By D.L. 
Hartsdale

 This summer the Orlando Magic are going to try and bring back the fun to
Mickey Mouse's place. Orlando is the capital of the amusement park kingdom,
and it could also become the capital of the Basketball world.
 The Magic currently own the no.'s 5, 10, and 13 picks in the first round of
the NBA Draft Lottery.  More importantly they also have $42 miliion to spend
on free agents this summer. The Magic need improvement at every position but
the point, where Darrell Armstrong's all out hustle has earned him a secure
spot in the NBA.
 The lack of a marquee player is what must be addressed. In its heyday,
Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee Hardaway led the Magic to the NBA Finals, and
were seen as the Jupiter of the NBA solar system. Free-agency and souring
relationships imploded this structure, and last year the Magic had to start
from scratch.
  With a fabulous crop of free-agent talent this summer the Magic is poised
to regain it's spot in the limelight. The greatest free-agent market in the
past four years can bring the Magic the superstars it pines for, while the
draft will serve to improve the all around shape of the team, both in the
starting lineup and on the bench.
 Tracy McGrady and Eddie Jones are the two players the Magic should make an
all-out push for this summer. McGrady, 21, can play both the small-forward
and point guard positions. He is an emerging star whose aerial acrobatics
would be a must-see attraction for Magic fans. Lowered fan attendance was a
testament to their desire for a winner. Last year McGrady averaged 15.4
points per game with 6.3 rebounds. He is origanally from Florida, is
currently building a house outside Orlando, and does not really want to
return to Toronto, where he would play second fiddle to Vince Carter. If the
Magic could lock up McGrady for seven years they would reap the benefits
when McGrady is in the prime of his career.
Jones, 29, is a classic shooting guard who can score and play defense. Last
season he averaged 20.1 points per game while leading the league in steals
with 192. Jones has a great shooting touch and would bring player leadership
to a team which has been devoid of it since it's inception.
These two players would also get along amicably with head coach Doc Rivers,
a former player who is good at getting young talent to produce.. Last year
Rivers led a team of players in their mid to late 20's to a near
playoff-berth.
 Both Jones and McGrady would definitely bring the fireworks back to the
brightest place on Earth. They would make everyone in central Florida forget
about that 7-foot mouse who left to find a bigger piece of the cheese.
 

6/16/2000

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