The Orlando Magic's plans for its roster will start becoming clearer over the next 36 hours (Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel)
Your daily preview of what to expect in Magicville . . .
The Orlando Magic’s plans for their roster could come into sharp focus over the next 24 to 36 hours.
Teams will be permitted to sign free agents and make trades starting at 2 Friday afternoon.
Among the items to watch:
• Amnesty: The Magic’s intentions with the amnesty provision could become obvious by the free-agent moves they make or don’t make.
If their total team payroll remains above the projected luxury-tax threshold of about $70 million, they will not be allowed to offer free agents more than the mini midlevel exception, which maxes out at a starting salary of over $3 million per year.
So, if the team signs a free agent whose starting salary exceeds $3 million, it likely will mean the team will use the amnesty clause on either Gilbert Arenas or Hedo Turkoglu.
• Dwight Howard’s situation: Howard’s long-term status will not be resolved in the next few days. It just won’t.
But we may see some major clues as to the team’s long-range strategy. If the team wants to start creating cap space for the free-agent bonanza of the summer of 2012, it can do so by inking Jason Richardson to a free-agent deal and sending him to another team via a sign-and-trade. That would help the Magic create room under the cap if the Magic receive a contract that will expire after the 2011-12 season or an unguaranteed contract or picks.
• Free agency: The Magic have some obvious needs. They include a center who can serve as Howard’s backup, help on the wing if Richardson leaves in free agency and help at point guard if the team uses the amnesty provision on Arenas.
This morning, Sentinel’s Brian Schmitz highlighted one player who could fill a need: Tony Battie. A former Magic player, Battie could at the very least fill the role that Malik Allen occupied last season as a practice player or emergency option. But even at 35 years old, Battie could be effective in spot duty as Howard’s backup. Howard also respects Battie greatly, so that’s a bonus.
• Draft picks: The Magic almost certainly will agree to deals with Justin Harper and DeAndre Liggins. Both players are in Orlando already.
What I’m reading:
• Celtics still pushing hard to land Chris Paul (Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports)
• NBPA urges ratification in letter detailing deal (Ken Berger, CBSSports.com)
• Knicks close to deal with Grant Hill (Marc Berman, New York Post)
Follow Josh Robbins on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins and e-mail him at jrobbins@orlandosentinel.com. Subscribe to our Orlando Magic newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.
