John Gabriel:
“Last night was a good night for the Orlando Magic. It started with Ryan and the acquisition of Rashard as well as the addition of Mario Kasun. Our two seven-footers joined us late in the second round. It was an important night for this franchise in addressing our team needs. We also wanted to address them in a way that not only helped the team address its needs—in this case getting bigger—but also finding players that were ready to play right away. Guys that could step right on the floor. Guys that Doc could look down to the bench to substitute into the game very quickly and we think we’ve achieved that goal."

"It did start with Ryan Humphrey’s selection in the first round with our first round pick. His story is really a fantastic one, as we look at players that we’ve drafted over time. His time at Notre Dame and his numbers there, stats, were absolutely unbelievable. The things that he did for that team, they translate very well over to our ball club. He punctuated that run his last year at Notre Dame with an incredible workout for us here at the RDV Sportsplex. His workout and his energy, enthusiasm reminded us a lot of one of our own players in Armstrong—much of what I saw in Darrell Armstrong the first time that I saw him play. He then went on to show us many of his skills. Which included his ability to rebound and block shots. And then went on to punctuate both of those things with a fantastic job in the Chicago pre-draft camp, where he was one of the better players there. We are very excited about what he has done."

Ryan Humphrey:
“First I’d like to say ‘thanks’. I want to thank my parents for coming down with me too. Orlando is a great place to be. They’ve got great players. I want to come in try to fit in. I’m going play hard. That’s one thing you’re gonna see every time you see me is a smile and someone’s who’s out there playing hard.”

Rashard Griffith:
“I would like to thank the Orlando Magic general manager’s staff the coaching staff for this opportunity first of all to be here. I would like to thank my agent for making the trip with me. I feel like Ryan. When you see me I’m going to go out there and give it 110% if not more—tough, physical play and whatever the coach or whatever my team needs for us to get the victory. I’m all about winning. That’s my main objective here. I look forward to the challenge.”

Doc Rivers:
“Well, obviously, I look to my right and I see two guys that are bigger than what I’ve seen lately. And that’s a really nice feeling for me. I love guys who love to play. I love guys who like to win. And I think we have both of those things in these two guys so I’m very excited. Same thing about Mario. I just think we really had a nice night last night. And now we have to turn that into something. I think we’ll find out more as the time comes. We’ll have summer leagues and we’ll have training camp. Once that gets on we’ll know more. But again, I just really like who we have. I like the toughness. I like the thought that if there is a ball up over the glass, up over the rim you have guys who will want to go get it and be physical about getting it. When you look at these two guys, you guys are nice looking guys, but when I drive to the basket I would think about it now and that’s another thing we wanted in here. Again, just very happy and can’t wait to get to work with them."

(to Ryan) When the Magic selected Borchardt did you think your chances of coming here were over?
"Yes, I did. I had a good feeling about Orlando. I prayed that I would come here. When they selected Borchardt I sat down in my seat, but then with the next pick I was picked and then I was jumping up and down. Then my agent Mark Bartelstein called me later on in the night and said that I had been traded to Orlando and when he said that a big smile came across my face."

(to Ryan) Did you have a good feeling of where you would go in the draft?
"I kind of knew that I’d go from 19 to 28, somewhere in there. I knew Orlando liked me a lot, Utah they were very interested, Detroit, New Jersey, San Antonio and L.A., those were the teams that I knew had a lot of interest in me. I’m happy that I came to Orlando. I feel like I can come in, help and try to bring some energy."

(Ryan) Comments about having to prove himself:
"Every time I step on the floor I play with a little chip on my shoulder because I know it’s a business and it’s a job. Guys are playing for their livelihood now. It’s not college where you can say ‘I can take this game off’ or ‘I don’t have to bring my A game.’ Now every time I step on the floor I have to bring my A game because I’m playing against All-Stars night in and night out."

(to Ryan) Are you ready for the challenge of possibly starting?
"I love challenges. I’m one of the type of guys where it feels good to prove people wrong. I love when people say, ‘He’s too small, he can’t do that.’ I’ve heard it all my life. This is another challenge for me, and I love challenges."

(to Rashard) Talk about your experience over in Europe and coming to the NBA:
"I think my first two years over in Europe were more of a learning experience. My third year up until this year, I’ve won a championship. It developed me into a winner. I was a winner in high school, I didn’t win a championship in college, I only played two years at Wisconsin and I would say ’97 on to 2002 I won championships. I think total, I won 17. My experience in Europe was a great one in terms of helping me develop as a person and as a player. It got me into the attitude where I wanted to win. I accomplished the great goal that I set for myself and that was to win the European Championship. I won that last year, and finished second this year. Winning’s followed me wherever I’ve been. I love challenges cause I think life’s a challenge. I love to play the game of basketball, and what better stage than to play in the NBA and on one of the better teams in the NBA."

(to Rashard) Has playing in the NBA remained a goal of yours, despite your success overseas?
“When I was growing up, watching older guys like Doc and Terry Cummings, players like that from Chicago [Doc laughs]… hey it’s true, you can’t help but to be inspired by watching these guys and you say ‘One day I want to be there.’ It’s that opportunity to step on the NBA hardwood floor and be like ‘I’m here.’ That’s always been a dream of mine regardless, from day one when I went over to Europe."

(to Rashard) Were you surprised to hear that you were traded on Draft Night?
"I think I accomplished everything I could over in Europe. My goal was to come and try and play in the NBA, that’s a dream of mine. It was kind of funny cause I didn’t get the phone call till the middle of the night saying I was traded to the Orlando Magic from the Milwaukee Bucks and that we were going to Orlando. I thought my agent was playing with me at first but it came out to be true. I think this is a great situation. My dream is to play in the NBA. Last night, I didn’t know what was going to happen, but it unfolded out into me in this situation."

(to Rashard) When did you decide that you had enough of Europe and were ready to go to the NBA?
"It’s hard to leave when you’re winning. I just thought the time was right. I’m older, I’m mature as a player and as a person. I just felt like something told me ‘It’s time for you to go and at least give it your best and see what can happen.’ Last night I got traded to the Orlando Magic and I’ve been dreaming and praying that the day would come, I just wanted the opportunity to be able to play. I have that opportunity and I’m going to take full advantage of it."

What are your impressions of the Magic organization?
(Ryan) "They’re a team on the rise. Just think of what they did last year, and some of their key guys are hurt. They’re a young team, I think he [points to Rashard] might be the eldest player coming in. It’s exciting because they got a great coach, great organization and they got guys who want to compete and play hard and do whatever it takes to win."

(Rashard): "I feel the same way. If you look at the job they did last year, it starts from coaching to the players...key injuries to key guys, still making the playoffs and having the chance to win. They went out there and competed, hustling, diving for loose balls, fighting and scrapping and I think that’s what you need to win because one of those loose balls that somebody might have dove for have been a game winning possession. It’s just a great organization. From what I’ve seen over the years, back to when Shaq and Penny were here to today, they’re a great organization."

(to Ryan) Do comparisons to Rodman and the like worry you in terms of adding pressure?
"I’m glad I’m being compared to somebody as long as they play in the NBA and do a good job. Those guys are great players. They’re undersized guys who make things happened when they’re on the floor and that’s what I’m trying to do. Guys who are small and they say, ‘Well, he’s not big enough to be a power forward, and he’s not quick enough to be a small forward’ but you best believe when they’re on the floor, no matter what position they’re playing, they’re going to make things happen."

(to Ryan) Anything people might be surprised to find out about you?
"How tough I am and how I throw my body around recklessly. I feel like football has helped my mentality, I played football all through high school. If I get knocked down, you’re have to keep knocking me down, I’m not just going to lay down on the ground and not get up and you’re like ‘Man, is this dude going to ever quit?’ and that’s just how I play."

(to Gabriel) Did you kind of squeeze the Jazz into making them think you were taking Borchardt in order to get that second round pick?
"You know we really didn’t. We were a little bit surprised. Actually John Weisbrod was the one who recommended that we at least give it a try and I sort of looked at him like I don’t think that’s going to work. We did like Borchardt though. It was documented, we brought him in twice and he was still on the board for us, as we looked at the possibility of players that could fill our needs but they agreed to it. It helped both of us in the long run. Going into the second round I think credit is do to Gary Brokaw as well our entire staff and our coaches. As I said before, they don’t take very many days off at all even when they should be in their offseason. Gary did a good job and actually brought to my attention of the many letters I sometimes get, there was a letter from Ken [Rashard’s agent] to me in mid-June just to remind me of the clients that he represents. Gary Brokaw himself made a special effort to make sure we were aware of all the players that were in the NBA that weren’t in the United States but teams in the league had their rights and Rashard was one of them."

(to Gabriel) How about Mario?
"Mario will be back in the country, I think Monday. He will be back and we will sit down and talk with him, and let these guys spend some time with Doc. We’ll look at, and discuss with his agent what his current status is. He wants to play and wants to stay in the United States and wants to play with the Magic, we’ll just have to work it out."

(to Ryan) What do you think about all the Notre Dame ties on the Magic?
"It’s going to be a little Notre Dame down here [Doc, a graduate from rival Marquette, laughs and says ‘Oh no!’ while shaking his head]. It makes it a family atmosphere with the Orlando Magic, but those guys, I think, we’ll have something special we all had the same walk going to the gym. I feel like those guys are going to help me along the way, especially through the rigors of the NBA season."

Doc to Ryan
"And they’ll also help him with the rookie fight song."