There are no star players at the NBA Draft Camp -- mostly potential second-round picks and players who won't be drafted -- but there are plenty of stars in the seats watching.
Front-office Hall of Famers such as Michael Jordan (Charlotte Bobcats), Larry Bird ( Indiana Pacers), and Elgin Baylor ( Los Angeles Clippers) are here evaluating talent.
Although the event is not open to the public, there were plenty of autograph seekers standing outside the gates, converging on the retired stars when they walked to their cars.
Patrick Ewing says New York Knicks haven't contacted him
Orlando assistant coach Patrick Ewing sure sounds like he'll be back again next season to work with Magic center Dwight Howard, which looked a little iffy not too long ago when the New York Knicks were overhauling their staff.
Ewing, whose playing career in New York landed him a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame, said again Tuesday that he never has been contacted by the Knicks, even though recently hired head Coach Mike D'Antoni said at his introductory news conference that he would consider adding Ewing to his staff.
Ewing was at the opening night of the NBA Predraft Camp, along with much of the Magic staff, keeping a close eye on son Patrick Ewing, Jr., who also played at Georgetown. "I need some players,"
Ewing said in passing to Magic Assistant General Manager Dave Twardzik.
Orlando Magic's Mo Evans stops in to watch
Orlando Magic guard Maurice Evans, who played in the NBA Predraft Camp in 2001 when it was held in Chicago, stopped by to watch on the first evening of workouts Tuesday, feeling a little nostalgic. Although Evans wasn't drafted out of the University of Texas, he said he believes his play at the camp was the reason the Minnesota Timberwolves signed him as a free agent, giving him his NBA start.
Evans will become a free agent July 1, and he sure sounded like he expects to be back with the Magic next season. He said his end-of-season interview with Magic General Manager Otis Smith was very positive.
"I think we're on the same page,"
Evans said. "It's a great organization, and we had a lot of success this season, but we can get better. It would be nice to be part of that."
Central Floridians Keith Brumbaugh and Pat Calathes on same team
The 64 draft camp players are divided into six teams, but both of the Central Florida guys will be teammates when the games begin today.
Keith Brumbaugh (Deland High and Hillsborough Community College) and Pat Calathes (Lake Howell High) are playing on a team with point guard Ty Lawson of North Carolina. They open play tonight at 6:30 p.m.
The three games start at 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. All six teams will play one game on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The event is not open to the public.
