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Oakley thinks he can help Magic

Orlando, though, is more interested in big men Adonal Foyle and Brian Skinner.

Tim Povtak | Sentinel Staff Writer

August 22, 2007

Charles Oakley, who played 19 years in the NBA as a bruising power forward before retiring in 2004, said Tuesday he could help the Orlando Magic develop some much-needed toughness if they add him to the roster for this season.

Oakley, 43, said he could fill the need for a veteran frontcourt player behind Dwight Howard and Tony Battie.

"Orlando has a good young team with a bright future -- I like Dwight Howard -- but I could help them develop some heart and some toughness," he said Tuesday on his cell phone from Las Vegas, where he was watching the USA Basketball team and conducting personal workouts. "I'm available. And I'm in shape, better shape than most of the guys in the league today."

Oakley has joined a growing list of retired players who have expressed an interest in rejoining the league after watching Kevin Willis last season, who returned to the Houston Rockets at age 44.

Already this summer, Reggie Miller and Allan Houston have talked about returning. And the Miami Heat have signed Penny Hardaway, who has missed much of the past two seasons.

"A lot of teams don't like the idea of a player my age, but if I tried out for all 30 teams in the league, I could make all 30," Oakley said. "Not enough guys in the league today really know how to play. That's my opening. I could still help any team. I know I could help Orlando."

The idea of coming to Orlando was prompted by the hiring of assistant coach Patrick Ewing, whom Oakley protected for 10 years as an enforcer with the New York Knicks through much of the '90s. The two have remained friends.

Oakley played in one all-star game (1994). His career was marked by his aggressive defense, his tenaciousness and hustle around the basket, and his willingness to use force.

Despite Oakley's interest, Magic General Manager Otis Smith offered him no encouragement Tuesday.

The Magic still are expecting to fill a void left by center/forward Darko Milicic, who signed with Memphis last month. They strongly are considering Adonal Foyle, waived last week by Golden State, along with free agent Brian Skinner. They had talked with both P.J. Brown and Chris Webber, although both are hoping to get more lucrative deals than the veteran minimum ($1.3 million) the Magic can offer under the salary cap.

Later this week, the Magic are expected to sign former second-round pick Marcin Gortat from Poland. Gortat played the past two seasons in Europe, but the Magic will add him for this season once the legal issues of his European buyout have been finalized.

Although they think he can give them depth in the frontcourt, they still wanted another experienced veteran.

Oakley hasn't played since suiting up for seven games with the Houston Rockets late in the 2003-04 season. He played 1,282 NBA regular season games, in Chicago, New York, Toronto, Washington and Houston.

Tim Povtak can be reachedat tpovtak@orlandosentinel.com.

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Copyright © 2007, Orlando Sentinel

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