Magic Have Eyes On Trio Of Stars

By KEN HORNACK


MAITLAND -- For the most part, the 3-point field goal mysteriously disappeared from the Orlando Magic's arsenal last season.

There's almost an equal amount of mystery surrounding the three players whom Magic general manager Otis Smith claims he is focusing on tonight in the NBA Draft.

"There are three guys we like a lot," Smith said. "I think we'll get one of those three guys when it's all said and done to have what I call a slam-dunk draft."

Logic would suggest such long-range shooters as J.J. Redick of Duke, Rodney Carney of Memphis and Randy Foye of Villanova might occupy some or all of the spots on that list. Then again, the Magic defied all logic with the No. 11 pick a year ago by drafting Fran Vazquez, who hasn't so much as set foot on American soil in nearly 12 full months.

So while they would appear to be set up front for years to come with Dwight Howard and Darko Milicic, it wouldn't be a shock for the Magic to use the 11th pick on another power forward or center -- possibly Duke's Shelden Williams, if he somehow falls that far.

"I would not shy away from taking a big (man) if the guard is not there that I like," Smith said.

In a draft with no clearcut

No. 1 pick, it's not even clear if the Magic will stay where they are or move up in the first round via a trade. Smith called seventh through 11th as "the ideal spot in this draft," but several teams right ahead of the Magic -- particularly the Houston Rockets -- seem to have pressing guard needs as well.

"We're kind of at a point of gamesmanship," he said. "Everybody likes everybody but is taking nobody. When you're picking at 11, you're just trying to figure out what everybody above you is going to do."

The Magic's 299 3-pointers made last season were the second-fewest of any team in the league. Redick set an NCAA record for 3-pointers in a career with 457.

The Magic brought in Redick for an interview Friday, their first meeting with him since he came down with back pain earlier this month and was later arrested on suspicion of DUI.

"We feel comfortable about who J.J. is as a basketball player and as a person," said Smith, who called Redick "a pleasant kid to be around."

Several mock drafts have both Redick and Foye being gone before the Magic's scheduled turn. And if Williams, Cedric Simmons of N.C. State and Patrick O'Bryant of Bradley are snatched up as well, the Magic might have to wait until one of their two second-round picks before addressing their frontcourt depth.

"I really believe that we're sitting at one of the best spots," Smith said. "You're going to watch guys fall to you that you're going to like."

The most intriguing scenario for the Magic, as farfetched as it might sound, would be if Andrea Bargnani of Italy remains available when their turn rolls around. Given what happened with Vazquez, the Magic insist they have done all the necessary research on the contract situations with foreign-born players.

"I don't think there's any other team picking in the lottery that will be nervous about taking an international player other than one. And that one team probably will be us," Smith said. "But I will tell you this: If Bargnani slides down to 11, then we will come in here and say, 'OK, the Orlando Magic have selected Andrea Bargnani.' And we will say it with confidence."

Bargnani has been projected in some quarters as going first overall to the Toronto Raptors. At worst, Smith said, the 6-foot-10 forward will go fifth to Atlanta or sixth to Minnesota.

"I'll be shocked if he gets beyond that," he said. "But crazier things have happened in the draft."