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T-Mac done for seasonOrlando Magic guard Tracy McGrady was placed on the injured list Wednesday with left knee tendinitis and will miss the rest of the season. McGrady had missed the team's past two games with the tendinitis. "It just isn't getting any better," McGrady said. "The organization doesn't want to me to rush it, and I don't want to rush it. I just don't want to put pressure on myself to try and come back too soon. We're just being cautious." Even though he will miss the team's final seven games, he is very likely going to win the NBA's scoring title with a 28 ppg average. The next closest player is Sacramento's Peja Stojakovic, who is averaging 24.7 points per game. The Magic are a league worst 19-56 this season. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Magic sign Johnsen for seasonThe Orlando Magic signed forward Britton Johnsen for the remainder of the season, General Manager John Weisbrod said today. Johnsen has played in 13 games with four starts this season for the Magic, averaging 2.4 points, 1.6 rebounds in 13.8 minutes a game. He originally was signed as a free agent on Sept. 11 and was waived on Nov. 16. Johnsen later signed a 10-day contract on Mar. 10, then a second 10-day contract on Mar. 20. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Minor-league system could help young guysIs it about time the NBA got serious about establishing a viable minor-league system? While the Continental Basketball Association and the National Basketball Development League are nice, as Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel writes they are just not doing enough for the game. Imagine how much it would have benefited Magic rookie point guard Reece Gaines to be sent down for seasoning? Or Magic center Zaza Pachulia? Or Detroit center Darko Milicic, the No. 2 pick in last year's draft? Instead of languishing on the bench, Gaines could have repaired his broken confidence -- and maybe his shot. Then he could have been called back up from the minors to the majors without the Magic losing his rights. Players in the Continental Basketball Association and the National Basketball Development League, which has NBA ties, are brought up routinely in a procedure similar to those in baseball and hockey. But it's never worked the other way with youngsters and rookies already in the NBA. "I like the idea. That would be terrific," Magic Coach Johnny Davis said. "I think that's something that is needed for our league. Baseball does it." Chicago is experiencing first hand the effects of players coming into the league too young and taking longer than expected to develop. While Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford have all shown flashes - some bright - in their young NBA careers thus far, all three would have benefited from a minor system which allowed them to hone their skills under the watchful eye of the Bulls rather than lose big and often. Maybe Portland would not have given up on a young teen named Jermaine O'Neal if there was a minor-league alternative. The idea would have its rules. Schmitz' idea is to limit the concept to a player's first two seasons. Or maybe even expand NBA rosters or allow flexibility. Teams would retain rights to players, maybe several clubs -- say Orlando, Miami and Atlanta -- could field a farm team in a joint venture. As one league scout and former coach says, "It would be a win-win deal. We really need it now with all the young guys coming in. Guys who sit on the bench for a year or two lose their value." With yet another draft containing a strong High School representation something has to be done. General Basketball, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, Portland Trail Blazers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Magic Mar 2004 Archive
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