Within seconds of Kevin McHale walking into Amway Center's practice gym Sunday morning for the start of the Orlando Pro Summer League, a friend approached and said, "Congratulations!"
The congratulations, of course, stemmed from Dwight Howard's decision to sign a free-agent contract with the team McHale coaches, the Houston Rockets.
"You're always evolving and changing, and I think Dwight's in the process of evolving and changing," McHale told reporters Sunday. "He says he's way healthier now than he has been. His back feels better. I just anticipate him coming in and doing what he did for years: being the best, most dominant center in the league."
McHale said he "had a pretty good feeling" that Howard would choose the Rockets over a list of suitors that consisted of the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks.
Howard made his plans known Friday night.
The news reportedly prompted Rockets center Omer Asik to request a trade.
McHale was asked about Asik on Sunday, and McHale responded that he can envision playing Howard and Asik simultaneously.
"Look," McHale said, "Omer had a great year for us last year and really became one of the top centers in the league. It's just that when you have an opportunity to get a Dwight, it's hard not to. So I'm sure right now Omer is probably a little down in the dumps. We'll pick him up."
Kidd earns a 'T'
New Brooklyn Nets coach Jason Kidd made his coaching debut Sunday as his team lost to the Detroit Pistons 76-67.
Kidd earned a technical foul late in the fourth quarter when he left the coach's box to speak to a referee because he felt the referee missed a call.
"It happens," Kidd said. "They're not perfect. We're not perfect. So it's a lesson learned, and I know I can't go past halfcourt."
Kidd also employed a Hack-a-Shaq strategy down the stretch to send Andre Drummond to the line.
Stevens observes
New Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens observed from a courtside seat as his new team lost to the Orlando Magic 95-88.
Stevens, whom the Celtics hired from Butler University, acknowledged that he has a lot to learn before the C's begin training camp.
"I'm going to study as hard as I can," Stevens said. "I saw my wife study for the bar [exam] for two months like it was going out of style. My stuff [in basketball] is a lot more interesting than that, so it'll probably be a similar summer to what she had."
New contract
Rookie Victor Oladipo signed his contract with the Magic prior to Sunday's exhibition against the Celtics.
The salaries of first-round draft picks are set forth in the league's collective-bargaining agreement and are based on a player's draft position in a particular year.
Oladipo's salary for the 2013-14 season is expected to be $4.76 million while his second-year salary is expected to be $4.98 million. Those first two seasons are fully guaranteed, as they are with all first-round draft picks.
The Magic will hold team options on Oladipo's third and fourth seasons, with his salaries expected to be $5.2 million for the 2015-16 season and $6.55 million for the 2016-17 season.
Harris sits out
Magic forward Tobias Harris didn't play Sunday because he banged knees with a Magic teammate during a practice three days earlier.
Team officials are listing him as "day-to-day" and say he was held out as a precaution. Harris was walking without a brace and without a limp, but it's unclear whether he'll play before the league concludes.
Layups
? Rookie forward Keith Clanton from UCF, who accepted an invite to join the Magic's summer league team, was one of seven healthy players for Orlando who didn't play Sunday.
? The Magic are scheduled to face the Oklahoma City Thunder at 11 a.m. today. The Thunder's roster includes former Magic center Daniel Orton and former Magic shooting guard DeAndre Liggins. Orton scored 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting as the Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 76-68 Sunday. Liggins scored two points and dished out three assists.
jbrobbins@tribune.com
Source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-summer-league-news-0708-20130707,0,1255481.story?track=rss
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