TORONTO -- Old Hall of Fame centers don't die off. They go to the Eastern Conference.

	Hakeem and new teammate Vince Carter hope to have the last laugh this season.

Where Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon will either continue to fade away, or enjoy a rejuvenation in their new homes.

In Olajuwon's case, home is now Toronto. In Ewing's case, he's settled down in Orlando.

"It's strange not being in a Rockets' uniform," said Olajuwon, who finished 17 seasons in Houston as the Rockets' greatest player ever. "But I am here to try to help this team win. I feel great, the best I've felt in years. I am confident, no matter what people say about what I can do. And we have the talent and the commitment, I believe."

If Olajuwon can give them quality minutes in the middle, the Raptors will also have a genuine center for the first time in their history for a run at the Eastern title. But just as Olajuwon hasn't played a full season -- excluding the 50-game lockout season -- since 1997, there are questions concerning what Ewing can give the Magic on a game-in, game-out basis.

Since the lockout season of '99, the former Knick hasn't exactly used the off-season to get into prime condition. So before he can provide Doc Rivers with seven or eight defensive rebounds a night, something the Magic desperately need, Ewing has to run off another off-season gut. Slowed by leg problems, he might start the season on the injury list.

"The difference between Patrick and me is that he's had serious injuries and I've never had those," Olajuwon said. "My problems have been cosmetic."

Olajuwon points to the number of ice bags he has to wear after practices or games. Only two on his knees. Ewing, meanwhile, has ice running up and down his body to deal with old wrist and Achilles injuries. Not to mention two sore knees.

	“	I am here to try to help this team win. I feel great, the best I've felt in years. I am confident, no matter what people say about what I can do. And we have the talent and the commitment, I believe. ”
		— Hakeem

The only question is whether Ewing is out in the middle of the Orlando court, ready to shake Olajuwon's hand, when the Magic host the Raptors in the season opener on Tuesday. Olajuwon plans on being there, much to the pleasure of his new teammates. Antonio Davis can go back to his power forward spot and let Olajuwon bang bodies with Dikembe Mutombo or Alonzo Mourning.

"People keep saying that the West has all the big men," Olajuwon said. "But it's really only Shaq out there. There's no one else. Here, I will be playing more big men."

Which is just fine with the Raptors, who will try to improve on last year's franchise-best playoff run, when they got to a Game 7 of the conference semis vs. the Sixers.

"We're going to be better with Antonio playing his normal spot," said Vince Carter. "He's done a great job for us in the middle over the last few seasons, but this makes us a better team with the Dream back there. Everyone knows what he can do. Blocking shots. Protecting the basket. And here's a guy who's won."

The Raptors never have had a player who can show off championship jewelry, let alone a two-time MVP in the Finals.

"That speaks volumes," said Davis, who spurned the Magic to stay with the Raptors. "I mean, the guy has gone up against Shaq in the Finals. He's been the best player at his position. He's one of the all-time greats. He's perfect for this team."

	“	Patrick understands that this is Tracy and Grant's basketball team. He's not trying to get in the way. He's doing a great job there. Defensively, we just need a presence down low. One thing we need Patrick to do is rebound. He's going to struggle when he goes up against quicker fives who have scoring ability. ”
		— Doc Rivers

The Raptors are so convinced of it, they gave the 38-year old Olajuwon a three-year deal worth around $18 million. That caused a few media eyebrows in this city to raise, especially in light of the Dream's last two seasons, when he missed 76 games combined and didn't come close to averaging a double double.

"To have a guy who's won it all and who can teach you what to do to get to where he's been, that's big," Carter said.

As long, of course, that Olajuwon can stay out of the trainers' room. But the same goes for Ewing, who turned 39 last August and arrived in Orlando with another old timer, Horace Grant, when Davis decided to stay in Canada.

Ewing's only season in Seattle was a downer, with the Sonics missing the playoffs and Ewing showing a lot of age in his most ineffective season as a pro. He played 79 games, averaging 10 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Sonics. But his falloff and the lack of interest the rest of the league had in him resulted in him taking a $12 million paycut. Once always among the league's best-paid players, he'll have to get by on $2.5 million this season.

His job is to give the Magic a defensive presence and keep foes off the glass glass while letting Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill lead the team. The Magic were outrebounded 50 times last season and were only 20-32 in those games.

"One thing I'll give Patrick great credit for thus far, he understands where he's at in his career," Rivers said. "That's something you heard that he didn't. He understands that this is Tracy and Grant's basketball team. He's not trying to get in the way. He's doing a great job there. Defensively, we just need a presence down low. One thing we need Patrick to do is rebound. He's going to struggle when he goes up against quicker fives who have scoring ability. Fortunately, we're playing in an era right now when there's not a ton of those, so there's not a huge concern."

It is a different era now. Just ask Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing, before they fade away for good.

Mitch Lawrence, who covers the NBA for the New York Daily News, writes a regular NBA column for ESPN.com.