T-Mac coming back to work for Magic
Tracy McGrady has rejoined the Orlando Magic.
The two-time NBA scoring champion and seventime All-Star signed on to become a special assistant to CEO Alex Martins, the Orlando Sentinel has learned.
McGrady grew up in Polk County, and he’ll help promote and market the new Lakeland Magic G League franchise.
But McGrady’s duties are expected to go beyond that. He’ll be around, at least occasionally, to work with Orlando Magic players and coaches on and off the court. It would not be a surprise if he assists with recruiting free agents to the Magic.
Even though McGrady and the Magic parted ways on strained terms in 2004, a reunion between McGrady and the franchise has been rumored for years. The team honored him on opening night of the 2013-14 season as part of its 25th-anniversary celebration, and the gesture seemed to repair the relationship.
McGrady played 15 seasons in the NBA.
In 2000, he joined the team, along with Grant Hill, as a high-priced free agent in 2000. He spent four seasons in Orlando and averaged 28.1 points per game for the Magic. But with Hill severely hampered by injuries, the Magic never advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs during McGrady’s Magic tenure.
McGrady was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this past September.
Payne’s disappointment
Adreian Payne is trying to look on the bright side of things after he fractured the fourth metacarpal in his left hand during practice Wednesday.
Payne, a 26-year-old power forward, is out indefinitely.
“It’s unfortunate right now, especially that it happened at this time,” Payne said. “But things happen for a reason. It happened. Thank God it happened this early, in the preseason. So I’ll be able to get back for the season and be able to contribute.”
The Magic signed Payne to a two-way contract over the summer. Players signed to two-way contracts primarily play in the G League but can spend up to 45 days during the G League season on the active or inactive rosters of their parent NBA club.
Payne suffered his injury when his hand banged into a teammate during practice. “It stinks,” Magic coach
Frank Vogel said. “It’s a shame. I feel bad for him. He’s worked his tail off. He’s had a good camp.”
Payne said he will not need surgery, but his timetable to return to the court is unclear.
The 15th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Payne hoped his stop with the Magic would rejuvenate his career.
For now, at least, he’ll have to remain patient.
“I’ve had some bumps in the road,” Payne said. “I’ve been on a few teams and haven’t got a chance to play. I was drafted high, but it didn’t kind of work out with the teams I was [with]. So me being able to be in this position, being a two-way [player], I could’ve went overseas and played and made a lot of money. But I feel like I should be in the NBA and I can play in the NBA. I’m just trying to show them [that] and let them know I’m here, and I’ll do what I’ve got to do to be on a team in the NBA and get my career started the right way.”