HoopsHype.com Rumors

Darnell Mayberry: Former Orlando center and Oklahoma City native Daniel Orton has emerged as a potential free agent target for OKC, The Oklahoman has learned. Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Free Agency, Daniel Orton 

Daniel Orton: More so than anything, at this point in my career, I just want to prove that I belong in this league.... because I know I do.. Twitter

Free Agency, Daniel Orton 

Daniel Orton: Gotta apologize to the fans and my teammates. Ive failed in everything that was asked of me the past two games Im extremely sorry. Love yall Twitter

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton 

Brian T. Smith: Stan Van Gundy: Daniel [Orton] gave us nothing. He went for every shot fake, he fouled everytime. ... He didn't even gives us minutes that we needed to give [our starters] some rest." Twitter

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton, Stan Van Gundy 

Sean Deveney: Magic C Daniel Orton on leaving Kentucky early: "There’s times when I think maybe I should have stayed. But I never regretted the decision." Twitter

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton 

Magic center Daniel Orton is a safe bet to be moved as he serves no role in Orlando and desperately wants a chance to play. He may not return much, but moving him even for a draft pick opens up a roster spot that could be used in a two-for-one type deal. HoopsWorld

Orlando Magic, Trade, Daniel Orton 

I’m not saying Orton is one of those players. But even if there’s a 1 percent chance he could gain some confidence while playing in a real game, why not stick him in there and see? It’s not like the Magic couldn’t use a big body to back up Dwight Howard. “I haven’t done anything on the court to prove that I can play or anything, so I understand why they did it,” Orton said of the Magic not picking up his option. ”But I don’t understand a lot of things, such as why I didn’t get a chance maybe to showcase what I have.” Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton 

The Orlando Magic have determined that they will not exercise their team option on former first-round draft pick Daniel Orton for the 2012-13 season. The decision means that Orton, a 6-foot-10 center, will become an unrestricted free agent in July. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton 

It also means that the Magic might not ever receive any return on their investment in Orton. He has not appeared in a regular-season game since the Magic selected him with the 29th overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft out of Kentucky. "You have to look at the whole body of work and look at where we are," General Manager Otis Smith said before the Magic faced the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night. "It's nothing against Daniel. He's done what he's supposed to do. He's gotten himself in good shape. He's worked his tail off. It's nothing against him at all. It's just the way everything fell this year." Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton 

Orton arrived at training camp this season thinner and, by all accounts, in better shape. He appeared in a preseason exhibition, and he dressed for six of the Magic's first 16 games. "The kid's healthy, so that's not an issue," said Orton's agent, Ara Vartanian. "I just don't know why you would have a player and not give him a chance to show what he can do or even get someone in return who has some value." The Magic still could re-sign Orton when he becomes a free agent in July. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton 

Steve Kyler: Magic rookie Daniel Orton says he is ready to be Dwight Howard's backup --- reminds he played similar role at Kentucky. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton, Dwight Howard 

Samples said the D12 Foundation also has received commitments from Gilbert Arenas, Trevor Ariza, Carlos Arroyo, Matt Barnes, Brandon Bass, Earl Clark, Drew Gooden, Rashard Lewis, Mike Miller, Jameer Nelson, Jason Richardson and DeShawn Stevenson. Those commitments are in addition to Ryan Anderson, Chris Duhon, Quentin Richardson and Daniel Orton, who have told the Orlando Sentinel directly or through their agents that they expect to play. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton, Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Jameer Nelson, Chris Duhon, Mike Miller, Dwight Howard, Matt Barnes, Carlos Arroyo, Drew Gooden, Brandon Bass, Trevor Ariza, Rashard Lewis, Quentin Richardson, Lockout, Ryan Anderson, Earl Clark, DeShawn Stevenson 

Josh Robbins: #Magic center Daniel Orton (knee) is cleared medically to play if there is an #Orlando summer league, GM Otis Smith said. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton, Summer League, Injuries 

Orton told the Orlando Sentinel before Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks that he likely will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee within the next week to repair cartilage damage. Orton, who injured the knee twice in high school and suffered a minor injury during a recent NBA Development League stint, said he’s been told he’ll likely be out until the all-star break in mid-February. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton, Injuries 

An MRI exam on Daniel Orton's troublesome left knee revealed no major structural damage, both the Orlando Magic rookie and Magic President of Basketball Operations Otis Smith said Monday night. "There's probably a little bit of cartilage damage, nothing major," Smith said. "We'll have to figure out how we're going to manage it, either through meds or get a little surgery. But I'm not sure. It depends on Daniel." A team doctor examined Orton on Monday after the MRI. The rookie center said he will seek a second opinion by the physician in Oklahoma who operated on his knee during his senior year of high school. Orton left open the possibility that he'll have surgery, but he said he would like surgery to be "the very last option." Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton, Injuries 

Rookie center Daniel Orton is back in Orlando after just two games in the NBA's Development League, but that's not a good thing. Orton injured his troublesome left knee again -- the one that made him drop to the end of the first round in last June's NBA Draft -- Saturday night for the New Mexico Thunderbirds. FanHouse.com

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton 

Since he was drafted after just one season at Kentucky, Orton has spent his time with the Magic trying to strength that left knee, which caused him to miss his senior year of high school after surgery. He has yet to appear for the Magic beyond summer league play. "It is what it is,'' said Magic general manager Otis Smith Monday. "He was actually starting to play well.'' Orton will be examined by the Magic's medical staff later in the day and is scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday. FanHouse.com

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton 

Daniel Orton, one of five first round picks out of the University of Kentucky this past draft, will be assigned to the NBA Development League's New Mexico Thunderbirds from the Orlando Magic, according to a source. Orton, the 29th overall pick in this year's draft, has been hampered by a knee injury sustained earlier this year and has yet to play in a game for the team that drafted him based purely on his size and potential after averaging a paltry 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks as a freshman for the Wildcats. FanHouse.com

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton, D-League 

The Orlando Magic will assign rookie Daniel Orton to the NBA Development League’s New Mexico Thunderbirds, Magic president of basketball operations Otis Smith confirmed Tuesday night. Orton, 20, will report to New Mexico immediately. Smith said Orton could remain there a couple of weeks, but he wasn’t sure how long it would be. The move was made because Smith wants Orton to receive some playing time. Scott Schroeder of FanHouse.com originally reported the transaction late Tuesday night. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton, D-League, Otis Smith 

The first-round draft pick who could least afford to miss an NBA training camp -- unpolished center Daniel Orton of Kentucky -- is going to miss it entirely. Orton, taken with the 29th pick by the Orlando Magic, already was considered a long-term, project-type center after averaging just 13 minutes a game in his only season at Kentucky. Now the wait becomes a little longer. Orton said Thursday after watching his teammates practice that he has been put on a four-week, left knee strengthening program before he can begin scrimmaging with his teammates. "To be new here, in a new atmosphere, I wanted to get out there and show my teammates that I could play. And I haven't been able to do that,'' he said Thursday. "It's frustrating, annoying, aggravating to not be out there. I need the work.'' FanHouse.com

Orlando Magic, Daniel Orton, Injuries