Tim Povtak of the Orlando Sentinel reports: There is a reason so many of the preseason publications devoted to the NBA turned their focus in the Eastern Conference to the Orlando Magic, thinking they can leapfrog past Miami, New York and Philadelphia.

The name recognition is unmatched, and -- on paper -- the roster looks like the strongest in Orlando since Shaquille O'Neal left town.

The trick will be turning hype into reality when training camp opens Tuesday at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

"We have the potential to be a great team," Armstrong said. "I don't think anyone can question that. But that means nothing. Look at Portland last year. Looking good on paper doesn't win games. You can scare the bad teams away, but the good teams, you better be ready to play."

Also, The Magic are expected to add center/forward Todd Fuller to their roster today.

The Charlotte Hornets streak of not being about to re-sign their own free agents officially ended at 27 after Lee Nailon signed with the team on Friday.  The streak dated back to October 1995.  Only $48,573 of Nailon's $615,850 will be guaranteed.

The Los Angeles Clippers signed five free agents Friday, including former Arizona star Miles Simon, who averaged 23.3 points in 22 games for an Italian team last season.

Simon was with the Orlando Magic in the 1998-99 season.

The Clippers, who begin training camp Tuesday at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Calif., also signed forwards Ansu Sesay, Harold Jamison and Obinna Ekezie and center Neil Edwards.

Every major New York paper is reporting basically the same thing: Scott Layden speaks of Larry Johnson in the past tense and it seems the Knicks would love nothing more than to give him a one-way ticket out of New York.

The gist of the story seems to be this: The Knicks have offered Johnson a $14 million buyout, or roughly half of the $28 million remaining on his contract. For obvious reasons, Johnson is balking. The New York Post reports that the Knicks could decide to simply waive Johnson or banish him to the injured list.

In other Knick news, Layden said he's working the phones in an effort to use their expiring $2.8 Disabled Player Exception. The Post speculates that the Knicks may work a deal which includes Othella Harrington or Charlie Ward. The primary target, Marc Jackson, signed an offer sheet with Houston instead. The Bergen Record reports that the Knicks have no interest in Anthony Mason or Chris Gatling.

Elsewhere, Scott Burrell has reneged on an agreement with New York and appears bound for Miami or Charlotte. That means New York could potentially add another swingman, for reasons unbeknownst to all. The names of Mario Elie, David Benoit, Doug West and Jim Jackson have surfaced.

The Star Tribune reports that forward Tom Hammonds announced Friday he has retired from the NBA and will pursue a career in drag racing fulltime.

According to reports from the AP earlier Friday, the Wolves and Hammonds were discussing a buyout.

"These last two weeks have been pretty crazy. I just realized I wasn't going to be able to help the team out physically and didn't want to take up a roster spot."

The club talked to free-agent power forward Gary Trent, but the Wolves decided not to make Trent an offer.

Timberwolves training camp roster

Guards Ricky Price, Reggie Geary and Nate Green will be on hand when camp opens Tuesday at the Palace practice gym. Price is a former Duke star. Geary is a defensive specialist who played at Arizona. Green starred at Indiana State.

Center Felton Spencer, who made 18 token appearances with the Knicks last season, re-signed with New York on Friday.

Forward Lee Nailon, at an impasse with the Hornets all summer, came to term with Charlotte on Friday.

Terms were not disclosed, but Nailon likely received the veteran minimum.

Johnathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports: Seeking a frontcourt force to fill the voids left by the injury to Maurice Taylor and defection of Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets might have landed both Friday, reaching an agreement with free-agent center Marc Jackson.

The Rockets received salary-cap relief in the form of a disabled-player exception worth $3.25 million next season and quickly used it to come to terms with Jackson on a six-year, $24.37 million contract.

The Warriors have 15 days from the time the deal is completed to match the Rockets' offer, but the Rockets had begun talks on a deal with Golden State in which the Warriors, deep in high-priced frontcourt players, would agree not to match the offer to retain Jackson.

"I hope they'll leave me alone," Jackson said. "This is for me. Houston is for me. I just hope the Warriors leave it alone ... just let me go.

 Dawson also met with free-agent guard Moochie Norris' agent, Dan Fegan, on Friday, although there were no indications of progress in the negotiations.

Fegan offered a sign-and-trade deal in which Norris could make more than the four-year, $12 million offer the Rockets have had on the table, but the Rockets did not accept the trade proposed.