HoopsHype.com Rumors

By technicality, the Magic fulfilled four separate deals when they sent Howard to the Lakers. And ultimately, Orlando netted the $17 million-plus exception, which now allows it to acquire a “replacement player” to match salaries of one of those four trades (which actually was Howard for Nikola Vucevic). It’s very intricate to assess whether general manager Rob Hennigan will opt to utilize this massive trade exception, largely because Orlando is presently bordering the salary cap threshold and certainly wouldn’t want to run the risk of surpassing the luxury tax penalty line. However, there are two very appealing facets of this exception. First off, while a team is not permitted to use its trade exception to sign a free agent, it can splurge its “gift card” to negotiate a sign-and-trade that involves a free agent. So for instance, if Orlando was interested in acquiring any of the marquee free agents available next summer (ex. Monta Ellis, James Harden, or Al Jefferson), it can do so via a sign-and-trade even if the Magic were over the cap. NBA.com

Orlando Magic, Trade, Rob Hennigan 

I don't know what new General Manager Rob Hennigan or CEO Alex Martins said to Big Baby and teammates, whether they threatened to evoke a curfew or trade anybody who causes a stir to Milwaukee. (The club's D-League affiliate is Sioux Falls, by the way.) Whatever – and it's taken some getting used to — but the Magic look like a totally professional organization again. The Magic and owner Rich DeVos were so embarrassed and humiliated by all the Howard-related antics that they cleaned house and maybe tented the arena for fumigation. There will be no airing of dirty — or slightly soiled — laundry. Opinions and tongues will be held in check. Requesting a trade? Fill out a form. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Alex Martins, Rich DeVos, Rob Hennigan 

Magic GM Rob Hennigan is finished overhauling the basketball operations department, including the front office, coaches and scouting department. "Yes, that's done," he said. "Twenty-three new staff members." Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Rob Hennigan 

John Denton: #Magic Rob Hennigan:"We were comfortable with the information we had and our medical staff assured us that these injuries were short term." Twitter

Orlando Magic, Al Harrington, Injuries, Ishmael Smith, Moe Harkless, Rob Hennigan, Training Camp 

Royce Young: There was an expectation that Vanterpool would move into Rob Hennigan's vacated assistant GM position. Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Rob Hennigan, David Vanterpool 

Josh Robbins: The #Magic received a $17.8 million traded player exception in the deal, Hennigan said. Magic will have 1 year to use it. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Rob Hennigan 

John Denton: #Magic GM Rob Hennigan on why not Bynum: ``One thing we always do is our research. We’re very comfortable with the research we’ve done.’’ Twitter

Orlando Magic, Andrew Bynum, Rob Hennigan 

Josh Robbins: Rob Hennigan on the #Houston #Rockets: "The offer sheets, I think, limited some avenues to make deals." Twitter

Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, Rob Hennigan 

“We feel this is the best deal for us, considering the circumstances,” Hennigan said in a press conference in Orlando. “We talked to a lot of teams … there were options that we looked at and explored, there were a lot of permutations of certain things. “At the end of the day you look at what’s available in theory and what’s available in reality. Sometimes those two things aren’t always the same. We felt with all of the options we did explore, this was the best one for us.” New York Post

Orlando Magic, Rob Hennigan 

``A primary goal for our basketball team is to achieve long term sustainability while maintaining a long term vision. We feel this deal puts us in a position to begin building in that direction,’’ Hennigan said in a release. ``In addition to the six players joining our team, we will be in a position to maximize our salary cap flexibility in the near future, as well as utilize the multiple draft picks we have acquired going forward.’’ NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard, Rob Hennigan 

While the Los Angeles Lakers are on the verge of landing Dwight Howard, the Chicago Bulls were one of several teams that kept an ongoing dialogue with the Orlando Magic in regards to landing the superstar center, according to a league source. The Bulls, who had conversations regarding a potential deal with former Orlando GM Otis Smith, continued kicking the tires regarding a potential swap with new Magic GM Rob Hennigan after he was hired in late June. ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Otis Smith, Rob Hennigan 

Scott Howard-Cooper: To give Hennigan the benefit of the doubt: A lot of GMs are following owner’s orders in personnel decisions. Good-solider GMs take the hit. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Rob Hennigan 

Brian Schmitz: Despite rumors, Dwight trade ran through GM Rob Hennigan, then CEO Alex Martins, then DeVos family. This never was going to be all Hennigan. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Alex Martins, Owners, Rob Hennigan 

The Orlando Magic have signed rookie forward Kyle O’Quinn, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed. NBA.com

Orlando Magic, Kyle O'Quinn, Rob Hennigan, Transactions 

Mavs GM Donnie Nelson and Magic GM Orlando GM Rob Hennigan visited last week about a Dwight Howard trade and "will probably talk again,'' Nelson tells FOXSportsSouthwest.com. Meanwhile, Dwight and the Magic seem done visiting. Does this move Dwight-to-Dallas closer to the front burner? Or is is simply a step towards Dallas becoming the favorite to sign the disgruntled superstar center next summer? FOXSports SouthWest

Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Donnie Nelson, Rob Hennigan 

David Baumann: New #Magic GM Rob Hennigan actually discussed the topic of Fran Vasquez. Said he will spend the coming months getting to know him. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Fran Vazquez, Rob Hennigan, Transactions 

Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan still will not rule out his team beginning training camp Oct. 1 or the regular season Nov. 2 with Dwight Howard on its roster. "As I've said all along, we're going to just continue to stay true to our process and let the process sort of dictate the opportunities and the scenarios that present themselves," Hennigan told the Orlando Sentinel in a telephone interview Saturday. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Rob Hennigan 

Hennigan would not go into specifics, but he confirmed that he did not ask Howard on Wednesday to reconsider his trade request. "We wanted to just go out and see Dwight and spend a little time with him and talk through a few things," Hennigan said. "We also wanted to check on his rehabilitation process, so it was more a chance for us to get out and get some face time with him and speak with him in person." Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Injuries, Rob Hennigan 

Jacque Vaughn, who spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs and was a member of their 2006-07 NBA World Championship team as a player, has been named head coach, Orlando Magic General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. Vaughn becomes the tenth head coach in franchise history. NBA.com

Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Jacque Vaughn, Rob Hennigan 

"We are beyond excited to name Jacque Vaughn as our head coach,” Hennigan said. “As we navigated through our coaching search, we quickly saw that Jacque's spirit and leadership strengths made him the clear choice. We are confident that his diligence, attention to detail and communication style will help establish the bedrock of our culture moving forward. His commitment and passion to building a sustainable program will help steer our organization for years to come." NBA.com

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Jacque Vaughn, Rob Hennigan