Florida Today

August 23, 2007
by John Denton II

Magic Add Foyle to Bolster Big Men

ORLANDO - Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith pursued Adonal Foyle primarily for his muscle and shot-blocking abilities. But the trickle-down effect of having Foyle around also weighed heavily into the decision to sign the 6-foot-10, 275-pound center.

"Maybe the best thing about getting him is that he will be around (the Magic's headquarters) every day and he'll be somebody going up against Dwight in practice," Smith said, referring to franchise center Dwight Howard. "(Foyle) can play some minutes and really help us out, but most of all he will help Dwight continue to further his development."

Foyle has agreed to a two-year deal with the Magic that will pay him $1.4 million a season. The deal won't become official until Monday at the earliest when Foyle's agent, Lon Babby, returns from a trip out of the country.

Foyle, 32, became available when the Golden State Warriors bought him out of the final three seasons of a six-year, $42 million deal he originally signed in 2004. He fell out of favor in Golden State last season when Don Nelson brought his version of small ball to the Warriors. He played in just 48 games, averaging 2.2 points and 2.6 rebounds a game.

The Magic were desperate to sign another center/power forward type after losing 7-foot shot-blocker Darko Milicic to Memphis in free agency. Orlando already has reached a deal with Polish center Marcin Gortat, and that deal is expected to become official once the buyout with his German team is worked out.

Foyle's forte is his ability to defend centers in the post and swat shots at the rim. Throughout his career, he has ranked among the NBA's leaders in blocks per minute on the court. With the Magic in the same division with bruising centers Shaquille O'Neal, Emeka Okafor and Zaza Pachulia, Foyle's muscle could come in handy. He can spell Tony Battie at center and occasionally play alongside of Howard.

"I like him because he's a good on-ball defender and he gives us somebody with some girth," Smith said. "We have a lot of tall guys, but no one with any real girth. He's a big defender who can help us."

Boston and Charlotte also pursued Foyle, but the 10-year veteran made no secret that he favored Orlando because of its proximity to his Caribbean roots. He hails from tiny Canouan, which is among the cluster of islands that make up St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Foyle became a U.S. citizen this past March, taking part in a naturalization ceremony in San Francisco as part of a group of 1,150 people from 94 countries who received Americans citizenship.

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