McGrady Close to Joining Heat

It appears Toronto forward Tracy McGrady is headed to Florida, but he won’t be playing alongside Grant Hill as a member of the Orlando Magic.

McGrady, who has been pursued by the Magic, told the Orlando Sentinel Tuesday night that he wants to play for Miami and will inform the Heat of his decision as early as today.

“It’ll end the suspense,” he said.

Magic General Manager John Gabriel confirmed that the Heat is pursuing McGrady in a sign-and-trade deal. The trade would send point guard Anthony Carter and power forward P.J. Brown to Toronto. The deal has not been completed because of salary-cap concerns, but it’s nearing completion, NBA sources told the Sentinel.

The Magic already lost out on Tim Duncan, the biggest prize in this year’s free-agent pool. Duncan made it official on Tuesday, announcing that he will re-sign with the San Antonio Spurs.

“Orlando had a lot to offer,” Duncan said. “When it came down to it, I just like what I had here.”

In other news, Spur forward Sean Elliott, 32, said that in light of Duncan’s announcement he is leaning toward returning for at least one more season.

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Former Duke player and current Clipper Corey Maggette acknowledged he took cash payments from a summer league coach while he was a high school student.

The sworn statement, announced by Duke officials, was sent to the U.S. Attorney in Kansas City, Mo., and the NCAA, which could order Duke to vacate its runner-up finish in the 1999 NCAA tournament for using an ineligible player.

Maggette, an all-state selection at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Ill., previously denied accepting money from Myron Piggie, his summer league coach for a Kansas City-based team.

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NBA referee Ken Mauer was indicted on federal tax evasion charges, becoming the latest league official charged in an airline ticket scam.