The Magic took 23-year old, 6’6″, 210 pound SG DeAndre Liggins out of Kentucky with the 53rd overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft.  Liggins played in 38 games for Kentucky last year and he averaged 31.6 minutes, 8.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  He played in 100 games in his three years in college and he averaged 21.9 minutes, 5.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.  Liggins is a defensive minded shooting guard.

The Cleveland Cavaliers took 21-year old power forward Justin Harper out of Richmond with the 32nd overall pick of the NBA Draft last night.  He is 6’10″, 225 pounds and he’s a lot style wise to ex-Magic forward Rashard Lewis.  The Magic sent the Cavs two future second round picks for Harper.  Harper played in 37 games for Richmond last year and he averaged 31.8 minutes, 17.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game.  He played in 137 games in his four years in college and he averaged 22.9 minutes, 10.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.

The Orlando Magic need to add rebounding and defense in the NBA Draft on Thursday Night.  It won’t be easy as the Magic only has 1 pick (#53 overall) in the draft.  The Magic are likely homing in on three players with their pick.  C Keith Benson (Oakland), PF/C Rick Jackson (Syracuse) and C Gary McGhee (Pittsburgh).  Benson is a shot blocking demon but he won’t likely make it to the Magic in the second round.  Rick Jackson is more of a power forward than a center, but he would be a solid pick for the Magic because he’s a good offensive player and rebounder.  Gary McGhee is an old school tough guy whose game doesn’t venture far from the basket.  The Magic aren’t getting greedy, they just want of these guys to be available with the 53rd overall pick on Thursday.

Starting shooting guard Jason Richardson is a free agent and it will be hard for the Magic to retain him.  He is the best free agent in the open market, so Richardson is going to have a lot of suitors.  PF Earl Clark won’t cost much and he’s still young, so the Magic might be interested to bring him back if the price is right.  Veteran PF Malik Allen will likely be allowed to walk away as he doesn’t appear to have much left in the gas tank.

A lot of people outside of Orlando have forgot where Shaq started his NBA career.  O’Neal played in 295 games (293 starts) in the first four years of his NBA career (with the Magic) and he averaged 37.8 minutes, 27.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.8 blocked shots per game.  Despite only playing four years with the Magic, O’Neal is still #2 in team history wiht 3,691 rebounds.  He also is #2 in blocked shots (824) and #4 in points scored (8,019) in the Magic’s history.  O’Neal decided to call it a career yesterday as he retired from the NBA.  O’Neal played in 1,207 games (1,197 starts) in his NBA career and he averaged 34.7 minutes, 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 blocked shots per game.