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Miller understands tradeJohn Denton of the Florida Today reports: Mike Miller understands why he was dealt to Memphis last month and believes the Orlando Magic did the right thing. "I agree 100 percent they had to do something. That's another reason why it's hard to blame anybody," Miller said of his feelings toward the Magic. "They had to make a move. I think a lot of people were getting impatient and we weren't going anywhere. We were going to the first round of the playoffs and getting knocked off. We were a playoff team, but after a while people get impatient with just being a playoff team. It's funny to say that, but they had to make a move." After being mentioned in trade talks for his entire Magic career, Miller was glad to finally have some closure. "Then, I could just worry about basketball and my family and not worry all the time about where I was going to be," he said. "It's hard when you're starting a family and you're worrying about where you're going to live. But I'm excited because I have great coaches and one of the best GMs ever in Jerry West." Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Miller returns to OrlandoFor the first time tonight, Mike Miller will enter the T.D. Waterhouse Centre as a visitor. "It's going to be difficult as far as seeing all those people and not being apart of the Magic anymore," Miller said. "But I'm a Grizzly now. . . . I'm looking forward to growing with this team." Miller was supposed to be part of Orlando's core along with Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady. It never materialized like it was supposed to, in part because of Hill's injury-ridden career in Orlando, and now all that is left is what could have been. "I used to think all the time about what we could have been with me, Grant and Mike," McGrady said. "I don't know what we would've been like. I think we'd be better than how we turned out, but I don't know that. I'll never know that." Orlando Magic coach Doc Rivers concurs with McGrady. "If Grant was healthy, you might make the case that the deal would not have been done," Magic Coach Doc Rivers acknowledged. "But you could also make the case that we needed to make a deal to get a post player still. We liked the possibilities of that lineup, though." So tonight, Orlando gets closure according to the Orlando Sentinel's Jerry Brewer. Ron Tillery of GoMemphis.com reports that while it may seem at first glance that Orlando has won the trade, the Grizzlies are ecstatic to have Miller. "He's going to be a star, and there's no way we could get a player of his caliber in the draft," Griz coach Hubie Brown said of Miller. "We're talking about a primetime guy in our style of play." The trade seems to be lopsided, but the trade answered needs for both teams. The emergence of Stromile Swift has also helped ease the loss of Drew Gooden. Swift has averaged number's close to that of Gooden, but has been able to be more of a force on the defensive end blocking 3 shots per game in a 6-game stretch of double-doubles. "The deal makes us a whole lot stronger," Griz center Lorenzen Wright said. "We just didn't have the (playing) time here for Drew." The Magic admit Miller will not be easily replaced, but they are excited to see where this trade will take them. "We can't replace Mike Miller," General Manager John Gabriel said. "He is a good player, and his best years are ahead of him. What we want to do now is work with this group, keep improving and see what we can do." Even McGrady feels good about this team, despite the fact his best friend is not included. "Absolutely, I think we can do something with this group," McGrady said. "Drew is a talent. He just has to learn. Gordan can play. You just never know what's going to happen in the future." Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Gooden out tonight and possibily longerJohn Denton of the Florida Today reports: Orlando Magic forward Drew Gooden's big right toe is getting better but it is still not healed enough for him to play. Gooden will definitely miss tonight's game against his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies, but he is also likely out Wednesday at New Orleans and possibily longer. Magic coach Doc Rivewrs doesn't know when Gooden will be back. "He is able to put two shoes on again and that's progress, but I don't see him on the floor again until Wednesday and that's not even likely," Rivers said of the Magic's game in New Orleans on Wednesday. "Toe injuries are just terrible. Just when you think they are better, you try to walk on them and realize there's a lot of pain still there." We're really going to miss his activity on defense and his rebounding," Rivers said. "He's really the first guy we've had since I've been here who can consistently get 10 rebounds. You take 10 rebounds away from a team that's already not a good rebounding team and it's going to hurt you." Gooden, who has averaged 14.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game since he was traded from Memphis, has already missed two games because of the injury. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Magic Mar 2003 Archive
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