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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - The Orlando Magic extended the contracts of second-year players Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson through the 2007-08 season.
The franchise is building around Howard, who is averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds this season and has started all but one game since joining the NBA. The 20-year-old also averaged a double-double his rookie year, joining Emeka Okafor as the first rookies to accomplish that feat since 1992-93.
Nelson, picked 20th overall in the 2004 draft by Denver and dealt the same night to Orlando, is averaging nearly 11 points and four assists in 23 minutes per game. He excelled at times while Steve Francis struggled before being dealt to New York, and is shooting a team-best 42 percent from 3-point range.
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