ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Orlando Magic traded the No. 54 pick to
the Houston Rockets for cash hours before Thursday's NBA draft.
The move left Orlando with one second-round selection -- No. 44.
Last year, the Magic traded what would have been a first-round pick
to Detroit in the Darko Milicic-Carlos Arroyo deal.
For Orlando, the start of free agent negotiations Sunday will be
far more significant than the draft. The team wants to quickly
re-sign Milicic, a restricted free agent, then pursue a scorer with
the salary cap room they have left.
The team still doesn't know whether Grant Hill will return. His
expiring 7-year, $93-million deal freed up cap room this year.