopes to be traded

Dwight Howard’s request to be traded still stands, and the Orlando Magic’s general manager doesn’t feel the team has done much to change the superstar’s mind.

“Nothing has changed,” Howard said before the Magic faced the Sacramento Kings at Power Balance Pavilion on Sunday.

Otis Smith confirmed Howard has not taken his trade request off the table and that Howard’s agent still has permission to speak with three, and only three, teams: the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Jersey Nets.

“I think his leaving or going has nothing to do with Orlando,” Smith said of Howard. “I think he wants a bigger market. I can’t do anything about that.”

— Reported by Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel

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Deron Williams and Dwight Howard grab dinner

Deron Williams didn’t want to even address it, but Dwight Howard didn’t mind admitting that, yes, he and Williams went out to dinner Wednesday night when Williams arrived in town with the Nets.

“Since he’s been in the league, every time he comes to town, we go eat dinner and just kick it,” Howard said after the Magic’s shootaround today. “We’ve been friends since the Olympics, and so we go out to eat, have a bite.”

Earlier, Williams had stammered and said, “I don’t even know — I really don’t,” when asked if he had dinner with Howard.

— Reported by Colin Stephenson of the Newark Star-Ledger

Andrew Bynum unfazed by trade rumors

Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum made it clear that it does not take offense to hearing his name dangled in deals and he refuted a recent Yahoo! Sports report that stated, “Bynum has privately been heard to say this offseason that he wants his own team.”

“I never said anything like that,” Bynum told ESPNLosAngeles.com. “I don’t care … I’ll be happy anywhere I play, honestly. It doesn’t really matter to me. In Orlando, I’ll probably get more shots and more touches, but here, I think this year they’ll need me to step up here. So, it really doesn’t matter.”

What does matter to Bynum is changing his reputation as being a liability in the lineup because of his injury history. Bynum has played in just 204 out of a possible 328 games in the last four years because of various injuries, missing an average of 31 games a season.

— Reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles

Orlando Magic re-sign forward Earl Clark

The Orlando Magic have re-signed free agent forward Earl Clark, President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed. We’ll post details later today.

Clark (6’10”, 225, 1/17/88) played in 42 games last season with both Phoenix and Orlando, averaging 3.9 ppg. and 2.4 rpg. in 11.0 minpg. He was acquired by the Magic on December 18, 2010 from Phoenix, along with Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu, in a six-player trade. With Orlando, Clark appeared in 33 games, averaging 4.1 ppg. and 2.5 rpg. in 11.9 minpg. He scored in double figures five times (four times with Orlando), including a career-high-tying 14 points in a career-best 26 minutes on Feb. 11 vs. New Orleans.

“Earl (Clark) is a young, athletic forward who brings a lot of energy when he comes into the game, especially at the defensive end of the floor,” said Smith. “We are glad to have him back as a member of the Magic.”

Originally selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft by Phoenix, Clark has appeared in 93 career regular season games with Phoenix and Orlando, averaging 3.3 ppg. and 1.8 rpg. in 9.1 minpg. He also has played in four playoff contests, averaging 1.5 ppg. and 1.5 rpg. in 4.8 minpg.

Orlando Magic re-sign Jason Richardson

The Orlando Magic have re-signed free agent guard-forward Jason Richardson, President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Otis Smith announced today. We’ll post contract details later today on this page.

Richardson (6’6”, 225, 1/20/81) played and started in 80 games last season with both Phoenix and Orlando, averaging 15.6 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 1.8 apg. and 1.16 stlpg. in 33.9 minpg., while shooting .395 (189-479) from three-point range. He was acquired by the Magic on December 18, 2010 from Phoenix, along with Earl Clark and Hedo Turkoglu, in a six-player trade. With the Magic, Richardson appeared and started in 55 games, averaging 13.9 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 2.0 apg. and 1.20 stlpg. in 34.9 minpg. He also played in five playoff outings, averaging 10.0 ppg., 4.0 rpg. and 1.2 apg. in 30.6 minpg.

Richardson ranked second in the NBA in both three-point field goals made and attempted, 13th in steals-to-turnover ratio (0.98, 93/95), tied for 32nd in steals and tied for 37th in three-point field goal percentage.

“Jason (Richardson) is a tremendous competitor who is great in the open floor and can drain the three-point shot,” said Smith. “We are very happy to have him back in a Magic uniform.”

Originally selected in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft by Golden State, Richardson has appeared in 751 career NBA regular season games with Golden State, Charlotte, Phoenix and Orlando, averaging 18.0 ppg., 5.1 rpg., 2.8 apg. and 1.18 stlpg. in 35.0 minpg. He has shot .373 (1,418-3,804) from three-point range during his career. Richardson has also played in 32 career playoff outings, averaging 18.0 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 1.4 apg. and 1.06 stlpg. in 34.8 minpg., while shooting .409 (85-208) from three-point range. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2001-02, claimed the NBA Slam Dunk championship in 2002 and 2003, while also being named MVP of the Rookie Challenge in 2002.

Celtics trade Glen Davis, Von Wafer to Magic for Brandon Bass

The Orlando Magic have acquired forward Glen Davis and guard Von Wafer from the Boston Celtics in exchange for forward Brandon Bass, President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Otis Smith announced today.

Davis (6’9”, 289, 1/1/86) played in 78 games (13 starts) with Boston last season, averaging 11.7 ppg., 5.4 rpg. and 1.2 apg. in 29.5 minpg. He set career-highs in scoring, rebounding and minutes played.

Wafer (6’5”, 209, 7/21/85) appeared in 58 games (two starts) with the Celtics last year, averaging 3.2 ppg. in 9.5 minpg.

“Glen (Davis) is a versatile player that adds size to our frontcourt,” said Smith. “He has a solid mid-range jumper and is a strong team defensive player. Von (Wafer) brings athleticism and aggressiveness on the offensive end. We’re excited to add both to our team and we wish Brandon all the best.”

Originally selected in the second round (35th overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft by Seattle, Davis has played in 277 career regular season games (31 starts), all with the Celtics, averaging 7.6 ppg. and 4.1 rpg. in 21.0 minpg. He was acquired by Boston on June 28. 2007. Davis has also appeared in 64 career playoff outings (15 starts), averaging 7.5 ppg. and 3.8 rpg. in 20.6 minpg. He helped the Celtics capture the 2008 NBA World Championship.

Originally selected in the second round (39th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft by the L.A. Lakers, Wafer has played in 167 career regular season games with the Lakers, L.A. Clippers, Denver, Portland, Houston and Boston, averaging 5.1 ppg. and 1.1 rpg. in 12.0 minpg. Wafer has also appeared in 16 career playoff outings, averaging 6.6 ppg. in 11.6 minpg.

Bass, a 6’8 forward, averaged a career-high 11.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season for the Magic. Bass also shot a career-high 51.5% from the field last season, which ranked 19th overall in the NBA. The former Louisiana State Tiger scored in double figures in 45 games and recorded 20 or more points in three games. He posted a career-high 27 points against Detroit on December 3 when he was 11-for-12 from the field.