Memphis sends Gooden to Orlando

Grizzlies obtain Miller in four-player deal before today's deadline

Orlando and Memphis pulled off the first big trade before today’s NBA deadline, agreeing to a four-player deal Wednesday that sent Mike Miller and Ryan Humphrey from the Magic to the Grizzlies for rookies Drew Gooden and Gordan Giricek.

The Grizzlies also received a first-round pick owed to Orlando by Sacramento and a second-round selection in 2004, while sending an undisclosed amount of cash to the Magic.

Orlando is giving up its second-leading scorer, Miller, who was averaging 16.4 points as the second offensive option behind Tracy McGrady. The Magic never envisioned having to use Miller, a small forward, as their No. 2 scorer, but the chronic ankle injury that has sidelined Grant Hill indefinitely forced Miller into that role.

Without Miller, the Magic are looking to both Gooden and Giricek to relieve some of the pressure on McGrady, the NBA’s leading scorer.

“We saw an opportunity to move a player we like very much in Mike Miller for two young players that better fill our needs on this particular team,” Orlando general manager John Gabriel said.

Gooden, a 6-foot-10 forward from Kansas, was the fourth selection in last year’s draft. The 6-6 Giricek, a 25-year-old guard from Croatia, is regarded as a sharpshooter.

Both players could start for the Magic. That would send to the bench Pat Garrity, a three-point-shooting specialist.

Gooden was averaging 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Grizzlies, but he was not as one of coach Hubie Brown’s favorite players. His name had been coming up in trade rumors during recent days.

Giricek averaged 11.2 points in 49 games, including 35 starts. Humphrey, a rookie power forward from Notre Dame, averaged 1.8 points. Miller was the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 2001.