Report: Taylor Another Magic Man
Forward Maurice Taylor says he is going to join Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady in Orlando.
Taylor told the Orange County Register he intends to sign with the Magic once the Aug. 1 signing period begins.
"That's where I'm going," Taylor was quoted as saying in Wednesday's newspaper. "It's a good situation with the players that they have and the organization. There are just a few technicalities that need to be taken care of.
"Orlando was always my first choice. Most definitely, I'm very excited. We'll be of the better teams in the East."
He visited Orlando this month.
The Magic, who are also interested in Portland's Brian Grant and New York's Kurt Thomas, refused to comment on the Taylor report.
Taylor's agent, David Falk, was traveling and unavailable for comment, according to a spokesperson at his office in Washington, D.C. Per club policy, the Clippers would not comment.
Taylor, a first-round draft choice of the Clippers in 1997, earned $1,367,400 last season his third with the team.
Falk said before last season that his client would leave when he became a free agent after negotiations on an extension went nowhere, and Taylor said the same thing once the season began.
Hill and McGrady have both said they will sign free-agent deals with the Magic.
If the Magic sign Hill and McGrady, though, it's unlikely the team would have enough room remaining under the salary cap to also lure Taylor, Grant or Thomas unless the player accepted the minimum salary or Orlando can clear more cap room.
One option for filling the team's starting power forward slot is re-signing free agent Bo Outlaw, who played small forward last year.
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