maximize

He played in just 27 games since arriving as a second-round pick in 2006. The Magic had until today to either re-sign the 6-foot-10 Augustine to a guaranteed contract of about $800,000 or waive him.

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Magic General Manager Otis Smith said he would like Foyle to return and would speak to his agent, Lon Babby, in the next few days. "Adonal's a big body; he knows how to play," Smith said. "We'll see where it goes."

Smith said even the absence of Augustine's salary "gives us some flexibility; it's a little bit, but it's not a little bit when you're talking about the cap and getting close to the luxury tax. It's the flexibility it gives us. It's more about where we are salary-wise."

Copyright (c) 2008, The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.

Brian Schmitz can be reached at bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com.

Augustine's release was not a surprise, considering he seldom played and the club is looking to maximize its budget.

Jul. 30--The Orlando Magic will soon try to re-sign center Adonal Foyle, adding another big man after waiving little-used power forward James Augustine on Tuesday.

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Smith said he wants to add a third point guard and added the club could go with just 14 players. Most teams carry 15. "We tried to do that last year, go with 14, but then Tony [Battie] got hurt," Smith said of Battie, who missed the season.