2007–08 Orlando Magic season

NBA season

team = Orlando Magic
end_year = 2008
wins = 52
losses = 30
division = southeast
division_place = 1
conf_place = 3
coach = Stan Van Gundy
arena = Amway Arena
playoffs = East Semifinals
(eliminated 1–4)
bbr_team = ORL

The 2007-08 Orlando Magic season was their 19th season in the National Basketball Association.

Key dates:

*June 6: The Magic hire Stan Van Gundy as head coach, days after Billy Donovan was signed as head coach and released due to a change of heart from Donovan.
*June 28: The 2007 NBA Draft took place in New York City, New York.
*July 1: The free agency period began.
*July 11: The Magic acquired Rashard Lewis from the Seattle SuperSonics.
*September 29: The Magic opened their training camp at the RDV Sportsplex in Maitland, Florida.
*October 31: The Magic's season began with a game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
*March 5: The Magic matched the same number of wins as the previous season by defeating the Washington Wizards.
*March 15: The Magic clinched a playoff berth with a win over the Indiana Pacers.
*March 28: The Magic broke the franchise's previous record of road wins in a season by defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, the Magic's 24th win of the season away from home.
*March 31: Because of a loss by the Washington Wizards, the Magic clinched the Southeast Division title.
*April 16: The Magic played their last game of the regular season.
*April 28: The Magic won their first playoff series in 12 years by defeating the Toronto Raptors 4 games to 1.

Offseason

Billy Donovan was signed as head coach of the Magic on June 1, to replace recently fired Magic head coach Brian Hill. One day later however, Donovan had second thoughts about becoming head coach of the Magic, and wished to be released from his contract to return to his former team, the Florida Gators Men's basketball team. On June 5, the Magic released Donovan from his 5-year contract, under the condition that he would not be allowed to sign as head coach of another NBA team for five years. One day later, the Magic signed Stan Van Gundy as head coach. [ [http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=3254338 Stan Van Gundy Hired as Magic Coach] ]

The Magic made a splash in the free agent market by acquiring small forward Rashard Lewis on July 11. Lewis was re-signed to the Seattle SuperSonics for a six-year league maximum contract, then promptly traded to the Magic in a "sign and trade" for a second-round pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. The Sonics earned a mid-level salary cap exemption in the trade. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2932827 ESPN - Sonics, Magic complete sign-and-trade for Rashard Lewis - NBA ] ] .

Then the Magic filled in a need and went after a big man after losing Darko Milicic, and signed Center Adonal Foyle who played for the Golden State Warriors and leads the Warriors in most blocks in team history.

The Magic also signed Polish center Marcin Gortat on July 17. They had acquired his NBA rights from the Phoenix Suns following the 2005 NBA Draft.

The Magic got final approval for a new arena on July 26, 2007. It is expected to be completed in time for the 2010-11 NBA season.

Point guard Jameer Nelson's father, Floyd "Pete" Nelson, disappeared on August 30, and was found dead in the Delaware River in Wilmington, Delaware, on September 2. A Chester, Pennsylvania, tugboat repairman by trade, the elder Nelson's death was ruled an accident. [The Orlando Sentinel, September 4, 2007.]

Draft picks

Orlando's selections from the 2007 NBA Draft in New York, New York.

Awards and records

Records

Milestones

Transactions

The Magic have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007-08 season.

Trades

In November 2007 the Magic traded Trevor Ariza to the Los Angeles Lakers for Maurice Evans and Brian Cook.

Free Agents

References

ee also

*2007-08 NBA season

External links