Orlando Magic News & Notes

Former Magic Guard Courtney Lee still loves Orlando even though he was “devastated” when he first heard about the deal that sent him to New Jersey.

Lee felt floored when he learned that he, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie had been traded to the New Jersey Nets for eight-time all-star Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson.

“It was devastating,” Lee says now. “I was just at home getting ready to watch the draft, and then you get a phone call saying that you’ve been traded. It was a big shocker at the time. It hit me pretty hard. Time heals a lot.”

Tonight, he has an opportunity to show the Magic what they lost when Orlando (1-0) plays New Jersey (0-1) in East Rutherford. Lee will start at shooting guard for the Nets, while Alston almost certainly will come off the bench. Battie will not play because of a sore right knee.

Josh Robbins has the full story here.

Click here to learn more about J.J. Redick’s upcoming rap album.

Click here to read the Sentinel’s latest notes on the Magic, including a feature on Vince Carter’s “reunion tour.”

Tonight, he returns to New Jersey to play against the Nets, who traded him after three seasons with the team to the Magic this summer.

And then Sunday, Carter goes back to where he began his career, in 1998, facing the Raptors in Toronto.

Carter was dealt by the Raptors in 2004 to the Nets. On returning to New Jersey, he said, “I’m thankful for the opportunity. As difficult as it was the past two years, I tried to lay it on the line. We were picked last in the East for two years, and I think I tried to make that not happen.

“It was a good feeling that the fans were not happy to see me traded. I see some of the encouraging letters through my Web site. My basketball camp there was very emotional, seeing the kids and parents.”

Click here to take a look back at Rafer Alston, Tony Battie, and Courtney Lee’s time in Orlando.

Nets’ Point Guard Devin Harris some pretty funny comments about Vince Carter’s homecoming tonight.

“I’m just looking forward to fouling him one good time,” Devin Harris said after practice Thursday. “That’s what I’m looking forward to doing. I’m going to get him so good he’s not going to be able to scream.”

Of course, Harris was kidding. He was upset when Carter was traded in part because of their friendship and how much easier he made the game for the Nets’ point guard.

Click here to read the full story.

(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger and a contributor at NFL Mocks Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)