Miller Part of Grizzly, Magic Deal

Orlando and Memphis pulled off the first big trade before today’s NBA deadline, agreeing to a four-player deal that sent forwards 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 using Miller as its second option, but the chronic ankle injury that sidelined Grant Hill forced Miller, 23, into that role.

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

Gooden, a 21-year-old forward who was the fourth overall selection in last year’s draft, was averaging 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Grizzlies.

Giricek, a 25-year-old swingman from Croatia, averaged 11.2 points for Memphis. Humphrey, 23, a rookie from Notre Dame, averaged 1.8 points.

“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.

Meanwhile, Hill, the Magic forward, is planning a fourth operation on his left ankle that would require three weeks of rehabilitation, Florida Today reported. Hill was placed on the injured list Jan. 18. Orlando has no timetable for his return.

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Sacramento King forward Chris Webber will still face trial in July despite the death of a Michigan booster who was to have been a star witness for federal authorities, U.S. attorney’s office spokeswoman Gina Balaya said in Detroit.

Former Michigan booster Ed Martin admitted he gave $616,000 to Webber and other former Wolverine basketball players while they were in high school and college.

Martin, who died Friday at 69, said the money came from an illegal lottery.

Martin was allowed to plead guilty to reduced charges in exchange for leniency and agreeing to help prosecutors. He said he gave $280,000 to Webber. Webber, 29, has denied taking anything of significant value from Martin.

Webber, his father, Mayce, and aunt Charlene Johnson, 50, were indicted in September on charges of obstruction of justice and lying to a federal grand jury in Detroit in 2000.

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Forward Dirk Nowitzki sprained his right ankle during practice and could miss the Dallas Mavericks’ game tonight against the San Antonio Spurs. The Mavericks said Nowitzki would be a game-time decision. He missed the Dec. 12 game in San Antonio that the Spurs won, 111-104, because of a sprain of the same ankle.... The Philadelphia 76ers placed center Todd MacCullough on the injured list because of a condition affecting the nerves in his feet. MacCullough has missed the 76ers’ last seven games and played in only five games since Jan. 15. Forward Monty Williams was activated.... Zang Auerbach, brother of famed Boston Celtic coach Red Auerbach and an artist who designed the team’s logo, died of heart ailments Feb. 13 in the Washington area. He was 81.