Orlando Magic Will Take a Look at Memphis' Carney

Magic will take a look at Memphis' Carney

The tall guard can fill it up, works out at the ex-Magic star's house and could draw Orlando's interest in the draft.

Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel Staff Writer
May 28, 2006

The Orlando Magic are looking to upgrade a position that obviously hasn't been the same since Tracy McGrady was traded to the Houston Rockets.

Oddly, the Magic could turn to T-Mac for a scouting report on a shooting guard who might well be on their radar in the June 28 NBA draft.

McGrady knows all about Rodney Carney, formerly of the Memphis Tigers: Carney has been working out at McGrady's home in Houston, mentored by McGrady's personal trainer, Wayne Hall.

The connection: Carney was a teammate at Memphis of McGrady's brother, Chance, a walk-on with the Tigers.

And there's more.

Chris Emens, Carney's agent, said, there are "similarities" between his client's game and McGrady's.

Like the 6-foot-8 McGrady, the 6-7 Carney has jaw-dropping leaping ability, an effortless jump shot, and when he's hot, he can burn the nets for hours.

Carney might be the best athlete in the draft; there's little doubt whether he's the fastest. He can cover the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds.

Speed is in his DNA. Carney's mother, De Andra Ware -- a former Indiana state high-school track champion in the 100- and 200-meter races -- held the world indoor record in the 60-yard dash.

Carney won a high-school track title in Indiana in the high jump and ran the 400 meters.
Carney's weaknesses on the basketball floor are also comparable to McGrady's. The knocks on Carney are that he is inconsistent and, at times, coasts through games.

"Carney is off the charts athletically," said one Eastern Conference scout, "but his intensity . . . he's up and down. Not there every night. [Memphis Coach John] Calipari brought him off the bench some last season, I think, to kick him in the rear."

Emens points to Carney's production: He averaged 27.8 minutes per game as a senior for a deep, young Memphis team but led the Tigers in scoring (17.2 points per game).

Although mock drafts say otherwise, Emens said he doesn't believe Carney will be available when the Magic pick at No. 11. But if he is, "the Magic are getting a steal," he said by phone from Los Angeles.

Emens said Carney will work out for Orlando on June 8 and would be a "good fit," calling the Magic "a version of the Phoenix Suns" if Carney is operating on the wing with power forward Dwight Howard and point guard Jameer Nelson.

Carney's camp is aware that there could be a spot open if DeShawn Stevenson does not return. Stevenson can opt out of his contract and become a free agent July 1.

"If [Stevenson] opts out, that position is as bare as it possibly could be," Emens said.
And again in need of restocking since McGrady's exit.