The green flag drops on the race for NBA free agents Tuesday, which happens to be the 100-year anniversary of the Tour de France.
The Tour de Orlando will begin with as many as two players showing up at the Magic's doorstep on the first day free agents can visit. The Magic need help in their plan to patiently rebuild after running out of patience waiting for Grant Hill to heal, and these are youthful players "who really want to be here," said General Manager John Gabriel.
Gabriel can't say who those free agents might be; it's a state secret. Safe to say, you won't hear about Jason Kidd, Jermaine O'Neal, Elton Brand or Gilbert Arenas touring the RDV Sports-plex or playing video games at Tracy McGrady's house.
The Magic can't even afford their dry-cleaning bills.
You won't be bumping into Gary Payton, Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen or maybe even P.J. Brown -- unless you're taking in a movie at senior prices.
The Magic feel they are too old for their latest blueprint.
Via Orlando Sentinel
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For the first time in a long time, there was no need to put a happy face on the Magic's draft, no need to dredge up its history of failed picks.
Versatile Louisville point guard Reece Gaines is everything Orlando wanted with the 15th overall pick in Thursday night's NBA draft and then some.
"I've always been a leader," Gaines said Friday at the team's RDV Sportsplex headquarters. "But at each level I've been at I had to earn the right to be a leader. You don't just walk into a room and say "I'm a leader.'
"Hopefully I'll earn the right to be a leader here."
Here is where Magic general manager John Gabriel said he wanted Gaines all along. But he was not sure Gaines would make it to No. 15.
Seattle picked twice ahead of Orlando, at No. 12 and 14, and also was in dire need of a point guard. The Magic tried to trade up, reaching as high as the Wizards' pick at No. 10. But the team did not have much to give and found no takers for what little it offered. Gabriel was in constant contact with Gaines' agent, Andy Miller, trying to work out a deal.
When the Sonics took Kansas forward Nick Collison with the 12th pick, Gabriel feared the worst.
"I thought he was gone," Gabriel said. "Andy and I talked all day, every hour, about how we could go up to get (Gaines.)"
Via St. Petersburg Times
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Welcome to the NBA, Reece Gaines. Ten days from now your first game as a member of the Orlando Magic will be against none other than LeBron James.
"Yeah, they've already told me our first summer league game is against Cleveland," Gaines said as a wide smile spread across his face. "That'll be exciting, for sure. I got to meet LeBron in New York and he's a good guy. But that's why you want to be in the NBA, playing against the great players every single night. Here in Orlando I get to start at home so that'll be good."
Orlando made Gaines its first-round draft pick Thursday night, hoping that his muscular 6-foot-6, 205-pound frame will be useful against bigger opposing guards. He'll certainly be tested on July 8 when James, the high school sensation taken No. 1 overall by the Cavs, plays his first professional game in summer-league action in Orlando.
For the first time in the Orlando summer league's three-year existence, a round of games will be played at TD Waterhouse Centre and will be open to fans. The reasoning is simple. Four of the top eight players selected in Thursday's NBA Draft -- Detroit's Darko Milicic, Miami's Dwyane Wade, Milwaukee's T.J. Ford and Cleveland's James -- are scheduled to play in the league. The Magic sold 2,300 tickets at $5 on Friday and figure that crowds could top 10,000 for a relatively meaningless scrimmage.
It also will be the first look at Gaines, the 15th pick of draft, and the Magic's two second-round picks -- European power forward Zaza Pachulia and former Kentucky shooting guard Keith Bogans. Gaines, for one, can hardly wait to get started.
Via Florida Today
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Magic Jun 2003 Archive
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 28, 2003
All the Orlando Magic draft acquistions -- Reece Gaines, Zaur "Zaza" Pachulia and Keith Bogans -- reported to the RDV Sportsplex on Friday.
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Florida Today | Jun 27, 2003
Three years in a row the Orlando Magic have been knocked out of the playoffs, not just because of their lack of rebounding and poor post play, but also because they were battered at the point guard position.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 27, 2003
There were two major developments at Thursday night's draft.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 27, 2003
Grant Hill, who is recovering from his fourth surgery on left ankle, is eager to return to the Orlando Magic and resume his NBA career, said Hill's father, Calvin Hill.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 27, 2003
LeBron James drove a Hummer while he was still in high school last season.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 27, 2003
The Milwaukee Bucks did not take Polish power forward Maciej Lampe in the National Basketball Association draft Thursday night.
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St. Petersburg Times | Jun 26, 2003
The Magic has no idea what kind of player the team will get with the 15th pick in tonight's NBA draft.
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Indianapolis Star | Jun 26, 2003
"With the fourth pick of the 2003 NBA draft .
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New York Daily News | Jun 26, 2003
LeBron James to Cleveland.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 26, 2003
Heading into tonight's NBA draft, all the Monday morning general managers -- you know, the fans who have the local sports-talk shows on speed dial -- insist that the Orlando Magic must grab a point guard.
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Florida Today | Jun 25, 2003
Collecting players with potential might sound like a logical idea on draft night.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 25, 2003
Pat Williams and Marty Blake, two NBA talent evaluators from way back, were chatting on Williams' radio show recently.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 25, 2003
A runaway pituitary gland and a motorcycle accident have dramatically affected the NBA draft order, and the Orlando Magic may feel the aftershocks Thursday night.
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Florida Today | Jun 24, 2003
A famous alum of Marquette University, Doc Rivers naturally had an interest in the NBA Draft future of shooting guard Dwyane Wade.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 24, 2003
The Orlando Magic's recent track record in the NBA draft begs this burning question: Just who was responsible for selecting Jeryl Sasser, whose jump shot should be banned in 45 states?
You won't see a lot of hands shoot up in a room full of Magic executives, coaches and scouts.
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Washington Times Columnist Tom Knott | Jun 23, 2003
Grant Hill, the one-time heir to Michael Jordan's marketing riches, is expected to miss next season following the fourth surgery on his problematic left ankle in March.
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Chicago Tribune | Jun 23, 2003
The intrigue in Thursday's NBA draft starts with Toronto at No.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 23, 2003
Clay Tucker won't be one of the invited guests at Madison Square Garden for the National Basketball Association's player draft Thursday night.
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Florida Today | Jun 23, 2003
The NBA Draft wasn't just due for a boon of talented and ready point guards.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 23, 2003
The last time the NBA draft was this certain at the top, a 7-foot-1, 303-pound phenomenon from Louisiana State stood upon hearing his name called first, opened his eyes wide and asked with mock surprise, "Who me?"
Everyone who could pronounce the word "basketball" knew the Orlando Magic would select Shaquille O'Neal No.
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Orlando Sentinel Writer Jerry Brewer | Jun 23, 2003
Come weary, come frustrated, come apathetic, come distrusting, come
saddened.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 22, 2003
Doc Rivers sat down gingerly in a chair and tried flexing the numbness out of his right leg.
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Florida Today | Jun 21, 2003
Stooped slightly at the waist because of pain in his back, Doc Rivers managed to crack a smile when it came to the putter he was raffling off Friday at his charity golf tournament.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 21, 2003
Orlando Magic Coach Doc Rivers said he likely will need back surgery, as early as next week, possibly missing Thursday's NBA Draft at the team's headquarters at the RDV Sportsplex in Maitland.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 21, 2003
Julius Erving will resign his position as a senior vice president with the Orlando Magic at the end of the month, NBA sources said.
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Florida Today | Jun 20, 2003
While the Orlando Magic have come to the frustrating conclusion that Grant Hill should sit out next season and fully rehabilitate his surgically repaired left ankle, there does finally appear to be a glimmer of hope for the franchise.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 19, 2003
Barring a medical miracle -- and they haven't witnessed any yet -- the Orlando Magic said Wednesday that they expect Grant Hill to miss the 2003-04 NBA season.
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Florida Today | Jun 17, 2003
This is the difficulty the Orlando Magic face with having the 15th pick of next week's NBA Draft: Not only will their favorite player, point guard Kirk Hinrich, likely be gone by the time the Magic pick, they are having trouble simply getting him into Orlando for a workout.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 15, 2003
Darrell Armstrong was one of three Orlando players -- all would-be free agents -- who had surgery shortly after the postseason.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 15, 2003
While the Orlando Magic inspect young, draft-worthy point guards, Darrell Armstrong's agent wonders how much they value an old fan favorite.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 10, 2003
It is 6:30 a.
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Orlando Sentinel Writer Jerry Brewer | Jun 9, 2003
The most amazing thing is about to happen in the NBA this summer.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jun 8, 2003
Orlando Magic star Tracy McGrady is a card-carrying member of the Grant Hill Fan Club, but he is Hill's friend first and his teammate second.
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Miami Herald | Jun 8, 2003
The Chicago Bulls are interested in Memphis' Shane Battier, and the Grizzlies are interested in getting the No.
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Cincinnati Enquirer | Jun 7, 2003
Donald Little came to the NBA pre-draft camp this week with plenty of questions attached to his name.
