HoopsHype.com Rumors

John Denton: Mo #Magic JRich: "Never will I back down from that shot. I’m the type who can live with myself if I miss that shot, but I wanna make it.’’ Twitter

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson 

John Denton: JRich on "closing door'' 3: "The shot was good, but the screens better. Glen and Ryan didn’t let D get thru. It gave me time that I needed." Twitter

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson 

Still, Richardson says some of the quality-of-play concerns have been overblown, and points out that if this season indeed was a money-grab, it was a successful one. “The quality of basketball has not been that bad,” Richardson said. “Consider not having a summer, not having a training camp, not having practice time. All around, I think it was still a pretty good season, I think it was entertaining, I think financially, the league did well. The Hornets just sold for $325 million, so, obviously, the league is still making a lot of money. That’s supposed to be one of the teams that was losing a lot of money. So, obviously, the business of basketball is still doing great.” Sporting News

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson 

But when it comes to odd twists and turns, Richardson said, this year is the tops. Start with the lockout, roll right into the drama around the Magic’s will-they-or-won’t-they decision on trading Dwight Howard and go into the now, as the Magic close the season with Howard and Turkoglu both out. Strangest year of his career? “By far,” Richardson said. “By far. Not just the lockout, coming in on short training camp, three games in a row, all of that stuff—but all the adversity we have faced with the Dwight stuff and everything going on here. It’s been the strangest season I have been part of.” Sporting News

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson, Dwight Howard 

It had been the hope of the Magic that, somehow, they could put together a strong close to the season and make a run in the playoffs, a long enough run to convince Howard that the team had a good direction and that he should commit to sticking around long-term— his contract will run up in the summer of 2013. Howard’s back trouble seems to have torpedoed that scenario. Maybe, at least. Heck, things have been so bizarre in Orlando this year that there’s no telling what might happen next. “I mean, why not, right?” Richardson said. “It is rewarding to be in this spot with all that we’ve gone through. We are still a playoff team. We are still trying to battle, we still have goals we want to accomplish. We are pleased with the effort, but we are not pleased with the results. We still want to win a championship. We have stayed together this long. If we stay together from here on in, who knows?” Sporting News

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson, Dwight Howard 

There's still plenty of good basketball ahead. But the end might not be too off, and it's a topic he brings it up unprompted. "It's my 11th year, it's almost overwith," Richardson said. "Before I know it, it'll be retirement time. "I'm 31. God willing, four or five more years. We'll just have to see what happens. Hopefully I'll continue to be able to play at a high level." Booth Newspapers

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson 

Could the Orlando Magic have been hurting from the night before during their 108-86 beating by the Knicks on Wednesday? The previous night, sources spotted the Magic’s Glen “Big Baby” Davis and Jason Richardson partying until the early hours. They started out dining in the private wine room of Philippe New York. Then the pair joined Dwight Howard — who got a shout-out from the DJ on the loudspeaker, spies said — Chris Duhon and Quentin Richardson at Greenhouse during R&B singer Dawn Richard’s EP release party. The players were seen ordering bottles of Champagne and raged in the club until around 3 a.m. New York Post

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon, Dwight Howard, Quentin Richardson, Glen Davis 

Jason Richardson arrived as a rookie with the Warriors in 2001, with a national championship ring earned at Michigan State the year before among his most prized possessions. He went on to win a pair of NBA Slam Dunk titles but without an NBA championship, it's safe to assume that the 2000 NCAA ring is the most valuable symbol of his basketball career. Until this week, it was missing. Richardson tweeted a photo Thursday of the ring, saying that he'd recovered it after it was stolen and sold to a memorabilia store five years ago. CSNBayArea.com

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson 

Jason Richardson has struggled in the Orlando Magic's last two games, but coach Stan Van Gundy said Richardson is OK physically and is not bothered by the left-ankle injury that forced him to miss three games earlier this month. "I think he's healthy," Van Gundy said. "He's just playing very poorly." Richardson went 1 for 7 from the field in Monday's loss to the Chicago Bulls and 0 for 7 in Wednesday's win over the Phoenix Suns. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson 

A couple days after Phoenix acquired Shaquille O’Neal from Miami for Shawn Marion and Jason Richardson, Robert Sarver and I discussed the deal outside the Suns' locker room. "This wasn’t a 2-1 trade, it was 3-1," he informed me with a big smile. "How do you figure that?" I asked. "We not only moved Marion and Richardson, we got rid of their agent as well." New York Post

Phoenix Suns, Trade, Shaquille O'Neal, Jason Richardson, Shawn Marion, Robert Sarver 

Alex Kennedy: Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves discussed a Jason Richardson for Michael Beasley swap. Nothing imminent. Wolves weighing options. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Trade, Michael Beasley, Jason Richardson 

Jarrod Rudolph: League sources have told me the Magic are having discussions with Minnesota regarding a trade for Jason Richardson. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Trade, Jason Richardson 

Jason Richardson did not play for the Orlando Magic when they faced the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday night, and coach Stan Van Gundy said Richardson will continue to sit out until he stops feeling discomfort in his chest. "He's got to get rid of all the symptoms," Van Gundy said before tipoff. Richardson, who continues to feel pain in his chest, said he was held out from the game by athletic trainer Keon Weise. "The trainer just told me if I'm still having symptoms, he doesn't want me to play," Richardson said. "I want to play. We'll see how it goes." Team officials believe Richardson has a virus that has produced inflammation in his chest and causes pain when Richardson breathes heavily. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson, Injuries 

Brian Schmitz: Magic SG Jason Richardson said he was inspired by Bucks fan calling him "washed up." He hit 9-of-11 3-pointers in Orlando win Twitter

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson 

Ryan Anderson: Glad we got the win tonight thanks to @Jason Richardson!!! What a show he put on!!! Time to get out of this cold and head home Twitter

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson 

JJ Redick: I will literally remember the 2nd half of tonight's game for the rest of my life. Incredible shooting performance by @Jason Richardson! #greatness Twitter

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson 

A guy who just arrived last season — shooting guard Jason Richardson — said after the Magic blew a 27-point lead, “The guys know that we didn’t come out in the second half like we were supposed to. To go and give up a lead like that? “We have to figure out a way to maintain stuff like that, lik ehow to play with leads like that or when teams put pressure on us. “It’s folding like that. We don’t want to get that reputation..that we’re soft.” Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson 

Magic SG Jason Richardson says that the NBA's compressed, post-lockout schedule isn't in the best interest of the players – or the game. "They are doing everything they can to get the games in. ... No, I don't think it's the best thing for the product. Play kind of goes down and there are injuries,' said Richardson, who is doubtful to face the New York Knicks today, nursing a left-knee bone bruise. "You pray that the injuries go down, but it's tough playing this many games in a row." Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson 

Orlando Magic starting shooting guard Jason Richardson, who sustained a bone bruise on his left knee last week on the team's West Coast trip, said after Sunday's practice he likely will not play Monday in New York against the Knicks. "Probably not," Richardson said as he was headed out the door, shaking his head. J.J. Redick will start in Richardson's place against the Knicks. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson, Injuries 

An MRI exam Friday on Jason Richardson's injured left knee brought some good news for the Orlando Magic. A team spokesman said the test revealed Richardson only has a bone bruise, and team officials are labeling the starting shooting guard's status as "day-to-day." Richardson injured his knee with about nine minutes remaining in Orlando's 117-109 victory Thursday night over the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. It appeared that Richardson initially stepped on the right foot of Warriors power forward David Lee. But after the game ended, Richardson said he had no idea how he hurt himself. "I thought I bumped knees, but I didn't have that feeling when you have a bumped knee, where there's just pain and soreness," Richardson said. "It was more [that] I couldn't push off." Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Jason Richardson, Injuries