ORLANDO, Fla. -- Patrick Ewing and the Orlando Magic are parting ways after one season.

	Ewing

The 40-year-old center and the team agreed he won't return next season, general manager John Gabriel said Thursday. There was one year left on Ewing's contract, reportedly worth a little more than $2 million.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Ewing made $2.11 million last season with the Magic, and was scheduled to make $2.33 million this season. The newspaper reports his buyout is worth an estimated $1.5 million. Only the buyout figure is used when the team salary is calculated to determine whether the Magic must pay a luxury tax at the end of the season.

Ewing, an 11-time All-Star, hasn't decided whether to retire, the Magic said.

In 17 NBA seasons, Ewing has averaged 21 points and 9.8 rebounds for New York, Seattle and Orlando. In 1997, he was selected one of the NBA's 50 greatest players.

Ewing's brief stay in Orlando was his least productive NBA season. He averaged six points and four rebounds in 13.9 minutes -- all career lows.

After the All-Star break, he played barely 10 minutes a game and for the first time in his career was listed as a Did Not Play-Coach's Decision on a box score.

A message left at the office of Ewing's agent, David Falk, was not immediately returned Thursday.

Ewing is recovering from offseason surgery on an index finger.

''I told him if he wants me to get him a job when training camp starts in October I need more than a couple of days' notice,'' Falk told Newsday. ''I think he's got to decide physically what his body can do.''

Magic coach Doc Rivers praised Ewing has one of the league's best basketball players.

''In my eyes, Patrick Ewing is a champion, a legend, one of the all-time greats,'' Rivers said. ''His work ethic throughout his career has been unmatched. He has a warrior mentality and is always so intense and so focused.

''I hope more people get to know the real Patrick Ewing -- the great leader, loyal teammate, good guy. Perhaps, as he moves on the next step, they will get to know him like I've had the privilege of knowing him.''

Judging by the Magic's offseason moves, it was obvious the team had little interest in Ewing's return.

Orlando selected two centers, Rashard Griffith and Mario Kasun, in the second round of the draft in June and signed free agent forward/center Olumide Oyedeji a month later.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.