The Magic have signed 23-year old point guard Ishmael Smith to a 1-year deal.  Smith played in 6 games (1 start) earlier this year for the Golden State Warriors and he averaged 10.5 minutes, 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.  He has now played in 49 games (4 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 10.3 minutes, 2.6 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.  Smith will backup Chris Duhon until Jameer Nelson is ready to return to action.

The Magic have waived 33-year old shooting guard Larry Hughes.  Hughes played in 9 games (0 starts) for the Magic this year and he averaged 12.7 minutes, 1.3 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  He also only shot 5 of 22 (22.7%) from the floor last season and that was pathetic.  Hughes has now played in 727 games (509 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 30.8 minutes, 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game.  Hughes’ NBA career is quite possibly at the end of the line.

The Orlando Magic are going to be without 29-year old point guard Jameer Nelson for at least the next week due to a concussion.  Nelson has played in 18 games (all starts) so far this year for the Magic and he is averaging 28.8 minutes, 8.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game on only 38.7% shooting from the floor.  He will be replaced in the starting lineup by 29-year old Chris Duhon.  Duhon has played in 20 games (2 starts) for the Magic so far this year and he is averaging 19.5 minutes, 3.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.  Duhon is hitting 46.7% from three point range (14 of 30) so far this year and that is outstanding.  Duhon might be able to do a decent job while Nelson is out of action.

The Magic have re-signed 23-year old power forward Earl Clark to a 2-year deal.  Clark played in 33 games (0 starts) for the Magic last year and he averaged 11.9 minutes, 4.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.  He played in 42 games (0 starts) overall for the Magic & Suns last year and he averaged 11.0 minutes, 3.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.  Clark has now played in 93 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 9.1 minutes, 3.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  Clark will come off the bench for the Magic in 2011-12.

The Orlando Magic have acquired 25-year old power forward  Glen “Big Baby” Davis from the Boston Celtics for 26-year old power forward Brandon Bass.  Davis played in 78 games (13 starts) for the Celtics last year and he averaged 29.5 minutes, 11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  He has now played in 277 games (31 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 21.0 minutes, 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  Brandon Bass played in 76 games (51 starts) for the Magic last year and he averaged 26.1 minutes, 11.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  This was likely a move made in an attempt to keep Dwight Howard around for longer than this year, as he wanted the Magic to get Davis.

UPDATE:  (12/10/2011) – The Orlando Magic have also acquired 26-year old shooting guard Von Wafer in this deal.  Wafer played in 58 games (2 starts) for the Celtics last year and he averaged 9.5 minutes, 3.2 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  He has now played in 167 games (13 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 12.0 minutes, 5.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.  He signed a three year deal before he was dealt to the Magic and he will help them off the bench.

The Magic have released 29-year old PG/SG Gilbert Arenas using the NBA’s amnesty clause.  Arenas played in 49 games (2 starts) for the Magic last year and he averaged 21.8 minutes, 8.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.  He has now played in 535 games (455 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 35.8 minutes, 21.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game.  This was a smart move for the Magic as it will open up some cap space allowing them to add a free agent or two.

The Magic have invited 32-year old shooting guard Larry Hughes to training camp.  Hughes last played in the NBA back in 2009-10 with the Knicks and Bobcats.  Hughes has now played in 718 games (509 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 31.0 minutes, 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game.  If Hughes has anything left in the gas tank, he might be able to help give the Magic some scoring thump off the bench in 2011-12.

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.

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.