Where's Orlando Magic point guard Jason Williams?

The Magic have so many point guards that it's sometimes hard to know when one is missing. Just like nobody could really tell if an Osmond had gone AWOL.

They have four point guards at last count, although one has been strangely absent as of late.

For the fifth consecutive game, Jason Williams and his tattoos were not with the team for Wednesday night's encounter against the Philadelphia 76ers for "personal reasons."

Closer to the real story:

He might return to the team and he might not, depending perhaps on whether the Magic can trade Chris Duhon, leaving J-Will as the third point guard.

The club has been saying that J-Will is dealing with a personal matter, not a personnel matter, but I didn't get that impression from Magic CEO Bob Vander Weide.

I asked Vander Weide at halftime as he hurried to his seat whether Williams would be back this season, and he said, "It's in discussion."

It was a curious answer if indeed Williams has had pressing personal reasons.

Vander Weide said that Williams could be promoted from fourth point guard to No. 3 "if we make a move" involving Duhon, who isn't playing either, but has more marketability than the 35-year-old J-Will.

We hope that all is well in the Williams house if there is a crisis. But it gives you pause when J-Will shows up in Gainesville to take in a Florida Gators game last weekend when the Magic were playing that night in Minneapolis against the Timberwolves.

But clearly, Williams has not been happy with his current role, which is no role.

His teammates will confirm that, not surprisingly.

It's as if he's on paid leave.