Hooped Up

Orlando and New Jersey have agreed in principle in a deal that will bring Vince Carter to the Magic and send Tony Battie, Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee to the New Jersey, according to a league source.

The Magic have yet to confirm the deal, but the addition of a scorer in Carter, the trade would seem to end the Magic’s quest to bring back forward Hedo Turkoglu for a long term deal.

The deal also could include Nets’ forward Ryan Anderson. But there might still need to be some maneuvering done because the salaries are way off. Continue »

According to reports, Rihanna is all over Rashard Lewis like the Lakers defence was on Dwight Howard during the finals.

In Game 4 of the series Rhianna showed up to watch Lewis play at the behest of Magic forward Rashard Lewis, whom she’s currently crushing on. Says a pal of the singer, “Rihanna is trying to get to know Rashard. She’s digging on him, and she hopes the feeling is mutual.”

Of course, back in February Rihanna’s ex-boyfriend Chris Brown who also attended game 4, was charged for allegedly assaulting Rihanna and the former couple and their lawyers, are due in court to discuss the matter further after Rihanna was subpoenaed days ago to testify in court.

A) I hope Rashard Lewis and Rihanna hook up so I have an excuse to post more Rhianna pics and B) I hope the courts throw a hardcover Triangle Offense playbook autographed by Tex Winters at Chris Brown and then Rashard Lewis dunks on him.

Innocent until proven guilty my sweet basketball lovin’ @ss!

Via NY Daily News + Ball Don’t Lie

Oh sweetest NBA basketball, it’ll be hard to accept that the season is over and basketball action is dead for a few months. And let’s not count the summer league and pre-season weeks, because that’s not basketball it’s punishment. However, I will accept free tickets to either (reluctantly).

Anyway, here are the top 5 plays of the NBA finals and you’ll notice how every single top 5 play was in the Amway Arena and only one of the five clips was an Orlando Magic highlight. Kinda sums up the whole series, don’t it.

Orlando Magic sharpshooter Hedo Turkoglu’s next shot will be at free agency.

Lon Babby, the agent for Turkoglu, told the Orlando Sentinel on Monday that his client will opt out of his contract and become a free agent in two weeks.

“It would make sense for him to opt out,” Babby told the newspaper by phone. “I can’t imagine a scenario in which he would not.”

June 30 is the first day players can declare for free agency. In Turkoglu’s case, it wouldn’t matter if the Magic choose to re-sign the 6-foot-10 forward.

Turkoglu will be entering the final year of a $36 million, six-year contract. He is scheduled to make $7.3 million next season under terms of that deal.

ESPN

After 5 games, the Los Angeles Lakers finally closed out the series with the Orlando Magic beating them 99 - 86 and a lot of history was made in the process.

The Lakers won their 15th NBA championship in franchise history, Phil Jackson won his 10th NBA title surpassing Red Auerbach for the most all-time, Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher won their fourth championship and Bryant also became the first recipient of the finals MVP award named after and presented by Bill Russell.

Kobe Bryant was Kobe Bryant and finished with 30 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Pau Gasol had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. While Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza combined for 32 points, 15 rebounds and 3 steals.

Dwight Howard had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks. While Rashard Lewis lead the Magic in scoring with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Complete highlights after the jump.

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The NBA on Friday quickly completed its review of Mickael Pietrus’ two-handed shove into Pau Gasol’s back in the final seconds of Game 4 of the NBA Finals and ruled that no further action will be taken against the Orlando Magic swingman.

A next-day video review of the play was automatic because Pietrus’ shove was deemed a flagrant foul, with league rules mandating that all flagrants are subject to review for possible fine, suspension or reclassification.

Although it was initially believed that the Frenchman was at risk for nothing worse than a fine, Pietrus’ foul — the first flagrant foul of the NBA Finals — could have resulted in a suspension for Sunday’s Game 5 in the worst-case scenario.

ESPN

Right behind Robert Horry and Michael Jordan. Derek Fisher is the other guy you don’t want to leave open for a three-point shot especially in the clutch. Too bad the Orlando Magic got that memo a tad late.

This game was over at the half and Josh Powell and DJ Mbenga sightings confirmed that, with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum in foul trouble but somehow the Magic still dropped the ball and let the Lakers creep up on the side of them to steal game 4. In the third quarter the Lakers outscored the Magic 30 - 14 closing the deficit at half and then finally in the fourth with 04.6 left on the clock. Fisher hit his first three of the game to force overtime and then he hit another three to put the Lakers ahead for good to seal the game. Continue »

Before the Orlando Magic ended up blowing it in overtime, Dwight Howard nailed yet another halfcourt shot during warm-ups before game 4. This time he did it with some softball style, too bad the free throw line isn’t at halfcourt because I’m sure Howard could probably sink two of them in a row.

Already Marina Orlova from hotforwords.com was kind (and hot) enough to give us the reason Why The Lakers Are Called The Lakers? Now she shares with us Why The Magic Are Called The Magic?

Now I’m really hopefully this summer Marina breaks down the name origins of the 28 other teams too. Information I already know about my favorite sport coming from her becomes new and interesting all over again — and very hot.

Nick Anderson isn’t dead and neither is Orlando’s hope of winning its first NBA title. After two NBA finals appearances in their franchises history, the Orlando Magic finally got their first victory ever and more importantly they avoid going down 0-3 to the Lakers.

Last night the Magic were lights out shooting 75% from the field in the first half and 62.5% for the game which were both NBA finals records.

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