--The presence of Dwight Howard, emerging as the premier big man in basketball, is expected to make it much easier to attract free agents this summer, which is why the Magic aren't too worried about the free agents they may lose. Their core players -- Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson -- all are locked up for several years. The Magic also are expected to be in their new arena for the start of the 2010-11 season, which should make this a nice place to play at the turn of the decade.
--Assistant coach Patrick Ewing, who wants to become a head coach in the NBA, isn't getting much attention around the league with all of the coaching changes. It disappoints him, but it hasn't stopped him from working toward his goal. Ewing has been an assistant with Washington, Houston and Orlando. He will coach the Magic's Summer League team in July, hoping the experience helps him. QUOTE TO NOTE: "I wanted to still be playing. So I'm not watching the playoffs. I'm on strike right now." -- Dwight Howard, a day after his team was eliminated.
