2007–08 Orlando Magic season


The 2007–08 Orlando Magic season was their 19th season in the National Basketball Association.
In the playoffs, the Magic defeated the Toronto Raptors in the First Round in five games before losing to the Detroit Pistons in the Semifinals in five games.

Key dates

was signed as head coach of the Magic on June 1 agreeing to a 5-year, $27.5 million deal with the team., to replace recently fired Magic head coach Brian Hill. Donovan had previously led the University of Florida basketball team to back to back NCAA National Championships in 2006 and 2007. One day later however, Donovan had second thoughts about becoming head coach of the Magic, and wished to be released from his contract to return to his former team, the Florida Gators Men's basketball team. On June 5, the Magic released Donovan from his 5-year contract, under the condition that he would not be allowed to sign as head coach of another NBA team for five years. One day later, the Magic signed Stan Van Gundy as head coach. The deal was reportedly for 4 years, $16 million.
The Magic made a splash in the free agent market by acquiring small forward Rashard Lewis on July 11. Lewis was re-signed to the Seattle SuperSonics for a six-year league maximum contract, then promptly traded to the Magic in a "sign and trade" for a second-round pick in the 2008 NBA draft. The Sonics earned a mid-level salary cap exemption in the trade. Lewis signed a six-year league-maximum contract believed to be worth over $110 million.
Then the Magic filled in a need and went after a big man after losing Darko Miličić, and signed Center Adonal Foyle who played for the Golden State Warriors and leads the Warriors in most blocks in team history.
The Magic also signed Polish center Marcin Gortat on July 17. They had acquired his NBA rights from the Phoenix Suns following the 2005 NBA draft.
The Magic got final approval for a new arena on July 26, 2007. It is expected to be completed in time for the 2010–11 NBA season.
Point guard Jameer Nelson's father, Floyd "Pete" Nelson, disappeared on August 30, and was found dead in the Delaware River in Wilmington, Delaware, on September 2. A Chester, Pennsylvania, tugboat repairman by trade, the elder Nelson's death was ruled an accident.

Draft picks

Orlando's selections from the 2007 NBA draft in New York City.
RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege / Club
244Reyshawn TerrySmall forwardUnited StatesNorth Carolina

Roster

Regular season

Standings

Game log

October

Record: 1–0 ; Home: 1–0 ; Road: 0–0
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTLeading scorerAttendanceRecord
1October 31, 2007BucksMagicNARashard Lewis 17,5191–0

November

Record: 13–4 ; Home: 4–2 ; Road: 9–2
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTLeading scorerAttendanceRecord
--------
2November 2, 2007PistonsMagicNARashard Lewis 17,5191–1
3November 3, 2007MagicWizardsNAHedo Türkoğlu 20,1732–1
4November 6, 2007MagicTimberwolvesNADwight Howard 12,0033–1
5November 7, 2007MagicRaptorsNATwo-way tie 17,9974–1
6November 9, 2007MagicKnicksNAJameer Nelson 19,7635–1
7November 10, 2007SunsMagicNADwight Howard 17,5195–2
8November 13, 2007SuperSonicsMagicNARashard Lewis 16,1016–2
9November 14, 2007MagicCavaliers1Dwight Howard 20,5627–2
10November 16, 2007MagicNetsNARashard Lewis 15,1158–2
11November 18, 2007CelticsMagicNADwight Howard 17,5199–2
12November 19, 2007MagicHornetsNADwight Howard 11,74110–2
13November 21, 2007MagicSpursNADwight Howard 18,79710–3
14November 23, 2007BobcatsMagicNADwight Howard 17,13611–3
15November 24, 2007HeatMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,51912–3
16November 26, 2007MagicTrail BlazersNAHedo Türkoğlu 15,92213–3
17November 28, 2007MagicSuperSonicsNADwight Howard 12,39814–3
18November 30, 2007MagicSunsNADwight Howard 18,42214–4

December

Record: 8–7 ; Home: 2–4 ; Road: 6–3
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTLeading scorerAttendanceRecord
--------
19December 2, 2007MagicLakersNARashard Lewis 18,99715–4
20December 3, 2007MagicWarriors1Two-way tie 18,52716–4
21December 8, 2007PacersMagicNADwight Howard 17,51916–5
22December 10, 2007HawksMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 16,82116–6
23December 12, 2007MagicBucksNATwo-way tie 14,61716–7
24December 14, 2007MagicBobcatsNADwight Howard 19,10917–7
25December 15, 2007GrizzliesMagicNADwight Howard 17,51917–8
26December 17, 2007MagicMavericksNAHedo Türkoğlu 20,11417–9
27December 19, 2007MagicRocketsNADwight Howard 18,27018–9
28December 21, 2007JazzMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,51918–10
29December 23, 2007MagicCelticsNADwight Howard 18,62418–11
30December 26, 2007KnicksMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,51919–11
31December 28, 2007MagicHeat1Dwight Howard 19,80520–11
32December 29, 2007BobcatsMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,51921–11
33December 31, 2007MagicBulls1Jameer Nelson 22,12622–11

January

Record: 7–7 ; Home: 5–2 ; Road: 2–5
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTLeading scorerAttendanceRecord
34January 2, 2008NetsMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,51922–12
35January 4, 2008RocketsMagicNAJameer Nelson 17,51922–13
36January 8, 2008MagicKingsNADwight Howard 12,83122–14
37January 9, 2008MagicClippersNAHedo Türkoğlu 15,09123–14
38January 11, 2008MagicNuggetsNARashard Lewis 16,71823–15
39January 12, 2008MagicJazzNADwight Howard 19,91123–16
40January 15, 2008BullsMagicNARashard Lewis 17,51924–16
41January 16, 2008MagicBobcatsNADwight Howard 14,27924–17
42January 19, 2008Trail BlazersMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,51925–17
43January 21, 2008PistonsMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,51926–17
44January 23, 2008MagicGrizzliesNAHedo Türkoğlu 10,21227–17
45January 25, 2008MagicPistonsNAHedo Türkoğlu 22,07627–18
46January 27, 2008CelticsMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,51928–18
47January 30, 2008HeatMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,51929–18

February

Record: 8–5 ; Home: 4–3 ; Road: 4–2
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTLeading scorerAttendanceRecord
48February 1, 2008Magic76ersNAHedo Türkoğlu 16,51330–18
49February 2, 2008MagicPacersNADwight Howard 13,17231–18
50February 4, 2008MavericksMagicNADwight Howard 16,97431–19
51February 6, 2008NetsMagicNADwight Howard 16,01132–19
52February 8, 2008LakersMagicNADwight Howard 17,51932–20
53February 11, 2008CavaliersMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,51932–21
54February 13, 2008NuggetsMagicNARashard Lewis 17,51933–21
55February 19, 2008MagicPistonsNARashard Lewis 22,07634–21
56February 20, 2008MagicRaptorsNADwight Howard 19,80034–22
57February 22, 200876ersMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,51935–22
58February 24, 2008KingsMagicNADwight Howard 17,51936–22
59February 26, 2008MagicNetsNATwo-way tie 14,84737–22
60February 27, 2008Magic76ersNAHedo Türkoğlu 14,84737–23

March

Record: 10–4 ; Home: 7–3 ; Road: 3–1
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTLeading scorerAttendanceRecord
61March 1, 2008KnicksMagicNADwight Howard 17,51938–23
62March 4, 2008RaptorsMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,51939–23
63March 5, 2008MagicWizardsNADwight Howard 17,74540–23
64March 8, 2008WarriorsMagicNADwight Howard 17,51940–24
65March 10, 2008HawksMagicNADwight Howard 15,92141–24
66March 12, 2008ClippersMagicNADwight Howard 16,31242–24
67March 14, 2008MagicHeatNAJameer Nelson 19,31243–24
68March 15, 2008PacersMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,51944–24
69March 17, 2008CavaliersMagicNADwight Howard 17,51945–24
70March 19, 2008WizardsMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 16,53345–25
71March 21, 200876ersMagicNARashard Lewis 17,51946–25
72March 22, 2008MagicHawksNAHedo Türkoğlu 18,82546–26
73March 25, 2008SpursMagicNATwo-way tie 17,51946–27
74March 28, 2008MagicBucksNADwight Howard 17,53147–27

April

Record: 5–3; Home: 2–2; Road: 3–1
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTLeading scorerAttendanceRecord
75April 1, 2008HornetsMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,51947–28
76April 5, 2008MagicCavaliersNAHedo Türkoğlu 20,56248–28
77April 6, 2008MagicKnicksNAHedo Türkoğlu 19,76348–29
78April 9, 2008BullsMagicNADwight Howard 17,51949–29
79April 11, 2008TimberwolvesMagicNAHedo Türkoğlu 17,59349–30
80April 13, 2008MagicBullsNAHedo Türkoğlu 21,97350–30
81April 15, 2008MagicHawksNAMaurice Evans 18,73851–30
82April 16, 2008WizardsMagicNAJ. J. Redick 16,92952–30

Player stats

Regular season

*Total for entire season including previous team

Playoffs

Awards and records

was voted as starting center at the 2008 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, Louisiana, where the previous night, he won the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest.

Records

Milestones

Transactions

The Magic have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007–08 season.

Trades

In November 2007 the Magic traded Trevor Ariza to the Los Angeles Lakers for Maurice Evans and Brian Cook.

Free agents