Anthony "Old Head" Johnson, 34, said he'd try to give Courtney "Rook" Lee, 23, a cram course before the Magic (10-4) face the Sixers (7-7) tonight in Philadelphia.

Johnson will replace starter Jameer Nelson, who has been ruled out for a week to 10 days with a strained right hip flexor. He could miss the next six games.

Drafted as a shooting guard, Lee will back up Johnson, and small forward Hedo Turkoglu could also play some "point forward."

"Yeah, I'll probably talk to Courtney on the plane and [today] at shoot-around," Johnson said. "I'm pretty sure 'Rook' will have to handle the ball at some point in time, because Philly likes to pressure."

Coach Stan Van Gundy said the Magic are looking to sign or trade for a third point guard, but "nothing is imminent."

Lee will be asked at times to provide depth at shooting guard with Keith Bogans (fractured thumb) out for four to six weeks and at point guard, a position he hasn't played since his sophomore year at Western Kentucky.

"When you have point-guard depth problems, Philly might be the last team you would choose to play," Van Gundy said. "We just got to make sure -- if A.J. is out of the game -- that we give those guys plenty of help handling the ball."

Johnson has started off and on in his 12-year NBA career, so Van Gundy has confidence in him.

"It's what's behind him that's more of a concern. Those guys [Lee and Turkoglu] are going to have to play out of position," Van Gundy said.

"We're going to ask Courtney as a rookie to play a position he hasn't played since his sophomore year in college. Turk's played there a little, not a lot. . . . Those guys are going to have to give us 15 or 18 minutes a game. They've run that position in practice, but it's still different."

Johnson's minutes will double to about 30 per game. He's averaging just 3.3 points, 2.3 assists and 1.2 rebounds. Nelson had been playing the most consistent Basketball of his career lately (13.7 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds).

"I take pride in being able to step right in and play well. And this won't be any different," Johnson said. "Last year with the Atlanta Hawks, I was able to play .500 ball in the games I started. So if I could do well with that team, I know I can do very good things here with the good coaching staff and even better talent.

"I'm just going to step in and try to be solid, not too spectacular; just make the plays I need to to help us win the ballgame."

The Magic's biggest offseason change came at point guard.

They allowed veterans Keyon Dooling and Carlos Arroyo to leave as free agents. They felt Nelson was finally ready to fly solo as the starter and decided not to sign Dooling to a bigger contract. They signed Johnson and training-camp invitee Mike Wilks to about what Dooling made last season, around $3 million.

But then Wilks had season-ending knee surgery, which left them vulnerable, given Nelson's history of injuries. He has missed 39 games since being drafted in 2004.

"We'll muddle through," Van Gundy said, "but I think those guys we have are more than capable."