Updated: June 28, 2007, 5:05 PM ET
Magic trade No. 54 pick to Rockets for cash
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Orlando Magic traded the No. 54 pick to the Houston Rockets for cash hours before Thursday's NBA draft.
The move left Orlando with one second-round selection -- No. 44. Last year, the Magic traded what would have been a first-round pick to Detroit in the Darko Milicic-Carlos Arroyo deal.
For Orlando, the start of free agent negotiations Sunday will be far more significant than the draft. The team wants to quickly re-sign Milicic, a restricted free agent, then pursue a scorer with the salary cap room they have left.
The team still doesn't know whether Grant Hill will return. His expiring 7-year, $93-million deal freed up cap room this year.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
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