ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Orlando Magic have signed Ish Smith, a free agent point guard most recently of Golden State, as the team’s third point guard.

The 6-foot, 170-pound Smith was added to the roster Thursday, a day after Orlando released guard Larry Hughes.

The Magic were in need of a guard with starter Jameer Nelson still out with concussion symptoms.

Coach Stan Van Gundy says Nelson could return to the court as early as Monday, but the team has immediate needs with Chris Duhon logging minutes and the Magic having trouble getting the ball up the court.

Smith is expected to play Friday against Cleveland. He played six games this season with the Warriors. He was undrafted in 2010 and played college ball at Wake Forest, finishing second all-time in assists.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

By SundownMotel

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Feb 2, 2012 – The Orlando Magic are certainly experiencing a litany of woes as of late. In addition to their problems on the court, both on offense and defense, starting point guard Jameer Nelson is still fighting concussion-like symptoms and may be affected for some time. The Magic are attempting to get some help from the NBA D-League to firm up their ranks until Nelson improves.

Evan Dunlap of SB Nation’s Orlando Pinstriped Post reported on Wednesday that Orlando called up Ish Smith from the Los Angeles D-Fenders. Smith has been playing professional ball for two years and has spent time with the Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors.

Smith will join Chris Duhon and Larry Hughes as the Magic point guards behind Nelson, who will be eased back into his starting role slowly in accordance with the new NBA concussion policy. Here’s the scoop on Smith, as per Dunlap:

Smith owns NBA averages of 2.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 10.3 minutes, with 37.9 percent field-goal shooting. The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon averaged 12.5 points per game and 7.9 assists per game with the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-League during the 2010/11 season.

Smith was in the NBA as recently as this season with the Warriors, but spent less than a month on the team. Perhaps he can help Orlando turn things around. You can find the official Magic press release on Smith’s signing here.

For all news and information regarding the Orlando Magic, please visit Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Read More: Jameer Nelson (G – ORL), Chris Duhon (G – ORL), Larry Hughes (G – ORL), Ish Smith (G – ORL), Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors

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The Orlando Magic parted ways with Larry Hughes last night, reports the Sentinel: “The Magic are down to one less guard after waiving guard Larry Hughes after Wednesday night’s win against the Washington Wizards. Hughes played almost 14 minutes, scoring two points on 1-of-4 shooting. Hughes was was signed as a free agent by Orlando on Dec. 9. He appeared in nine games this season with the Magic, averaging 1.3 ppg. in 12.7 minpg. The Magic might be signing another point guard, with Jameer Nelson (concussion) not expecting to return until Monday at the earliest. Chris Duhon is now their lone point guard.”

ORLANDO – Danny Granger scored 24 points, and David West and George Hill each had 16 as the Indiana Pacers ran past the Orlando Magic 106-85 on Sunday night.

The Pacers snapped a six-game losing streak to the Magic.

Indiana had a 16-2 edge in second-chance points and got 42 points from its bench. The Pacers also went 8 for 17 from 3-point range.

Dwight Howard led the Magic with 24 points and 13 rebounds, but was a dismal 4 for 15 from the free-throw line. Chris Duhon added 14 points and Jason Richardson 13.

The Magic’s loss marked their first three-game skid of the season. It came after a horrendous week in which they endured a pair of losses by 25 or more points.

The Pacers erased a three-point Magic halftime lead and built as much as a 23-point advantage in the fourth quarter.

Howard had Orlando’s first basket of the period to get the Magic within 10, but wasn’t allowed many field goal attempts rest of the way as the Pacers opted to foul him whenever he got the ball deep underneath.

He fed into the strategy, going 1 for 4 from the free throw line in the quarter before going to the bench with 4:20 to play.

The Magic tried to keep pace by making 3s, but couldn’t find the accuracy they had in the first half. They also were slowed by 19 turnovers that led to 21 Pacers points.

Nine Magic turnovers in the first 8 minutes of the game helped the Pacers build as much as a 15-point lead in the first half.

Still, an 18-2 run gave Orlando a 51-48 lead heading into the locker room.

Where/Broadcast: Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, N.C. TV: FSN; RADIO: AM 580 WDBO; Spanish language: AM 1270 WRLZ.

My Take

The season can’t end fast enough for the Magic, who are looking forward to earning some redemption in the playoffs. PGs Gilbert Arenas and Chris Duhon returned Tuesday night to provide some depth. The ‘Cats still could be missing SG Stephen Jackson, but they always play the Magic tough.

Dwight vs.:

Howard takes on Kwame Brown, who managed to go scoreless in 32 minutes Sunday night against the Washington Wizards. Could be a chance to give Brandon Bass more time at the 5.

Marquee matchup

PG D.J. Augustin has the quicks to test Jameer Nelson. Magic need to work on keeping penetration to a minimum before playoffs.

3 Bobcats facts

Augustin is second in scoring (14.3 ppg) and leads in assists (5.9).

PF Boris Diaw is shooting 49 percent.

C Brown is averaging 7.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg.

 

Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy wouldn’t say if or how he’d use point guards Gilbert Arenas and Chris Duhon against the Milwaukee Bucks, but they will be available tonight.

Arenas has missed the past two games with flu-like symptoms and went scoreless in his last outing on March 30 vs. the Atlanta Hawks.  Duhon has been out the past three games with a sprained right thumb, and the absence of both have left Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu handling point-guard duties.

Regardless of their status for tonight, how concerned are you about the Magic’s point guard play heading into the 2011 NBA Playoffs?

By Kyle Hightower, Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. — The injury bug is consuming the Orlando Magic locker room heading into the final push for the playoffs.

Guards J.J. Redick, Gilbert Arenas, Chris Duhon and Quentin Richardson have spent time on the training table recently. The Magic are playing their third straight game Sunday in Toronto with just nine available players.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy acknowledges the challenge it’s been lately, but says it hasn’t changed their late-season agenda, which includes continuing to get better on defense and showing more consistency on offense.

The good news is the Magic are showing lots of improvement defensively, allowing teams to shoot just 43.6 percent since the All-Star break — the best in the NBA during that stretch.

If the injuries to Chris Duhon and J.J. Redick linger into mid-April — a real possibility, considering Duhon might have ligament damage in his thumb and there’s no target date for Redick’s return — the Orlando Magic would be left with a backcourt of Jameer Nelson, Gilbert Arenas and Jason Richardson. That’s it.

Quentin Richardson, who hasn’t played since last Wednesday because of back spasms, can play shooting guard in spurts, but Magic coach Stan Van Gundy recently said he doesn’t feel comfortable playing Richardson at the two for significant minutes.

“I think Q is more of a small forward,” Van Gundy said. “We can play him there some but I don’t think playing him there a lot is the direction I want to go on either end of the floor.”

If Van Gundy doesn’t play Richardson at shooting guard, that leaves the Magic with Arenas backing up both Nelson and Richardson, who would both play heavy minutes in the playoffs.

And Arenas, if you’ve forgotten, missed two games this month because of soreness related to his previously injured left knee. He’s also shooting 32 percent since the all-star break. Case in point, Arenas is not the most reliable backup guard, especially if he’s your only backup guard.

The injuries are not Magic GM Otis Smith’s fault, but it’s hard to believe he’s comfortable with this thin of a guard rotation heading into the postseason.

Is it possible the Magic could sign another guard — at least to a 10-day contract — as insurance in case Redick and Duhon can’t play again? Or better yet, how can the Magic afford to NOT sign another guard in this situation?

If the team signs a player before the end of the season, he can play in the playoffs as long as he wasn’t on another NBA roster after March 1.

There are decent guards out there, and the Magic are best signing a veteran who wouldn’t take long to learn the team’s system and would jump at a last-chance opportunity to contend for a championship.

Jerry Stackhouse, 36, who played for the Miami Heat earlier this season, is an eligible free agent. Michael Finley, 38, played for the Boston Celtics last season and the San Antonio Spurs before that. Those are two highly respected veterans, and they would both provide a positive influence in the locker room in addition to being able to play spot minutes at shooting guard.

And then there are other unsigned guards available, such as Rafer Alston, Larry Hughes and Jamaal Tinsley, although it’s unclear what type of shape or playing condition those guys are in.

Of course, this is all contingent on the seriousness of the injuries to Duhon and Redick. For all we know, Duhon could be cleared on Thursday and return next week, an unlikely scenario considering what Van Gundy said on Wednesday. Maybe the specialist Redick visited with in Vancouver found a way to eliminate the pain in Redick’s abdomen.

But if not, the Magic need to sign another guard.

If they don’t, then Otis Smith’s faith in Gilbert Arenas has truly reached another level.

Zach McCann can be reached at zmccann@orlandosentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ZachMcCann.

Dwight Howard received the 2010-11 Rich & Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award during the annual Orlando Magic Youth Foundation Black Tie & Tennies Gala on Saturday night. It was the fifth time Howard won the award, which goes to the player who dedicates himself off the court to helping others.

Ryan Anderson, Chris Duhon and J.J. Redick also were finalists.

An anonymous panel of external representatives selects the winner of the award, which Howard now has won for four consecutive years.

In addition to receiving the award, Howard will be granted $50,000 from the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation to donate to the charity or charities of his choice.

This year, the Orlando Magic Youth Fund distributed checks totaling $1 million to 19 organizations in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, team officials said.

Past winners of the award include: Nick Anderson (1995-1996), Penny Hardaway (1996-1997), Darrell Armstrong (1997-1998, 1999-2000), Grant Hill (2000-2001), Monty Williams (2001-2002), Tracy McGrady (2002-2003), Pat Garrity (2003-2004) and Bo Outlaw (1998-1999, 2005-2006, 2006-2007).

jbrobbins@tribune.com. Read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog. Subscribe to our Orlando Magic newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.

Dwight Howard received the 2010-11 Rich & Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award during the annual Orlando Magic Youth Foundation Black Tie & Tennies Gala on Saturday night. It was the fifth time Howard won the award, which goes to the player who dedicates himself off the court to helping others.

Ryan Anderson, Chris Duhon and J.J. Redick also were finalists.

An anonymous panel of external representatives selects the winner of the award, which Howard now has won for four consecutive years.

In addition to receiving the award, Howard will be granted $50,000 from the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation to donate to the charity or charities of his choice.

This year, the Orlando Magic Youth Fund distributed checks totaling $1 million to 19 organizations in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, team officials said.

Past winners of the award include: Nick Anderson (1995-1996), Penny Hardaway (1996-1997), Darrell Armstrong (1997-1998, 1999-2000), Grant Hill (2000-2001), Monty Williams (2001-2002), Tracy McGrady (2002-2003), Pat Garrity (2003-2004) and Bo Outlaw (1998-1999, 2005-2006, 2006-2007).

jbrobbins@tribune.com. Read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog. Subscribe to our Orlando Magic newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.