Magic: 10 years start now

Scott Maxwell and Mark Schlueb of the Orlando Sentinel reports: Last week, many people assumed the Orlando Magic's offer to sign a 10-year commitment to stay in town -- in exchange for a $75 million renovation -- meant an extra 10 years.

It didn't.

According to the team's offer, that 10 years would begin ticking away this year, not when the current lease ends in 2004. That would keep them here until 2011 -- only seven years longer than the team's existing deal with the city.

City and county officials say they would prefer to have a 10-year commitment from the team that would begin at the end of the current deal -- meaning the Magic would stay until 2014. But they also say they think they will be able to work something out.

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2 draft picks sign with Magic; Dee Brown retires

John Denton of the Florida Today reports: The Orlando Magic's roster underwent a changing of the guard of sorts Wednesday as the team signed rookie draft picks Steven Hunter and Jeryl Sasser and announced the retirement of veteran guard Dee Brown.

Orlando will head into training camp in September with 13 players under contract. Free-agent veterans Monty Williams and Troy Hudson have been invited to training camp, but have not been offered guaranteed contracts.

The signings of Hunter and Sasser figure to be the last moves of a busy offseason for the Magic. Orlando signed free-agent veterans Patrick Ewing and Horace Grant, traded Michael Doleac and rookie Brendan Haywood, acquired LaRon Profit and re-signed Don Reid and Andrew DeClercq.

Orlando delayed the signings of Hunter and Sasser while hoping to add another reserve point guard to its roster. Darrell Armstrong had trouble with injuries last season, while Hudson struggled mightily as his replacement. But with little salary cap room left, the Magic are likely out of the running for free-agent point guards Shammond Williams (Sonics), Moochie Norris (Rockets) or Damon Jones (Grizzlies).

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Magic push for renovated arena.

Dan Tracy and David Damron of the Orlando Sentinel report: Stopped cold in their drive for a new arena, the Orlando Magic on Friday evening began pushing a $75 million plan to renovate the TD Waterhouse Centre.

Details were sketchy, but the proposal relies heavily on Florida and Orange County taxes. The Magic promised to spend some of their cash, too, but would not say how much.

If the Magic have their way, remodeling could begin next spring, at the end of the upcoming NBA season. Construction would take 18 months.

With a redone arena, the Magic would be willing to extend their lease at the city-owned facility to the 2014-15 season, 10 years after the current contract expires. That, however, would not preclude franchise executives from launching a new arena drive when the agreement expires.

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