Feb 27, 2006 11:39 PM EST
The Orlando Magic are talking about the development of a new arena on a mostly undeveloped, 1,800-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center and near the area's bustling theme parks.
Joel Glass, a spokesman for the National Basketball Association franchise, has confirmed to Orlando Business Journal that Atlanta developer Stan Thomas has met with the team's management about building "a world-class sports and entertainment center," as well as building financial ties with the team as a limited partner.
Via Orlando Business Journal
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Four days into a fresh opportunity at redemption, and Darko Milicic is already sulking. The name on the uniform is different, but the seat at the end of the bench hasn't changed. He doesn't get it. And he probably never will.
He can't even play on a team that has given up hope on the season.
"I didn't come here to sit on the bench...I tell myself that everything will be fine here, but right now, nothing has changed. I want to play. I need to play. I learn nothing sitting on the bench."
Nothing has changed. Darko still blames other factors for his inactivity. He eagerly embraced his emancipation from the Pistons, somehow convincing himself that liberation from his self-described "nightmare" would immediately register into consistent playing time with the Magic.
But Darko didn't play one second in his second game with the Magic, Wednesday at New Jersey.
"You have to ask them why," Darko said of the coaches.
Magic coach Brian Hill offered the same refrain that grew age lines in Detroit the last three years. Darko has "tremendous upside," Hill said, but he has to "learn his new surroundings" and grow comfortable with the situation. In other words, he needs to wake up.
Orlando will discover what the Pistons reluctantly learned before they traded him last week. Darko has an unyielding sense of entitlement that will prevent him from fully taking advantage of his physical gifts. He still equates playing time with something gift-wrapped under a Christmas tree.
It's time for Darko to grow up, sack up and maybe wise up. He still holds a grudge against the Pistons for how he thinks they treated him.
"I was pissed," he said. "It was always the same story, same story. They told me to be ready, and I was. They told me to have a good preseason, and I did. But my playing time went to nothing. They didn't want me, so I needed to leave."
But was his time in Detroit really "a nightmare," as he called it this week before he played his first game with the Magic? If anything, Darko's problem is that he has become too Americanized.
A concern remains that Milicic lacks motivation to push himself beyond the fruits already won from being the second overall pick in the 2003 draft. It's still easier to blame somebody else for his shortcomings.
Isn't there a local law on the books prohibiting the Magic from engaging in a business deal with Joe Dumars? Orlando hasn't recovered from the less-than-minimal return on its seven-year, $98 million investment in Grant Hill in 2000. The sign-and-trade deal involving Hill gave the Pistons the backbone of their championship revival - Ben Wallace.
But some people in Orlando think that vengeance is finally theirs, fleecing the Pistons of an unrefined talent they ruined solely by neglect.
Sounds like the Magic Kingdom has been sniffing Tinker Bell's pixie dust.
Via The Mercury News
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As expected, the Orlando Magic waived Anfernee Hardaway on Friday.
In a related move, they have signed Charles “Bo” Outlaw. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.
Outlaw was waived on Wednesday in order to complete the Steve Francis trade.
Via Magic Press Release
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Magic Feb 2006 Archive
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NY Times | Feb 23, 2006
How many wins the Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis backcourt will produce for the rest of the season is yet to be seen, but there are plenty of skeptics, including some within the Knicks organization, but it doesn't appear to be the coach.
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New York Times | Feb 22, 2006
Orlando intends to waive Penny Hardaway and to re-sign Bo Outlaw, who was waived on Wednesday to make room on the roster.
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Beacon-Journal | Feb 22, 2006
Cleveland general Manager Danny Ferry isn't expected to make a drastic move today.
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Houston Chronicle | Feb 22, 2006
Both the Knicks and Magic have been active before Thursday's 3 p.
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Orlando Sentinel | Feb 22, 2006
The Orlando Magic's massive rebuilding project that claimed veteran guard Steve Francis might also claim veteran forward Grant Hill, who could be traded this summer or before next season's trade deadline.
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Magic Press Release | Feb 22, 2006
The Orlando Magic have acquired forward Trevor Ariza and the expiring contract of guard Anfernee Hardaway from New York in exchange for guard Steve Francis, Assistant General Manager Otis Smith announced today.
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ESPN | Feb 22, 2006
Orlando and New York have agreed to a trade of Francis for Penny Hardaway and Trevor Ariza, two league sources with knowledge of the deal told ESPN.com.
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Orlando Sentinel | Feb 22, 2006
Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson said Tuesday he officially has been diagnosed with "cartilage damage'' in his right foot and will be out three weeks, placing his return in early- to mid-March.
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Detroit News | Feb 22, 2006
It appears that Darko Milinic is grateful to be getting a fresh chance in Orlando, but how does he feel about leaving the powerhouse Pistons in his past?
"It was a nightmare in Detroit, and now it is over," Milicic said Tuesday.
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NY Times | Feb 22, 2006
Penny Hardaway's expiring contract, which the Knicks have sought to use in a number of potential deals, would not be included in the Steve Francis trade.
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Orlando Sentinel | Feb 21, 2006
Darko Milicic might have felt out of place in his first practice with the Orlando Magic on Monday.
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NY Times | Feb 21, 2006
Steve Francis, Theo Ratliff, Kenyon Martin, Earl Watson and Darius Miles all remained in the Knicks rumor mill on Monday.
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Florida Today | Feb 19, 2006
"I'm still talking and looking into things every day, trying to make our team better," GM Otis Smith said. "I can't say that we're close to anything right now. We'll keep working."
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Houston Chronicle | Feb 19, 2006
This much is true: Steve Francis would love to be back in Houston.
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Orlando Sentinel | Feb 17, 2006
The Lakers are "aggressively" pursuing a trade that would send forward Lamar Odom to the Magic for Steve Francis in a multiplayer deal.
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The Star | Feb 17, 2006
It used to a rite of summer, a week or so at the Moody Bible College deep in the middle of Chicago, where the league held its annual pre-draft camp.
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Florida Today | Feb 17, 2006
Minnesota, Memphis, New York and Denver all are believed to have an interest in Steve Francis.
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TNT | Feb 16, 2006
New York is reportedly trying to revive trade talks with Denver and Orlando.
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ESPN | Feb 16, 2006
New York, Denver, Minnesota and now even Houston are in the market for Steve Francis, who Chris Sheridan believes is now certain to be dealt.
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North Jersey | Feb 16, 2006
League sources indicated Wednesday it's more likely Steve Francis end up elsewhere rather than New York, with Denver the frontrunner and Memphis showing interest.
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Orlando Sentinel | Feb 16, 2006
The Orlando Magic don't expect injured PG Jameer Nelson to return for at least three weeks, according to Assistant General Manager Otis Smith.
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NY Post | Feb 16, 2006
With Kelvin Cato packaged in Wednesday's trade, the Steve Francis to New York talks will have to be adjusted and could make any deal a longshot bid, team sources said.
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Press Release | Feb 15, 2006
The Orlando Magic have acquired guard Carlos Arroyo and forward-center Darko Milicic from Detroit in exchange for center Kelvin Cato and a future protected first round draft pick, Assistant General Manager Otis Smith announced tonight.
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ESPN | Feb 15, 2006
The Detroit Pistons traded forward Darko Milicic and point guard Carlos Arroyo to the Orlando Magic for Kelvin Cato and a 2007 first round pick, ESPN.com has learned Wednesday.
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Florida Today | Feb 15, 2006
"I don't have a deal at this time," said GM Otis Smith regarding the trade that would send Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo to Orlando for Kelvin Cato and a first-round pick. "It's still a ways away. It's 50-50 right now."
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ESPN | Feb 14, 2006
NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday night that the Pistons and Orlando Magic were close to completing a long-discussed trade that would relocate Milicic, 2003's No. 2 overall pick, to Central Florida.
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ESPN | Feb 14, 2006
Steve Francis is being strongly sought by the desperate New York Knicks, who want to pair him in the backcourt with Stephon Marbury in a bid to save their season.
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New York Daily News | Feb 14, 2006
A deal which will see Darko Milicic land in Orlando is contingent on Orlando's three-team trade with the Knicks and Denver being completed. Kenyon Martin would go to New York, Steve Francis to Denver and Jamal Crawford and Nene to the Magic, according to the New York Daily News.
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Rocky Mountain News | Feb 14, 2006
Orlando guard Steve Francis has been mentioned as a target for the Nuggets.
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Orlando Sentinel | Feb 13, 2006
One star returned for the Magic on Sunday night while another remained virtually invisible.
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Press Release | Feb 12, 2006
Boston Celtics guard Delonte West has been selected to replace injured Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson (sprained right foot) in the 2006 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge to be held on Friday, February 17 at Toyota Center in Houston.
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Florida Today | Feb 11, 2006
The Orlando Magic have made inquiries into possibly trading for Detroit Pistons reserve power forward Darko Milicic and point guard Carlos Arroyo
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Orlando Sentinel | Feb 11, 2006
The Magic have made contact with starting center Tony Battie's representatives to talk about re-signing him for next season and beyond.
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FloridaToday.com | Feb 11, 2006
Steve Francis admitted before Friday's game that the swirling trade rumors involving him possibly being dealt to Denver or New York are affecting him.
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Orlando Sentinel | Feb 9, 2006
Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill, who has missed the past 12 games, could play this weekend, according to Assistant General Manager Otis Smith.
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Newsday | Feb 8, 2006
Jamal Crawford was the prize acquisition made by Knicks president Isiah Thomas prior to last season, but when his name came up in a credible trade rumor this week, it was evidence of the active involvement in trade talks of Knicks coach Larry Brown.
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Orlando Sentinel | Feb 7, 2006
"It ain't like I'm angry. If it happens, it happens," Francis said at Monday's pregame shoot-around. "But you also got to think that there's something to it when all the stuff comes out."
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NY Daily News | Feb 7, 2006
If the Knicks try to acquire both Kenyon Martin and Earl Watson, Denver may ask for rookie Channing Frye in return. Other reports on Tuesday indicated that only Eddy Curry was untouchable.
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Newark Star-Ledger | Feb 7, 2006
The Knicks were chatting with the Magic and Nuggets about a trade involving Steve Francis, who would go to Denver while the Knicks would have gotten Earl Watson to play the point.
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Florida Today | Feb 6, 2006
Orlando assistant general manager Otis Smith denied a published report that the Magic are close to finalizing a multi-team trade that would send guard Steve Francis to the Denver Nuggets.
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New York Times | Feb 5, 2006
The New York Times is reporting that the proposed deal which would have seen Steve Francis join Carmelo Anthony in Denver has fallen apart for now.
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NY Post | Feb 5, 2006
In exchange for Steve Francis, the Nuggets would give up Nene and Watson, who would either wind up in New York or Seattle.
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Orlando Sentinel | Feb 2, 2006
Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson's injured right foot is apparently more serious than the club expected.
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Press Release | Feb 1, 2006
Milwaukee Bucks forward Andrew Bogut, the first overall selection in the 2005 NBA Draft, and Orlando Magic forward Dwight Howard, the first player chosen in the 2004 NBA Draft, lead a list of 19 players selected to play in the 2006 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge on Friday, Feb.
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