July 1, 1999

ORLANDO (AP) - With or without Penny Hardaway, the Orlando Magic will be a different team next season.

Sacrificing toughness and rebounding for youth, athleticism and potential, the club began revamping the roster Wednesday night with a trade to acquire the rights to flashy 19-year-old Corey Maggette.

Team officials said the move wasn't intended as a message to Hardaway, who officially became a free agent Thursday. But if the four-time All-Star decides his future is with the Magic, he'll return to a franchise clearly headed in a different direction.

To acquire Maggette, who spent one season at Duke, the Magic sent leading rebounder Horace Grant, who played at Clemson from 1983-87, to Seattle and had to accept three veterans - Dale Ellis, Don MacLean and Billy Owens - who might not remain in Orlando long.

"Maggette is a player that we feel has a tremendous upside," Magic general manager John Gabriel said. "We think he is one of the elite athletes in this year's draft and will be in this game.

"A lot of teams across the league talked about matching the athleticism that is coming into the NBA year in and year out. We believe that this 20-year-old can do that for us."

Actaully, the 6-foot-7 Maggette won't turn 20 until Nov. 12. He left Duke after averaging 10.6 points as a freshman on a team that lost to Connecticut in the NCAA title game and produced four of the draft's top 14 picks.

Seattle selected Maggette No. 13 overall, knowing he was who the Magic wanted before they would give up Grant, who helped Chicago win three NBA titles before jumping to Orlando as a free agent in 1994.

"We had no plan going into the draft to do this," said coach Doc Rivers, who expects to play Maggette at both guard and forward. "If he hadn't been there, Horace Grant would still be on our team."

The Magic drafted another swingman, Maryland's Laron Profit, with the ninth pick in the second round. They addressed the need for a backup point guard by acquiring Michigan's Louis Bullock, selected four picks later by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

What happens next will be influenced by Hardaway. The Magic say re-signing him is a priority, but several teams also are expected to make sign-and-trade offers for the sixth-year pro.

Hardaway said shortly after Orlando's early exit from the playoffs that he felt underappreciated and looked forward to possibly playing elsewhere. He apologized for the comments the following day, but didn't change his mind about exploring his options.

The Magic can offer Hardaway as much as $85.6 million over seven seasons. The most any other team would be able to pay him is $67.5 million over six years. A sign-and-trade deal would benefit the player financially, while assuring the Magic compensation for losing Hardaway.

Another priority is re-signing forward Bo Outlaw, one of the team's best rebounders and defensive players.

"I'm concerned with rebounding. I'm concerned with size," Rivers said. "There is still some time to improve rebounding. ... You can't get everything in one night."

With Maggette, though, the Magic are confident they got a player who will have an impact for a long time.

"We didn't just get a guy who can become a starter, we got a guy who can become a star," Gabriel said. "He is going to need time, that's all. They all need time. The younger guys need even more time."

Maggette is excited about the opportunity.

"I'm glad it turned out the way it did," he said. "I am going to do whatever it takes to get better. With my determination, hard work and work ethic, I believe I can do that. I don't know how long it's going to take. I know Orlando is going to prepare me, and I'm ready for that challenge."