Hedo Turkoglu is obviously a fantastic fit with Orlando. Did Otis Smith make a mistake letting him walk two years ago? (Julio Cortez/Associated Press)

Anderson Varejao gets some unsettling news, the new-look Suns keep on struggling, Carmelo Anthony rumors heat up and Otis Smith sort of admits a mistake in today’s links.

1. Trade to the Magic has rejuvenated Gilbert Arenas’ sense of humor, Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Arenas has been full of antics since his arrival in Orlando, but he’s fit in well.

2. Despite win streak, Magic are still ragged on defense, Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: The Magic are winning, but they still have plenty of areas to improve upon.

3. Magic GM Otis Smith made a mistake when he broke up the band 2 years ago, Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Otis Smith kind of admits he made a mistake allowing Hedo Turkoglu to leave via free agency.

4. Dwight Howard: ‘Turk went away and came back learning how to pass’ (video), Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Turk could pass before leaving Orlando, but he’s certainly playing better right now than he ever has.

5. Nets, Nuggets ‘further along’, Chris Broussard and Marc Stein, ESPN.com

The Buzz: The Nets and Nuggets are close to a deal involving Carmelo Anthony, according to ESPN.com. It appears a deal is going to happen at some point.

Continue reading Orlando Magic and NBA News: Monday, Jan. 10 »

Courtney Lee, shown here during the 2009 playoffs, received a decent ovation from the crowd last night. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel)

We’ve got an update on Carmelo Anthony trade talks, some video of the Magic’s “Bench Mobb’ pregame routine, and more in today’s links.

1. Orlando Magic beat Houston Rockets at Amway Center for 8th straight win, Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: It doesn’t feel like the Magic have won eight consecutive games, does it? The Magic are playing really well, but they’re hardly satisfied.

2. Orlando Magic ‘Bench Mobb’ has a unique pre-game ritual (video) Zach McCann, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Gilbert Arenas leads a unique ritual before each game.

3. Courtney Lee receives nice welcome from Magic fans, Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Courtney Lee received some mild applause when he entered the game last night.

4. Quentin is now the Magic’s other Richardson, Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Quentin Richardson has quickly fallen from a starter to a deep bench player, but he’s taking it in stride.

5. TBJ positional power rankings: NBA centers, January 2011, Scott Carefoot, The Basketball Jones

The Buzz: Dwight Howard, as you’d expect, is the league’s best center.

Continue reading Orlando Magic and NBA News: Saturday, Jan. 8 »

Hedo Turkoglu posted his franchise-best third triple-double with the Magic on Monday night. (Julio Cortez/Associated Press)

The Orlando Magic won their sixth consecutive game last night against the Golden State Warriors, exploding in the second half to erase a nine-point halftime lead and win in blowout fashion. Read all about that game — in addition to an update on Dwight Howard’s techs, a look at Howard’s sanity and a Marcus Camby trade proposal — in the links below.

1. Orlando Magic come alive, throttle Golden State Warriors in 2nd half, Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: The Magic scored 66 second-half points to trounce the Warriors.

2. Hedo Turkoglu’s happy homecoming continues, Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Turk now has three triple-doubles with the Magic, more than any other player in franchise history.

3. Here’s why Gilbert Arenas played over Jameer Nelson in fourth, Zach McCann, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Arenas didn’t play over Nelson because he had the hot hand — it was all about defense..

4. Magic-Warriors Postgame Analysis, John Denton, OrlandoMagic.com

The Buzz: ‘It’s almost like Turk never left,’ Jameer Nelson says.

Continue reading Orlando Magic and NBA News: Tuesday, Jan. 4 »

Gilbert Arenas scored only two points in last night's loss to the Mavericks, but he's confident things will turn upward. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Moral victories? Stan Van Gundy? While the specific term “moral victory” wasn’t used, that’s what last night felt like as Van Gundy and the Magic locker room were cheerful following the Magic’s 105-99 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The Magic, apparently, took a lot of positives from last night’s loss, and that much is evident in the links below.

1. Orlando Magic lose 105-99 to Dallas Mavericks, Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Never thought we’d see the day where Stan Van Gundy is happy after a loss, but he’s showing more patience than he ever has before.

2. Three new players acquired in Magic trade off to slow starts, Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: The Magic’s incumbent players have done most of the scoring so far.

3. Magic fans have fresh hope, faith in team’s new players, George Diaz, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Magic fans are faithful the moves will pay off, if you listen to the fans quoted in this column.

4. Gilbert Arenas happy to be out of Washington for various reasons, Zach McCann, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Arenas sounds like a man who escaped from jail.

Continue reading Orlando Magic and NBA News: Wednesday, Dec. 22 »

Carmelo Anthony is still management's top trade target. (Jack Dempsey, The Associated Press)

The Orlando Magic trade rumors are at their peak across the Internet right now, with Gilbert Arenas being the primary Magic target. Let’s wade through the unnamed sources and see where we’re at in today’s links.

1. Carmelo Anthony remains Orlando Magic trade target, but Gilbert Arenas deal has legs, Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: In addition to Arenas, Schmitz throws out Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu as players in the mix.

2. Magic discussing deal for Arenas, Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports

The Buzz: Woj started it all yesterday, citing multiple sources stating that the Wizards in Magic were in “serious” trade talks.

3. Report: Wizards in serious discussions to trade Gilbert Arenas to Orlando, Michael Lee, Washington Post

The Buzz: A league source told Lee that a trade is a “a really strong possibility.”

Continue reading Orlando Magic and NBA News: Saturday, Dec. 18 »

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard wasn't happy with his team's defense Tuesday night -- especially on the wings.

As you’d expect, everyone’s being pretty hard on the Orlando Magic after last night’s discouraging loss to the Denver Nuggets. Fans, the media, coaches — and even the players themselves.

The frustration level in the locker room was evident Tuesday night, and it came out during the post-game interviews. For more, let’s get into today’s links.

1. Carmelo Anthony leads Denver Nuggets to 111-94 win over Orlando Magic, Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: The Nuggets outscored Orlando 32-16 in the fourth quarter to take the victory.

2. Orlando Magic frustration level rises in locker room, Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Dwight Howard’s tune has turned. A few days ago, he was advising everyone to chill out. But his frustration clearly grew after last night’s loss.

3. Pietrus, Richardson miss game against Nuggets with injuries, Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Of all games for both Richardson and Pietrus to be injured, it’s the game against the Nuggets and one of the best wing scorers in the NBA, Carmelo Anthony.

4. Little Magic for High-Priced Rashard Lewis, Chris Tomasson, NBA FanHouse

The Buzz: It appears Lewis’ problems may be age-related. His production has significantly dropped off since the NBA Finals year.

Continue reading Orlando Magic and NBA News: Wednesday, Dec. 15 »

Center Dwight Howard believes the Magic's wings could have done a better job stopping Carmelo Anthony (Jack Dempsey, The Associated Press)

DENVER — The frustration level is rising in the Orlando Magic locker room.

That includes superstar center Dwight Howard.

Howard grew tired of seeing Carmelo Anthony drive to the hoop again and again with meager resistance from Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter as the Denver Nuggets beat the Orlando Magic 111-94.

Anthony scored a game-high 35 points on 14-of-21 shooting.

“We’ve got to play defense, that’s it,” Howard said at his locker. “It’s got to be everybody. Our wings got to do a better job not allowing their man just to get to the rim every play. It puts a lot of pressure on the bigs. It’s hard for the big guys to really help like we want when a guy takes one dribble and he’s at the rim. It’s very tough. I like blocking shots, but if a guy is one dribble in and the ball’s up, and I’m over on the other side, I can’t fly over there. I don’t have a cape in real life.”

Asked if the problems on defense stem from a lack of intensity or whether guys are just a second late, Howard responded, “I just said you can’t be a second late when a guy’s taking one dribble and he’s at the rim. That has nothing to do with being a second late. We [the bigs] can’t help on that.”

Howard isn’t the only one who’s frustrated now that the Magic have lost five of their last six games.

Lewis, who began the game guarding Anthony, was ticked off at himself for playing a role in Anthony’s big game.

Continue reading Orlando Magic frustration level rises in locker room »

DENVER — Stan Van Gundy has some advice for George Karl.

Van Gundy told reporters that Carmelo Anthony shouldn’t play when the Denver Nuggets host the Orlando Magic tonight. After all, Anthony missed the Nuggets’ games last Wednesday and Friday with patella tendinitis in his right knee.

“Well, I’m just concerned about his knee injury for the long term, and I really think more rest is what’s needed for him,” Van Gundy joked today, after the Magic finished their shootaround at Pepsi Center.

Van Gundy did get serious a few seconds later.

Here’s video of what the Magic coach had to say:

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.

Brandon Bass has averaged 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in his two games as a starter this season (Jayne Kamin-Oncea, US Presswire)

DENVER — Brandon Bass will start his third game of the season and third consecutive game when the Orlando Magic play the Denver Nuggets tonight.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy also said that Rashard Lewis, who will start at small forward, will begin the game defending Nuggets superstar Carmelo Anthony.

With Quentin Richardson sidelined by a left-elbow injury, Lewis and Mickael Pietrus will receive the bulk of the time trying to limit ‘Melo. Bass also could see some time defending against Anthony because Anthony plays some power forward on occasion.

Anthony is averaging 23.1 points per game.

Bass has played well as a starter, averaging 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds.

But Van Gundy has been concerned at times with Bass’ play on defense. Van Gundy said after Orlando’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday that he wants Bass to be more effective in the second halves of games.

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.

Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony is dressed appropriately for both Denver and Orlando today. Speculation surrounding a Carmelo Anthony to Orlando Magic trade won't die down. (Donald Bowers/Getty Images)

Thankfully, the Orlando Magic wrap up their four-game West Coast road trip tonight with a game against the Denver Nuggets.  But that doesn’t mean that Orlando Magic trade talk will be ending anytime soon and tonight’s game against the Nuggets will provide only more fodder for Magic NBA trade aficionados.

Well break down both tonight’s Magic-Nuggets game and the rampant Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, O.J. Mayo speculation in todays links, while also exploring the pending NBA lockout and the Miami Heat’s surge.

Without further delay, let’s roll the links.

1. Magic, others haven’t presented best trade offers, Orlando Sentinel, Brian Schmitz

The Buzz: Before you get worked up about O.J. Mayo, Carmelo Anthony or Chris Paul possibly wearing an Orlando Magic uniform, the Magic Insider tells you to cool your engines.

2. Denver’s altitude advantage? Magic coach Stan Van Gundy isn’t buying it, Orlando Sentinel, Josh Robbins

The Buzz: SVG is right not to buy into this tired excuse for playing poorly in Denver. BTW, I love the look on Chauncey Billups’ face in the photo.

3. Running concern: Orlando Magic looking for more fastbreak points, Orlando Sentinel, Josh Robbins

The Buzz: The Magic would have more fastbreak points if they played a more aggressive brand of defense. I’m just sayin’…

Continue reading Top Magic and NBA news: December 14, 2010 »