Sentinnel: McGrady SLAMS Wiesbrod http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...n30,1,2058198.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines Done deal The 7-player trade with Houston is final. Tracy McGrady didn't want to leave here. By Brian Schmitz Sentinel Staff Writer June 30, 2004 Tracy McGrady still would rather play for the Orlando Magic than the Houston Rockets, but he says the Magic made no genuine effort to keep him and "kind of wanted me out." McGrady was traded to Houston on Tuesday, completing a much-anticipated multi-player trade that delivered Rockets star Steve Francis to the Magic. "I just felt they kind of wanted me out," McGrady told the Sentinel from his home in south Orlando. "That's how I felt." McGrady said he told the club after a 21-61 season that it would be best for him to move on. But he also said it was "shocking" when the Magic stopped communicating with him and made little or no attempt to persuade him to stay. McGrady had made it clear that he wanted to be a part of a playoff team, not a rebuilding project, and said he didn't believe the Magic's No. 1 draft pick could provide help immediately. T-Mac first told the Sentinel last month that if he were traded, the Rockets appealed to him most because they had 7-foot-6 center Yao Ming. Magic General Manager John Weisbrod declined to comment, but he previously had said that the club did not want to lose its superstar. But McGrady was preparing to enter the option year of his contract, and the team did not want him to leave after next season without getting some compensation for him if he decided not to stay. "As far as keeping me . . . if they had done some things, I'd be here. I don't want to leave," said McGrady, traces of bitterness seeping into his voice. "I'd be crazy to leave home. This is where my family is. "What would you do if you were a GM and your star -- a great guy who's never been in trouble -- came to you and said he wanted out? Not call him? Not talk to him? "Why not call him and wish him 'Happy Birthday'? Why not ask him about offseason acquisitions? Why not tell him how Grant Hill is doing, if he'll be ready? They obviously decided to move on." A two-time scoring champ, McGrady, who turned 25 on May 24, will travel to Houston today for a news conference. Francis arrived in Orlando late Tuesday afternoon to meet with Weisbrod and other team officials. Along with McGrady, the Magic will ship forward Juwan Howard and point guards Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines to the Rockets. The Magic will receive Francis, center Kelvin Cato and guard Cuttino Mobley. McGrady and Francis were the principal figures in a long-talked-about deal that hit a snag when Francis initially balked at coming to the Magic. But Weisbrod apparently sold Francis on his rebuilding vision, and Francis told reporters in Houston that he was "cool" with the trade. Francis is expected to fill one of the Magic's biggest needs at point guard. A five-year veteran, he averaged 20.1 points and 6.4 assists for his career until tailing off last season. He averaged 16.6 points and shot just 40 percent and led the league in technical fouls in the season that just ended. Mobley, a six-year veteran, could assume McGrady's spot at shooting guard. He averaged 15.8 points last season, down from 17.5 the previous season. Cato, 6 feet 11 and 275 pounds, might open as the Magic's center. He averaged 6.1 points and 6.8 rebounds. But sources say Mobley and Cato could be packaged into other trades by the Magic later this summer. The Magic lose one of the league's most dynamic and popular players in McGrady, who they signed in the summer of 2000, along with Grant Hill. McGrady blossomed in Orlando and won his second consective scoring title last season, averaging 28 points a game. He scored a career-high and franchise-record 62 points against the Washington Wizards on March 10 at TD Waterhouse in one of his final appearances with the Magic. McGrady grew up in nearby Auburndale and was delighted to play in Orlando. He said he'll miss the fans tremendously, adding, "I don't want to leave Orlando. This is home. I established my stardom here. I wouldn't change anything about coming to Orlando. "Change is good. It's time for me to start new. I definitely won't forget how the fans embraced me. I appreciate the love I got. Hopefully, they can understand why this deal was done." McGrady was placed on the injured list March 31 with a sore knee two weeks after his record-setting game, missing the final seven games. McGrady experienced his most tumultuous and frustrating season in his eighth year as a pro. The Magic lost a club-record 19 consecutive games after winning their opener. The burden of carrying the load without Hill started to wear down McGrady mentally and emotionally, and he received uncharacteristic criticism. He also shot a career-worst 41 percent. "It wore me down, mentally. I hear people say, 'Stop complaining, stop whining,' but it's a lot to shoulder. You can only take so much of something. . . losing 19 games. And I had stuff off the court . . . deaths in my family," McGrady said. McGrady had helped the Magic reach the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, but they were knocked out in the first round each time, blowing a 3-1 series lead in 2003 to the Detroit Pistons. "It wasn't going in the direction I wanted for four years," he said. "I hear people say, 'T-Mac didn't do this, didn't do that.' "But it would have been nice to have Grant Hill by my side." McGrady said he was "crushed" to hear from various sources that the Magic have been critical of his work habits. "It crushed me. It straight crushed me. I keep hearing they say I had a bad work ethic and missed practices. But if that's true, how can I do the things I do on the court? It just doesn't come naturally. You have to work at it. That really hurt me. "It drives me. I've been working out like crazy, and people are going to see the T-Mac of a couple years ago, who averaged 32, next season. That guy's coming out. I've never been so hungry and motivated." McGrady admits he did not handle last season's failures well. He criticized his teammates and admits he wasn't the leader he should have been as captain of the team. "Oh, absolutely. I definitely apologize for some of the comments about my teammates," he said. "The whole year was just too much too handle." McGrady said he had some difficulties with Weisbrod, a no-nonsense hockey guy who took over as general manager in March. "I don't really know Weisbrod so it's tough for me to comment," he said. "I don't have a relationship with him. He's different, I'll say that. I don't agree with the way he handles things. But I wish the Magic the best. I read where he said I don't like him, but he has no reason to say that. "I'm not going to bash the organization," he said. "I appreciate Weisbrod with having the patience to get me to a place I'd be happy. "It would have been special to win here. It didn't work out. I wish them the best again. I think it's a good trade for both teams. I've always stressed playing with a big guy like Yao Ming. I'm definitely excited going to Houston. "I need some cowboy boots and some spurs."
Man, I LOVE the being motivated part. Plus, shows respect to his teammates by saying last year was tough and he said some things he shouldn't have.
T-Mac has a much better overall attidue than I thought he did. Maybe it was the press but I've always thought of him as cocky and undetermined(o well sp) but based on these comments it is easy to see that he is commited to winning.
I'm glad he's here. This will do wonders for the entire squad. What will be interesting is watching the other West teams scrambling to counter this Rox move. Detroit may be champs but the West is so much more powerful, so much deeper than the East. Even with this best pairing in the world the Rox are not a play off lock. Fill in the holes CD & Co.
Just the thought of a "motivated" and "hungry" TMac running on the Rockets gives me chills alll up and down my spine..... Is it October yet??
After this week, I vote for an official ban on all Florida newspapers. I don't think it is possible for their to be more unprofessional reporting. It's like reading a college campus daily. They have single handedly caused to aggregate life span of board members to drop 3 years. Just so No to the Big O (Sentinel)!
Over the past couple weeks, I've dug up interviews with the guy and listened to clips of him. Truthfully, it sounds like his "attitude problems" were as much about the situations he found himself in as they were about him, personally. And, frankly, how can we expect a 20 or 21 year old to be that mature anyway. Now, 25 and in the league for SEVEN seasons, he sounds much more relaxed, comfortable and, dare I say it, mature. He strikes me as a guy who has had the personal glory and now is looking for a ring. Everything I've read about him and every interview I heard leads me to believe he struggles as an off-the-court team leader but has no problem taking a game on his shoulders. He also seems like a very level-headed and pretty honest kid. Very straightforward which should serve him well with JVG. Should be an interesting year.
I have also been wondering how guy who has been described as a lazy slacker became one of the best players in the world. Guess it was just luck.
Just one more week, and I'll never post another article from a Florida paper. http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/sportstoryS0630MAINBAR.htm Houston, we have a deal McGrady: Weisbrod forced me out; Francis excited to play for Orlando BY JOHN DENTON FLORIDA TODAY ORLANDO -- Tracy McGrady's family was asking him to stay in Orlando and there was his new mansion under construction also to consider, but he just couldn't bring himself to stay in an organization where he thought he wasn't wanted. McGrady's personality differences with new Orlando Magic general manager John Weisbrod led to his asking to leave, and that wish was granted Tuesday when the blockbuster seven-player trade between the Magic and Houston Rockets finally came to fruition. The Magic sent McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines to the Rockets in exchange for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato in a deal that has been in the works for more than a week. Undoubtedly, McGrady is the centerpiece in the trade. He has led the NBA in scoring the past two seasons, averaging 32.1 points in 2003 and 28 points last season. He could have opted out of his seven-year, $93 million contract after next season and the Magic were fearful of losing the four-time All-Star without getting any compensation. Such was the case when franchise center Shaquille O'Neal left the Magic in 1996 for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Magic suffered through a disastrous 21-61 season last year and much of the blame was put on McGrady, who was named team captain just prior to training camp opening. He tired of the Magic's inability to add significant pieces around him and grew frustrated with the franchise's inability to win a playoff series. Also, McGrady clashed regularly with Weisbrod, who took over as general manager in March, and ultimately he felt he was no longer wanted. "I felt (Weisbrod) definitely wanted me out of here," McGrady told FLORIDA TODAY on Tuesday. "I kind of had my mind made up (to leave) when the season ended and I sort of felt like they wanted me to leave anyway. "But if you're the GM and your star player is thinking about leaving you do everything from calling to visiting his house or even asking him to wait because you think Grant Hill is finally healthy. But none of that ever happened. I felt like they could care less if I stayed." Weisbrod was entertaining Francis and Cato on Tuesday night -- Mobley will arrive in Orlando today -- and refused to respond to McGrady's comments. The Magic have insisted for weeks that McGrady had informed them that he wanted out months ago and that he reiterated those thoughts when he met with Magic owner Rich DeVos two weeks ago. Weisbrod said he will discuss the matter today when the Magic introduce their three new players at a morning news conference. No place like home McGrady grew up in tiny Auburndale, 40 miles southwest of Orlando, and considered playing for the Magic the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. He signed with the Magic in the summer of 2000 along with Hill and boldly talked of winning a championship in Orlando. But Hill played just 47 games the past four seasons because of a troublesome fracture in his left ankle and the Magic lost each of their three playoff series during McGrady's tenure in Orlando. He admitted that it was difficult leaving the place he called home. McGrady regularly had a block of friends and family in the stands for games, and because he played in Orlando he could regularly make trips back to his hometown. "I didn't want to leave, man, because this is home to me," McGrady said. "I really thought this would be the final destination of my career. My family didn't want me to leave and I didn't want to leave, but what really hurt me was the shots Magic management had been taking at me lately. That really crushed me, man." McGrady said last week that his dream would be going to Dallas and teaming with close friend O'Neal, his summer-time neighbor and the person he refers to as "my big brother." But he admitted that the lure of playing alongside of 7-foot-6 center Yao Ming and for head coach Jeff Van Gundy in Houston was equally appealing. He feels he and Yao can be the equivalent of Kobe Bryant and O'Neal, the Los Angeles Lakers' duo that has won three championships. "Sitting back and seeing Kobe and how much freedom he has because of Shaq, that's really what I need to win a championship," said McGrady, who scored 62 points in March against Washington, the highest individual total in the NBA in 10 seasons. "They have a great coach in Jeff Van Gundy and they are going to do the things there to put the right pieces around me and Yao so we can win a championship." The Francis factor In Francis, the Magic are getting one of the game's most dynamic point guards. He makes up for his relative lack of size with a vertical leap measured at nearly 40 inches. And his dribbling skills are among the best in the NBA, allowing him to get past almost any defender. But Francis is coming to the Magic following statistically his worst season in five years in the NBA. He averaged 16.6 points, a team-high 6.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds a game, but shot just 40 percent from the floor and 29 percent from 3-point range. He feuded regularly with Van Gundy over his tendency to gamble when running the fastbreak rather than simply taking the safe play. He also came under Van Gundy's ire when he skipped a team flight the same weekend that the Super Bowl was being played in Houston. But in Francis, Weisbrod sees a fighter who can be the leader the Magic sorely lacked last season. Weisbrod, a former NHL player, admitted Monday that he was intrigued by Francis the moment he saw him hit a taunting Amare Stoudemire in the chin with an elbow earlier this season. The Rockets made the playoffs for the first time in Francis' five years this season, but were eliminated by the Lakers. He initially balked at the thought of leaving the blossoming Rockets, feeling that he could eventually win big playing alongside of Yao. But that stance softened following a 20-minute phone conversation following last Thursday's NBA Draft. Not only is he happy about coming to Orlando, said agent Jeff Fried, but Francis feels he will be the centerpiece to the Magic's turnaround next season. "It is our understanding that the Magic want Steve to be their starting point guard come opening night next season," Fried said recently. More dealing? The same might not be said for Mobley and Cato. Mobley and Francis have played together the past four seasons to varying degrees of success. Meanwhile, Cato is due $7.9 million next season and $8.6 million in 2005-06. Having already selected power forward Dwight Howard with the top pick in the draft and promised him playing time, the Magic could be poised now to trade Drew Gooden. Orlando could piece together a package of Gooden and Mobley or Cato and get another swingman to replace McGrady. Howard, Lue and Gaines spent just one season in Orlando. All three were offseason additions that were supposed to help the Magic win a playoff series for the first time since 1996. But Howard failed to mesh with Gooden, and while he was steady, he wasn't spectacular. Lue replaced fan favorite Darrell Armstrong, but his defense was a disappointment. And Gaines played sparingly after the Magic used the No. 15 pick in the draft on him. "Reece will be looking at this as a fresh start," said agent Andy Miller, who represents both Gaines and Lue. "It's a win-win situation in that regard for everybody."
Missed practices. We do have JVG as our coach, you know. If T-Mac misses practice, this site is going to be down for days.
