Departures open up intriguing possibilities for Magic

OK, now what?

In a move that caught just Jeff Van Gundy unsuspecting, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and general manager Otis Smith became unrestricted free agents Monday, having been sent to the canning factory for jobs extensively done poorly.

That makes three exiled execs in one season. Let's not forget that CEO Bob Vander Weide got the boot earlier. The son-in-law of owner Rich DeVos made an admittedly under-the-influence decision in a December phone plea to Dwight Howard, trying to get him to stay.

The NBA . . . where drunk-dialing happens.

Flaunting Howard, still the NBA's glossiest centerfold despite a freshly repaired back and a provisionally scarred image, the franchise, nonetheless, has ended up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard.

For assorted reasons, some perfectly legit excuses, the Magic — beloved, fledgling finalists in 2009 (lost in five to the Lakers) and conference contestants (lost in six to the Celtics the next season) — have been bounced from the playoffs twice in a row (Atlanta, Indiana) in the first round.

Now what?

Will Howard be harpooned next by the DeVos family and CEO Alex Martins or will the new front office sage be allowed to make that critical call with or without the help of his coaching choice before cleaning up the rest of the mess?

Depends on whether the powers-that-be want the incoming executive to be a puppet or a marionette. Donnie Walsh officially comes off the Knicks' books June 30, but has been given permission to be interviewed by other teams.

If Walsh, as well as Danny Ferry, Billy Knight, Jim Paxson, Kiki Vandeweghe, Chris Mullin, rising free agent Rick Sund or anyone with any presence and pride, weren't assured a strong say regarding Howard's situation, for starters, I can't believe he'd have any interest. As you might recall, he endured that misery working for the insufferably demeaning James Dolan.

Rich (owner) and Dan (chairman) DeVos are more disposed to allow the (alleged) basketball experts to make basketball decisions. Of course, they might feel a lot different today in light of how much Smith cost them in terms of obscene salaries, both paid off and currently owed ($67 million for 2012-13) and mostly worthless assets.

On the other hand, if father and son permitted a novice like Smith (Golden State's former community relations director) to squander fortunes on Rashard Lewis, Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Chris Duhon, the prospects of installing a real specialist, someone responsible for making the Pacers a consistent winner and returning the Knicks to respectability, would greatly excite them.

Howard, too.

Should Walsh show up, it might give him serious pause to contemplate staying past the one season he has left on his contract.

And why not keep Howard? Say whatever you wish about the guy . . . he's hurting' and he's high maintenance, but he's also the only signed and sealed roster resident worth anything on the open market.

* * *

Let's switch gears. What about the Lakers? In view of the Magic's upheaval and Los Angeles being bumped off in five by the Thunder, might Jerry and Jim Buss again enter the equation regarding a possible swap of Howard for Andrew Bynum?

Here's something else to throw out there: Could Phil Jackson be financially romanced to coach Howard?

If not, maybe he'd find it fascinating to manage a front office and roster for the first time? If so, would he appoint Brian Shaw as coach?

Another highly conceivable candidate, could he shake free from Milwaukee (one year left), is Scott Skiles, who also played in Orlando and remains a DeVos family and local fan favorite.

That brings us to the Nets. Does the Magic's transformation benefit, damage or further delay their pursuit to pair Howard with Deron Williams in Brooklyn, and/or impair their chances to re-sign their floor leader?

The biggest fear of the Nets throughout their agonizing negotiations with the Magic, I submit, is that someone experienced like Walsh would be hired and put the kibosh to trade talks.

The first priority, naturally, is to get fair compensation for your prized possession.

Regardless of who ends up in Amway Alley, ain't no way, no how I let Howard hold the franchise hostage again, only to kick the carcass down the road with his last minute opt-in option.

Give me the simpler times in Orlando, when all you had to worry about was a Penny Hardaway mutiny.

Forget the Nets; our greatest fear should be that the geniuses at ABC and ESPN will put Jeff and Stan Van Gundy alongside each other. If that happens, David Stern will be compelled to opt out of the league's TV contract and return to NBC.

Peter Vesey covers the NBA for the New York Post.

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Anderson's hot hand rescues win for Magic

ORLANDO, Florida — The Orlando Magic struggled during much of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night, playing sloppily on offense and failing to contain Andrea Bargnani at the rim.

On the move: Magic guard J.J. Redick drives past the Raptors' Andrea Bargnani on Sunday in Orlando. The Magic won 102-96. AP PHOTO

But a 4-minute stretch in the fourth quarter made everything all better.

The Magic went on a late 16-0 run, led by the shooting of Ryan Anderson — who finished with 24 points — to erase a double-digit deficit and defeat the Raptors 102-96.

Orlando shot 4 for 5 from 3-point range during the burst, with Anderson making two of them, as the Magic took a 94-89 lead with 3:05 left after trailing by as many as 16 points.

"We sort of could've just given up, but we kept pushing through it," Anderson said. "This was huge for us."

Dwight Howard had 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Magic, who have won four straight since a season-opening loss to Oklahoma City. J.J. Redick added 21 points and Hedo Turkoglu had 15 points and seven assists.

"I thought we played a great fourth quarter," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "Our intensity level went way up."

Bargnani paced the Raptors with 28 points, and Jose Calderon had 18 points and 13 assists.

It was the second consecutive late collapse by the Raptors, who also gave up a second-half lead to Dallas on Friday.

"I don't really have an explanation as to why this game got away," Calderon said. "It's tough. It's kind of like the same thing that happened with Dallas. They're two veteran teams. They know how to play in those moments. We've got to learn from that."

Bargnani, who scored only three of his 28 points in the fourth period, was disappointed with his team's showing.

"We really made the game for three quarters; we played good offense and great defense," he said. "But we didn't play that way in the fourth quarter. We played really bad."

Celtics 94, Wizards 86

In Washington, Rajon Rondo had 18 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds while Kevin Garnett had 24 points and nine rebounds to lead Boston over the winless Wizards.

The victory was the Celtics' second straight after losing their first three. Washington is 0-4.

Heat 129, Bobcats 90

In Miami, Chris Bosh scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half as the Heat improved to 5-0 for the first time in franchise history.

The 129 points is the most scored by any NBA team so far this season and the 39-point victory margin matched the third-largest in Heat history. Dwyane Wade scored 22 points and LeBron James and Mario Chalmers each scored 16 for the Heat, who ran out to an 18-point lead after one quarter and never trailed.

Cavaliers 98, Nets 82

In Cleveland, Antawn Jamison scored 23 points and the Cavaliers made 16 3-pointers in a win over New Jersey.

T-Wolves 99, Mavericks 82

In Minneapolis, Kevin Love had 25 points and 17 rebounds and hit two huge 3s in the fourth quarter to help the Timberwolves end an 18-game losing streak dating deep into last season.

Bulls 104, Grizzlies 64

In Chicago, Carlos Boozer scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and the Bulls easily won their home opener.

Nuggets 99, Lakers 90

In Denver, Danilo Gallinari scored 20 points, Ty Lawson had 17 points and 10 assists and the Nuggets beat the Lakers.

Kings 96, Hornets 80

In Sacramento, Tyreke Evans had 27 points and Marcus Thornton scored 25 for the Kings in a victory over New Orleans.

Clippers 93, Trail Blazers 88

In Los Angeles, Blake Griffin had his second straight double-double, Caron Butler scored 19 points and the Clippers opened the new year with a victory over Portland to snap a two-game skid.

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Huff the magic dragon blows away Cards with 3 HRs

ST. LOUIS — Aubrey Huff hit three home runs and matched his career best with six RBIs and the San Francisco Giants hammered a pair of rookie pitchers making their major league debuts in a 12-7 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night.

Three of a kind: San Francisco's Aubrey Huff launches a two-run homer in the ninth inning against St. Louis on Thursday night. The Giants beat the Cardinals 12-7. AP PHOTO

Huff, who entered the game batting .219, hit two-run homers in the fourth and ninth and a solo shot in the seventh. He also had an RBI single in the sixth. Huff raised his average 14 points.

Huff has four homers and seven RBIs the last two games after totaling four RBIs the previous 16 games.

Freddy Sanchez added a homer and four RBIs to help San Francisco set a season high for runs.

"When Huffie gets going, he can carry the team. He did it last year," said Sanchez. "He's getting that confidence back and his swing is back.

"I don't think it's any coincidence that he's getting it going and we're getting going."

Triple-A callup Lance Lynn needed 56 pitches to get through five innings working on three days' rest, but retired only one of four hitters to start the Giants' three-run sixth. Double-A reinforcement Mikail Cleto hit 158 kph several times on the stadium radar in the seventh but walked the first two hitters and surrendered consecutive homers to Sanchez and Huff in a five-run inning that made it 10-3.

Jonathan Sanchez (4-3) allowed three runs in 5? innings, surviving a season-high six walks.

Mets 9, Pirates 8

In New York, Carlos Beltran's three-run homer started the Mets' rally from a seven-run deficit and New York pulled off its biggest comeback win in 11 years, beating Pittsburgh.

Nationals 6, Diamondbacks 1

In Phoenix, Jordan Zimmermann pitched seven impressive innings and Wilson Ramos drove in three runs, lifting Washington past Arizona.

Astros 7, Padres 4

In San Diego, Chris Johnson homered and Houston used a five-run third inning to beat the sloppy Padres in a matchup of the NL's two worst teams.

The Astros (23-34), last in the NL Central, have won the first four games of a seven-game trip, their longest winning streak of the season. San Diego (24-33), last in the NL West, dropped to 9-21 at home, worst in the NL. They came in hitting a major league-worst .199 at home.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Mariners 8, Rays 2

In Seattle, rookie Carlos Peguero hit two of the Mariners' season-high four home runs, all off James Shields, and Mariners ace Felix Hernandez cruised through seven innings.

Peguero hit a three-run homer in a five-run second inning, and had a solo shot in the fourth.

With eight runs, Hernandez (6-4) must have felt as if he got a month worth of run support. The AL Cy Young champ struck out 11 — his third time this season with 10 or more — and gave up five hits.

Seattle leadoff hitter Ichiro Suzuki was 0-for-5.

Rangers 7, Indians 4

In Cleveland, Endy Chavez had his ninth career four-hit game and the Rangers overcame a three-run deficit to beat the Indians.

Twins 8, Royals 2

In Kansas City, Michael Cuddyer drove in two runs, Anthony Swarzak pitched six effective innings and Minnesota beat the Royals to snap a four-game losing streak.

Denard Span, Matt Tolbert and Rene Rivera had RBI singles and Cuddyer hit a run-scoring double for the Twins.

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