Orlando Magic News for August 12th: Not Worried About Rashard Lewis; Checking In On Jason Williams

Bouncin' Around: With This Schedule, Magic Won't Need Lewis To Start
Tim Povtak of NBA FanHouse states why the Orlando Magic aren't overly worried about Rashard Lewis' 10 game suspension.

There is a good reason the Orlando Magic don't seem too concerned over losing Rashard Lewis for the first 10 games of the regular season because of his suspension for violating the NBA's Anti-Drug Agreement.

They won't need him.

Of those 10 games, only two will be against teams with a record last season that was better than .500. Yes, it would have been great to have your best shooter in the lineup for that one ESPN game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they could beat New Jersey and Oklahoma City with Dwight Howard and four Summer League players.

Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis begin filming "Just Wright" with Queen Latifah and Common
Tania Ganguli reports that Dwight Howard is in New York at the moment, on the set of a movie involving Queen Latifah and Common.

Acting is something that interests Dwight Howard, and this summer he's involved with two projects in which he'll be playing himself.

We've already seen Howard fooling around on the set of Valentine's Day, a romantic comedy. He'll film for that one next month.

Right now he's on the set of Just Wright, a movie starring Queen Latifah and Common, the rapper turned actor. More from Variety on that movie. It's about a trainer who falls in love with a professional basketball player.

Howard tweeted a few minutes ago that Rashard Lewis is up there with him.

Jason Williams could rejoin Memphis Grizzlies
According to the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, Jason Williams may sign with the Grizz.  

Memphis Isn't the Right Place for Jason Williams
Bethlehem Shoals of The Baseline states, however, why signing White Chocolate wouldn't be the right move for the Memphis Grizzlies. 

I understand the usefulness of bringing in a vet to provide some sort of on-site mentoring for youngsters like Conley and Mayo and a bit of depth. But while Williams isn't nearly the sinkhole of form and function that Randolph is, and has been rehabilitated several times over, it's still wishful thinking. Bring him in, for nothing, just to hang out, come off the bench and help Conley blossom? [...]

The Knicks (who claimed Williams off waivers) and Orlando are still said to be interested in Williams, and both make more sense. He could have a blast as a backup pushing D'Antoni's offense, and with the Magic, could reprise his role on the Heat. Though maybe the Grizzlies are scrambling like mad to counteract or cancel out their recent signing of Marcus Williams. That, and not Zach Randolph, might be the most apparent sign that this young team is out to bring itself down.

Magic Keeping Wilks On Radar
UPDATE: Alex Kennedy of RealGM reports this update (HT: bandrewg08).

While Orlando is still weighing their options, they have been keeping an eye on Wilks' health and availability, sources tell RealGM's Alex Kennedy.

Orlando cannot offer more than a minimum contract and Wilks can likely be had for that price. 

Adonal Foyle, Altruism and Happiness
UPDATE 2: Henry Abbott of TrueHoop with a fantastic piece about former Magic player, Adonal Foyle - a great human being and NBA ambassador.

The key to the camps he said, is to make it all about the kids, many of whom are commonly expected to be seen but not heard. "We are being of service to them," says Foyle. "A lot of people don't give them what they want."

The camps are thick with life lessons -- about HIV, about academics, about what it takes to succeed -- as well as basketball teaching from people like Bo Outlaw, Courtney Lee and Foyle himself. There are also tons of freebies, like jerseys, bags, books, notebooks, and meals.

The result is a series of camps that more than 1,200 kids will be part of officially, and even more unofficially.  

Smith Told Pritchard Blazers 'Caught A Break' With Turkoglu
UPDATE 3: More rumblings coming from Orlando (HT: bandrewg08).

In a conversation with Blazers' general manager Kevin Pritchard, Smith told Pritchard that he had "caught a break" with Turkoglu signing elsewhere and made it clear the Blazers "weren't missing out on anything," sources tell RealGM's Alex Kennedy.

Smith didn't feel that Turkoglu was worth the five-year, $50 million Portland was ready to spend.