ESP - Orlando Magic target Unicaja point guard Carlos Cabezas

MADRID (ACB) - The Orlando Magic want to sign Spanish international playmaker Carlos Cabezas, the player’s agent has confirmed.

Cabezas, 26, a valuable reserve in Spain’s gold-medal winning side at last year’s FIBA World Championship, is the floor general for ACB giants Unicaja Malaga.

"It's true that the Orlando Magic are interested in Carlos Cabezas," Cabezas’ agent Gorka Arrinda said to PA Sport.

"We are right now looking at numbers to see if that move is feasible before we sit down and begin negotiations.

“Like many Spain internationals, Cabezas has a big buy-out clause. In his case, it is 1.7million euros (2,316,000 US dollars).”

Cabezas worked alongside Jorge Garbajosa and Walter Herrmann two years ago in leading Unicaja to the Spanish ACB crown.

After that success, Garbajosa signed with the Toronto Raptors and Herrmann joined the Charlotte Bobcats and both had successful rookie campaigns.

This year, Cabezas was instrumental in leading Unicaja to the Euroleague Final Four in early May for the first time in team history.

While in Athens, he suffered an eye injury while driving to the basket in their semi-final against CSKA Moscow and needed an operation with doctors were worried about possible lasting damage to a tear duct.

He missed several games but returned to the court before the end of the season and has fully recovered.

"Orlando are the only NBA team to have shown an interest in Cabezas,” the agent said. “We have not received an official offer yet from them, but they are hoping that the player will join them this coming season."

Orlando drafted Fran Vazquez of Spain 11th overall in the 2005 draft but the big center shocked the team by choosing to remain in Spain.

Cabezas, who was born in Malaga, has always played for the club.

He has been included in Pepu Hernandez's team for the EuroBasket which Spain will host later this year.

Cindy Garcia-Bennett
FIBA