Orlando Magic News for September 14th: Another Magic Grade, Otis Smith Answers Fans, and More

Chad Ford of ESPN Insider is the latest NBA expert to weigh in on the Orlando Magic's offseason moves, the most prominent of which were adding Chris Duhon and Quentin Richardson. But Orlando earns a C- from Ford because they "basically stood pat," a "surprising" tactic after the Magic didn't even return to the NBA Finals. Only three Eastern teams fared worse this summer, according to Ford.

For what it's worth, David Aldridge's rankings at NBA.com nearly two months ago were similar.

Otis Smith, the Magic's President of Basketball Operations, answers fan questions in this feature on the team's official website. Here's one particularly interesting response which goes nicely with this morning's feature on the starting small forward job:

I’ve envisioned [Mickael Pietrus] in the starting lineup since he got here. But he doesn’t envision himself there. He would prefer to be a backup for whatever reason.

I'm certain to refer back to Smith's responses as the Camp Countdown series continues.

Kevin Burke of The Hoop Doctors chatted with Magic center Dwight Howard on a variety of topics last week when Howard was in Chicago as part of a Gatorade REPLAY event.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated names former Orlando Magic lottery pick Fran Vazquez, who has yet to play in the NBA five years after Orlando drafted him one of the losers in this year's FIBA World Championships. "Vazquez," Mannix writes, "sounds indifferent in interviews about ever playing in the NBA." Mannix openly wonders if it's "time to write him off."

Zach McCann of the Orlando Sentinel, the newest member of its Magic beat, introduces himself to Sentinel readers. Zach is a friend of this site and no stranger to covering the Magic, having founded the blog Orlando Magic Daily.

Julian Benbow of the Boston Globe profiles NBA lifer Clifford Ray, a former Magic assistant coach who specialized in working with Howard. The Boston Celtics, for whom he's coached since 2006, have decided to let Ray go.