Orlando Magic Blog – Page 57 – NBA Blog

Poll results: Best teams in league

An InsideHoops.com poll started on July 17 asking readers to select the five best teams in the NBA gave some expected results.

The league champion Los Angeles Lakers, receiving 3,540 votes, got more support than any team, followed by the Miami Heat (3,151 votes), Orlando Magic (2,931) and Boston Celtics (2,900).

The other two teams to receive over 1,000 votes were the Chicago Bulls (1,426), who added Carlos Boozer this summer, and Oklahoma City Thunder (1,149), a talented young team featuring star Kevin Durant.

The Dallas Mavericks (873) also received support.

76ers sign Tony Battie

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that the team has signed free agent center Tony Battie. As per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We see Tony Battie as a player who can come in and give us additional depth in the front court while also providing a valuable veteran presence for our younger players both on and off the court,” Stefanski said.

Battie (6-11, 240) recently completed his 12th NBA season and is averaging 6.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.90 blocks in 772 career games with 418 starts. He has also appeared in 51 playoff games with 30 starts and was a member of the Orlando Magic’s Eastern Conference Championship team in 2008-09.

Originally the fifth overall pick by Denver in the 1997 NBA Draft, Battie was traded twice following his rookie season, ending up in Boston. After five full seasons with the Celtics, he was sent to Cleveland early into the 2003-04 campaign, which coincided with LeBron James’ rookie season.

In July of 2004, the Cavaliers packaged Battie in a trade to Orlando, one month after the Magic added Dwight Howard with the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. Battie spent the next five seasons with the Magic, including 2005-06 when he started all 82 games with averages of 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds while playing alongside Howard.

Last summer, Battie was traded to New Jersey as part of Orlando’s draft day deal for Vince Carter following the Magic’s run to the NBA Finals in 2009. Battie appeared in 15 games for the Nets last season.

A standout at Texas Tech, Battie left as the Red Raiders all-time leader in blocks despite forgoing his senior season. His brother, Derrick, played basketball at Temple.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Yes, Battie is still alive and well, and in the league. No idea what he has left in the tank. Obvious assumption is that he’s good for 5-8 minutes per game to bang into some people.

Matt Barnes may join Raptors

The AP reports:

Free-agent forward Matt Barnes says he is headed for Toronto.

Barnes wrote on his Twitter page Monday that he has decided to play for the Raptors next season. He also thanked fans in Orlando, where he played last season.

Yahoo reports:

Even after Matt Barnes announced himself as a Toronto Raptor on his Twitter account, the sign-and-trade deal that would’ve sent him to the team with a two-year, $9 million contract has fallen apart, a league source told Yahoo! Sports.

“The sign-and-trade is dead,” the source flatly said.

Magic match Bulls offer, retain J.J. Redick

The Orlando Magic have exercised its right of first refusal and retained restricted free agent guard J.J. Redick, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed. Orlando had seven days to match an offer sheet made to Redick by Chicago on July 9.

“J.J. (Redick) is a valuable part of our organization, both on the court and in our community,” said Smith. “He has worked extremely hard during his four seasons with us and improved every year. We’re happy that J.J. will be back to help us reach our ultimate goal.”

Redick (#7, 6’4”, 190, 6/24/84) played in all 82 games last season with Orlando, averaging a career-high 9.6 ppg., 1.9 rpg. and 1.9 apg. in 22.0 minpg. He made nine starts, averaging 13.0 ppg., 2.9 apg. and 2.7 rpg. in 35.1 minpg. during that span. Redick led the Magic in both three-point shooting (.405, 111-274) and free throw shooting (.860, 191-222), ranking 17th in the NBA in both categories. He also appeared in all 14 playoff games, averaging 7.5 ppg., 1.7 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 19.2 minpg.

Originally selected in the first round (11th overall) by Orlando in the 2006 NBA Draft, Redick has appeared in 222 career NBA regular season games, all with the Magic, averaging 7.0 ppg., 1.5 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 17.2 minpg. He has shot .392 (233-594) from three-point range and .863 (353-409) from the free throw line. Redick has also played in 33 career playoff outings, averaging 6.2 ppg., 1.6 apg. and 1.3 rpg. in 18.7 minpg.

Magic sign Quentin Richardson

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard/forward Quentin Richardson, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

“Quentin (Richardson) is a solid perimeter defender and brings an element of toughness,” said Smith. “At the same time, he also is a tremendous shooter from long range, which fits our style of play very well. We’re excited to add him to our team.”

Richardson (#5, 6’6”, 228, 4/13/80) played in 76 games (75 starts) last season with Miami, averaging 8.9 ppg., 4.9 rpg. and 1.2 apg. in 27.4 minpg. He also appeared in five postseason contests, averaging 9.8 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.60 stlpg. in 29.8 minpg. Richardson shot a team-best .397 (142-358) from three-point range, which tied for 21st in the NBA. He scored in double figures 28 times and had seven 20-point outings, including a season-high 25 points on Mar. 4 vs. the L.A. Lakers. Richardson led (or tied) the team in scoring once, in rebounding 12 times and in assists once.

Originally selected in the first round (18th overall) by the L.A. Clippers in the 2000 NBA Draft, Richardson has appeared in 677 career NBA regular season games with the L.A. Clippers, Phoenix, New York and Miami, averaging 11.2 ppg., 5.0 rpg. and 1.6 apg. in 28.0 minpg. He has shot .359 (1,082-3,017) from three-point range during his career. Richardson has also played in 20 career playoff outings, averaging 11.4 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.35 stlpg. in 35.6 minpg., while shooting .394 (41-104) from three-point range.

Magic sign Chris Duhon

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Chris Duhon, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed. We’ll add contract details later today to this page.

“Chris (Duhon) provides depth, leadership and stability to our backcourt,” said Smith. “He takes care of the basketball, defends well and can hit the open shot. We’re very happy to add Chris to our team.”

Duhon (6’1”, 190, 8/31/82) played in 67 games (59 starts) last season with New York, averaging 7.4 ppg., 5.6 apg. and 2.7 rpg. in 30.9 minpg. He led the Knicks in assists and was tied for fifth in the NBA in assists-to-turnover ratio (3.44, 378-110). Duhon led the Knicks in scoring twice and in assists 38 times. He scored in double figures 23 times, including a season-high 25 points on Dec. 4 @ Atlanta, and also recorded 10-plus assists four times.

Originally selected in the second round (38th overall) by Chicago in the 2004 NBA Draft, Duhon has appeared in 446 career NBA regular season games with Chicago and New York, averaging 7.7 ppg., 5.1 apg. and 2.6 rpg. in 28.5 minpg. He has shot .362 (553-1,526) from three-point range and .797 (554-695) from the free throw line. Duhon has also played in 21 career playoff outings, averaging 4.7 ppg., 2.8 rpg. and 2.6 apg. in 22.0 minpg.

Boston deserves to host an All-Star weekend

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reports:

As television ratings show, those in the NBA community love the Lakers and Celtics. They love the rivalry. They love the East Coast-West Coast matchup. They love the contrast in cities.

But the NBA appears to embrace Los Angeles more than Boston in one very beneficial way. The league awarded Los Angeles the 2011 All-Star Game, the second time in eight years it has hosted the game. Meanwhile, Boston has not hosted an NBA All-Star Game since 1964, despite having one of the league’s newer arenas and a team re-emerging as one of the elite.

And it’s not for lack of trying. According to Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck, the city has submitted applications several times, only to be denied.

In past years, commissioner David Stern has rewarded cities that have new arenas with All-Star Games. Orlando is set to open its new venue next season, and Stern quickly handed Central Florida the 2012 All-Star Game, its second in 20 years. Atlanta, Houston, Denver, Philadelphia, Washington, and Oakland were presented with All-Star Games after constructing new arenas.

Dwight Howard might not play for Team USA in FIBA World Championship

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports (via blog):

Dwight Howard acknowledged Monday that he might not play for Team USA in the FIBA World Championship late this summer in Turkey.

“I haven’t decided what I’m going to do,” Howard said after the Orlando Magic completed their exit day at RDV Sportsplex.

Howard initially had made a public commitment to playing in the tournament, but his thoughts appear to have changed.

The Orlando Sentinel reported on April 26 that Howard might forego the tournament, which will be held Aug. 28 to Sept. 12.

Game 6: Lakers eliminate Suns

The AP reports:

Get ready, Boston, for a rematch with Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant wrapped up a magnificent series with 37 points, Ron Artest added 25 and the Lakers held off the Phoenix Suns 111-103 on Saturday night to win the Western Conference finals…

Bryant scored nine points in the final 2 minutes, including what looked like an impossible 23-footer with Grant Hill in his face and 34 seconds to play. The basket put Los Angeles up 107-100 and the scrappy Suns were finished…

Amare Stoudemire, in what may have been his last game with the Suns, scored 27 points but struggled to a 7-of-20 shooting night. He can opt out of the final year of his contract and has said chances are “50-50” that he will play elsewhere next season.

Steve Nash added 21 points and nine assists in his 118th playoff game, the most for anyone who has never reached the finals…

Channing Frye had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns, who have reached the finals only twice in their history and never have won a championship. Goran Dragic scored 10 of his 12 points in a fourth-quarter rally that got Phoenix within three points…

Phoenix cut the lead to single digits only once in the third quarter, 74-65 on Stoudemire’s two free throws with 5:38 left. The Lakers responded with an 11-2 run, Artest’s layup in traffic making it 85-67 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the quarter.

The AP reports:

Los Angeles will be going for its second straight title and No. 16 overall. The Celtics still have the edge, hanging their 17th banner with their victory two years ago in six games.

“We remember more than anything losing on our home court, a situation where we had some defensive lapses and they took advantage of it,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “This year we have homecourt advantage, and we look forward to the rematch with great intensity.”

The AP reports:

The Suns trailed by 18 in the second half and 17 going into the final quarter. An offensive outburst by Goran Dragic and strong play by Amare Stoudemire in the fourth helped Phoenix pull to within three with just over two minutes to play, but it couldn’t get any closer.

Phoenix hurt itself in the second quarter when it shot 38.9 percent and scored only 19 points, the fewest it has put up in any quarter this series. After trailing by only three after the first quarter, the Suns went into halftime down 65-53.

Phoenix trailed by at least nine the entire third, and its deficit ballooned to 18 on Ron Artest’s hook shot with 2:24 left in the quarter.

Fans discussed this game live as it happened in this forum topic.

Matt Barnes now rooting for Celtics to win championship

Dan Duggan of the Boston Herald reports:

This may come as a surprise to Celtics fans, but Matt Barnes wants your team to win the championship.

The Magic forward, who seemed to thrive on getting under the skin of the Celtics during the Eastern Conference finals, is expecting his rivals to continue their run in the NBA Finals.

“After they beat us, you definitely wish everybody good luck and you want them to win the championship because at least you got beat by the team who won it,” Barnes said after the C’s closed out the Magic with a 96-84 Game 6 win at the Garden last night. “They definitely got everything it takes and we wish them good luck.”

The physical nature of the series got plenty of attention, but after last night’s game there was a clear display of mutual respect between the teams.

“You know it’s a war while you’re out there, but I got friends on that team,” Barnes said. “But while we’re playing, we’re playing for our lives.”