Magic extend one-year offer to Augustine

The Orlando Magic tendered an offer to former Illini James Augustine. The one-year deal would reportedly be worth $700,000.

In two years in Orlando, Augustine has struggled for playing time. He has appeared in 27 games, including 25 games last season, and averaged 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds per game. He played a career-high 18 minutes in the Magic’s regular season finale against the Washington Wizards, scoring a career-high 8 points.

Even though Augustine has barely been on the floor, the Magic must like Augustine enough to offer him the one-year deal. Augustine was selected by the Magic with the 41^st overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft.

“Augie” finished his Illini career as the school’s career rebound leader (1,023) and is the only player in
Illinois history with 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.

Dee will play with Pistons, Sonics for summer

Dee Brown will play with Pistons during the NBA summer league in
Las Vegas from July 11-20. Brown will also play with the Seattle SuperSonics at the Orlando Pro Summer League from July 7-11 with former Illini teammate Brian Randle.

Brown spent last year in Turkey last year and averaged 14.3 points and 3.8 assists per game for Galatasaray Cafe Crown. Brown played one season with the Utah Jazz after he was drafted 46^th overall in the 2006 NBA Draft. In 49 games, he averaged 1.9 points and 1.7 assists per game. 

That’s right. With Rex Grossman out for the season and Brian Griese struggling, the Bears have turned to Kyle Orton to start this Sunday versus the playoff-hungry Minnesota Vikings.

I’ve been calling for Orton ever since Grossman was benched. I even wrote a column about it two months ago.

http://www.dailyillini.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=e57fcd9c-bca6-4f96-8977-4717a1cd5738

 This actually has me excited for a Bears game for the first time since about week 3. This year has just been brutal on offense with our quarterbacks and runningbacks on their backs most of the time due to an offensive line that nearly qualifies for social security.

Winning really has no positive effect for the Bears anymore as they are all but out of the playoff race and each win worsens their draft pick to bring in some talent. But I would not mind seeing Orton, a Heisman Trophy candidate while at Purdue, carry our offense to a victory. Wishful thinking? Maybe, as Orton is a big fan of Iowa City, Iowa, and the Jack Daniel’s they sell there.

 But is that not a quarterback who symbolizes Bears fans better than any other?