Magic Set To Tackle Offseason To-Do List

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">With preparations for the June 28 NBA Draft beginning this week in earnest, here's a five-pronged, to-do list this summer for the Magic. Again, expect subtleties from the Magic this offseason, not franchise-altering moves.

1. Draft a shooting guard.

The Magic made just 299 3-pointers this past season, ranking next-to-last in the NBA ahead of only the Los Angeles Clippers. To put that in perspective, Seattle's Ray Allen made 269 by himself and the Phoenix Suns made a staggering 837.

Orlando's ability to make the outside shot will become more and more important as Howard continues to blossom into a dominant player on the low post. Already, he was bombarded with double teams this past season, but the Magic had little artillery from the perimeter to make teams pay.

Stevenson and Dooling, the two shooting guards who specialize in defense, combined to make just 15 3-pointers all of last season.

Holding the 11th pick in the draft, the Magic might have to be creative to get the player they want. And by creative that doesn't mean drafting a Spaniard with no intention of ever playing here. The coaching staff would prefer trading for a veteran shooting guard as opposed to drafting one, but at this point the Magic are desperate to find anyone who can bolster their outside shooting.

Privately, Magic officials are hoping Gonzaga's Adam Morrison drops on draft night, but a free-fall to No. 11 is unlikely. Duke's J.J. Redick is more likely to be available, and he could be a lethal weapon in the right system. Some wonder if he can ever be more than just a spot-up shooter, but if he's playing with Howard, he might not have to be more than that. Arkansas' Ronnie Brewer and Colorado's Richard Roby are also options.

2. Explore the Grant Hill options.

Because they don't want to cut into their salary-cap room for next summer when they expect to be major players, the July free-agency period likely will bring little excitement to Magic fans.

But in Hill, the Magic already own one of the NBA's most- coveted players. Because Hill's seven-year, $92.88 million contract will finally come to an end after next season, Hill has great value around the league. And that's regardless of whether he's able to return from the sports-hernia injury that wiped out yet another season for him.

Hill is planning to spend the summer strengthening his abdomen muscles with noted Canadian physical therapist Alex McKechnie. He says he's not willing to endure another surgery and could retire if the injury does not heal naturally.

If the Magic get the indication Hill can't return or won't be able to remain upright all season, they could offer his $16.9 million expiring contract to teams looking to start over.

Seattle is looking to move to a new arena, ownership is apparently cash-strapped and could be feeling buyer's remorse about inking Ray Allen to a five-year, $85 million extension last summer. Even at 30, he could last a long time with Howard opening up holes in the defense.

Minnesota, in need of a major overhaul, might be willing to unload Kevin Garnett. Boston could move Paul Pierce and truly embrace rebuilding.

3. Monitor growth of Howard and Milicic.

This is a big offseason for Orlando's 20-year-old Twin Towers.

Howard made huge gains from his first season to the second, but he still has light years to go with his low-post moves offensively and his defensive awareness. He hopes to mirror the path taken by LeBron James, who missed the playoffs his first two seasons but is now in the second round.

Howard has said he wants to add a jump shot and improve his free-throw shooting over the summer, but the Magic want him perfecting his low-post moves first. Also, running a couple thousand pick-and-rolls with Nelson wouldn't be a bad idea.

Later this summer, Howard, who averaged 15.8 points and 12.5 rebounds, will play with Team USA, something that should serve as the perfect tune-up heading into camp.

Milicic has plenty to work for this summer. First, the starting center job is there for the taking for Milicic, who spent the first three years of his career wasting away on Detroit's bench. Like Howard, who went from 240 to 262 pounds last offseason, Orlando wants Milicic to add muscle and bulk this summer so he can hold his position down low.

There's also plenty of financial incentive for Milicic this summer. He is eligible for a contract extension now, but both Milicic and the Magic want to hold off on signing anything yet. With a great season, he could max out at as much as $83.5 million over six years. Fail to improve and he'll likely get a shorter deal at close to the $5.2 million he'll make next season.

Orlando's best chance at making a big jump next season is for Howard and Milicic to make monumental strides. If they can play alongside each other, it gives the Magic 14 feet of shot-blockers and a nifty high-low combination teeming with talent.

4. Add a veteran center.

Even at 6-foot-11, 262 pounds, Howard always will be a power forward at heart, and at times it appears Milicic is allergic to paint, given the way he floats on the perimeter. Tony Battie is great in the locker room and serviceable down low, but he's badly undersized at center.

"We have a lot of length," Magic coach Brian Hill said, "but we just don't have much girth."

Croatian Mario Kasun, a 260-pounder with a mean streak, is likely out of chances with the Magic and could sign with a European team. Cato will be available again this summer, but the Magic won't go near him.

The Magic aren't asking much from a veteran center -- and that's a good thing with little available. But finding a bodyguard for Howard and Milicic, not to mention someone to guard Shaquille O'Neal four times a season, wouldn't be a bad idea.

5. Re-sign Stevenson at a reasonable rate.

This one is, by far, the trickiest of all.

Howard, Nelson and Turkoglu were clearly the Magic's best players this past season, but Stevenson, in his own way, wasn't far behind. He was the Magic's best on-ball defender, eagerly taking the assignment of guarding the opposition's best scorer each night. He models himself after San Antonio defensive ace Bruce Bowen, fitting since both hail from Fresno, Calif., and attended rival high schools at different times.

Stevenson was also valuable to the Magic because he did not demand the ball offensively, which would have taken shots away from Howard, Nelson and Turkoglu. Still, he averaged 11 points a game while shooting a solid 46 percent from the floor. He did all of this playing on an injured left knee that was operated on last week.

He has an opt-out clause in his contract that will allow him to become a free agent, an option he'll wisely pursue. For Stevenson, becoming a free agent is more about trying to secure a contract with more years than more money. He has said he feels loyalty to a Magic team that traded for him in 2004 and signed him to a three-year contract two seasons ago.

But every dollar the Magic commit to Stevenson in the future cuts into their salary-cap room for the summer of 2007. That's when Orlando could have $12.5 million to spend as stars Vince Carter (Daytona Beach native and Orlando resident), Chauncey Billups, Dirk Nowitzki, Pierce, Rashard Lewis and Antawn Jamison become available.

The stars from the class of 2003 -- LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh -- also could be available if they don't sign extensions this summer.

So now the Magic must try affixing a value to Stevenson. He is no All-Star, but he was a big part of the Magic's stirring season-ending run.

"I really don't think you can be a good team without having guys like DeShawn on your team," Brian Hill said. "He had a defensive mindset and he was willing to check the best perimeter player on the other team every night. He knew his defense was the most important thing and he sacrificed his offense.

"We need DeShawn, but where does re-signing him take you as far as being fiscally responsible? But he's an important part of what we're trying to do and I hope he's back."</div>

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