<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Orlando, FL ? The Orlando Magic have exercised their option to extend the contracts of forward-center Dwight Howard and guard Jameer Nelson through the 2007-08 season, Assistant General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deals are not disclosed. ?Dwight and Jameer are having terrific sophomore seasons and they are only going to get better,? said Smith. ?They are certainly key parts of our foundation, as we continue to make this organization one in which fans can be proud of, both on and off the court. We look forward to watching Dwight?s and Jameer?s development in a Magic uniform for many years to come.? Howard (6?11?, 265, 12/8/85) has played in all 70 games this season for Orlando, averaging 15.6 ppg., 12.3 rpg., 1.5 apg. and 1.53 blkpg. in 36.9 minpg., while shooting a team-best .530 (396-747) from the floor. He leads the team and ranks among NBA leaders in rebounding (2nd in NBA, as of Mar. 27), field goal percentage (5th) and blocked shots (19th). Howard also leads the Magic, and is third in the NBA, with 51 double-doubles. He has led (or tied) the Magic in scoring 16 times and in rebounding a team-best 59 times. Howard was one of 23 players recently named to the 2006-08 USA Men?s Senior National Team program. Originally selected with the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, he has appeared and started in 151 of 152 career NBA games, all with the Magic, averaging 13.7 ppg., 11.0 rpg., 1.2 apg. and 1.60 blkpg. in 34.6 minpg. During his rookie season (2004-05), Howard was one of only eight players in the NBA to average a double-double and the first rookie (along with Charlotte?s Emeka Okafor) to average a double-double since 1992-93. He became the youngest player in NBA history to record 20-plus rebounds in a single game and was a unanimous selection to the 2004-05 NBA All-Rookie First Team. Howard finished his career at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy with 2,146 points, 1,728 rebounds and 811 blocked shots in 129 games. As a senior, he averaged 25.0 ppg., 18.0 rpg., 3.5 apg. and 8.00 blkpg., while leading SACA to the 2004 Class A Georgia state championship. He earned the 2004 Naismith Award, given to the nation?s top high school player, as well as the Morgan Wooten High School Player of the Year award. Howard was also named McDonald?s High School Player of the Year, Mr. Basketball in the state of Georgia and to the PARADE Magazine All-American Team. He poured in 19 points and was named Co-MVP of the 2004 McDonald?s High School All-American game, leading the East to a 126-96 victory. Nelson (6?, 190, 2/9/82) has played in 50 games this season for Orlando, averaging 14.2 ppg., 4.8 apg., 3.1 rpg. and 1.12 stlpg. in 28.5 minpg., while shooting a team-best .418 (51-122) from three-point land. He has scored in double figures 35 times, including a career-high 32 points on Jan. 11 @ Seattle. Nelson has led (or tied) the Magic in scoring 14 times and in assists 23 times. Originally selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by Denver, Nelson was acquired by the Magic on draft night (Jun. 24, 2004) in exchange for a future first round draft pick. He has appeared in 129 career NBA games, all with the Magic, averaging 10.8 ppg., 3.7 apg., 2.7 rpg. and 1.04 stlpg. in 23.5 minpg. Nelson was named to the 2004-05 NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Nelson spent four seasons at Saint Joseph?s University, averaging 16.8 ppg., 5.7 apg., 4.6 rpg. and 2.05 stlpg. in 125 career games. He left as the school?s all-time leader in points (2,094), assists (713) and steals (256). Nelson had his jersey number 14 retired by the Hawks on Apr. 23. Following his senior season (2003-04), Nelson was the consensus National Player of the Year, earning the Associated Press, Naismith, Rupp, Robertson and Chevrolet Player of the Year awards. He also shared the NABC top player award with Connecticut?s Emeka Okafor. In addition, Nelson was selected as a unanimous First Team All-America by the Associated Press, named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and captured the Francis Pomeroy Naismith Award, signifying the top player in the country 6-feet and under. In 2003-04, Nelson led Saint Joseph?s to a perfect regular season (27-0), a top ranking in the national polls, the school?s first-ever #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a school-best 30-2 record. He led the Hawks in scoring (20.6 ppg.), assists (5.3 apg.) and steals (2.97 stlpg) and was named the A-10?s Player of the Week a record eight tims.</div> http://www.nba.com/magic/news/Magic_Extend...173322-800.html
I think that the real question is whether or not we're going to keep them after those contracts are up. Will we make another mistake in letting a good player get away? Same goes for Darko...it'd be nice if Orlando, for once, kept a core group together for several years.
This isn't really big news, it was a team option and of course the Magic will exercise it on both of them. I just hope we get something worked out not this summer, but next summer on long term deals with them(after we sign a FA)
