First of all if this has been posted forgive me. I did not want to post it in the sticky cuz things get cluttered and lost with so many posts in there. Anyway I was looking at the Chronicle today and Richard Justice thinks that T-Mac is staying pat. We've got time for only two more questions. Here's one from S. Francis of Houston: "Any truth to those Steve Francis for Tracy McGrady trade rumors?" Don't count on it. Orlando Magic general manager John Weisbrod seems really dumb, but it's unlikely that he is dumb enough to trade a two-time NBA scoring champion. Problem is, he clearly has boxed himself into a corner after saying McGrady would be dealt if he didn't agree to a contract extension. McGrady has declined and can be a free agent after next season. OK, Mr. Smarty-pants GM, it's your move. link: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/justice/2599905
Well I am all for trading SF for Tmac but lets look at it another way. Would you be willing to trade Cato and Cat for Hill and the #1 pick? You could use the #1 to get Emeka Okafor and then get the retirement cap relief from Hill once he retires.
Hell yeah. I think Hill can play 20mpg this season, while we should up Boki and Pike's minutes anyway. Once he comes off the cap, we'll be in great shape for the future. Also, Okafor would be EXCELLENT alongside Yao. He can do everything Cato did for us, and more. Yao/Okafor Okafor/MoT/Spoon Hill/JJ/Boki JJ/Pike/Francis Francis/SIGN SOMEONE FOR ONE YEAR If Hill opts out, and we let the TE expire, I believe we'll have capspace the following season? I'm guessing that team after Hill comes off the books is making something like... 42M? Cap should be above 45M after next season... I think it's ALREADY above that. So we'll have some caproom. Oh wait, JJ comes off the book too, so we're looking at something like 40M I believe, meaning we can sign someone for around 8M or more? With Yao and Okafor already in place? Great idea if T-Mac decides to stay. We know he'll only decide to stay if they trade the pick, and I know these are 2 players he'd love to play with, they can contribute immediately. Cato/Declerq Howard/Gooden T-Mac/Garritty/Bogans Mobley/T-Mac/Stevenson Lue/Gaines T-Mac can easily take those starters to the top of the East. That's a damn good idea.
1) Cato and Mobley would be one of the lower offers for Okafor. 2) Mobley has a player option for 2005-06 so the Magic could wind up with Cato for Okafor. 3) IMO, the addition of Cato and Mobley do not equate to TMac staying in ORL. 4) The Rockets' 2004-05 payroll without Cato and Mobley is $37.6m. Add Okafor's ~$5m and you have less than MLE $ once Okafor is signed. And you only have that space if Hill retires immediately. All indications are he wants to play. 5) The Rockets have $41.6m committed for 2005-06 without Mobley, Cato, Hill and Okafor . There is a general misconception that Grant Hill provides the Rockets some sort of cap relief. He does not as long Francis and Taylor are combining for just under half of the Rockets payroll. $19.8m on a $43m cap.
But you aren't considering that we're taking Hill off their hands. It's NOT just Cato and Cat for Okafor.
#1 picks don't make 5M in their first season do they? Isn't it closer to 3 or 4? Where will the salary cap be after next season (approximation)?
We haven't done them any favors. Subtract Hill and add Cato + Mobley and the Magic have $46m committed for 2004-005. The following season, the Magic have $41.9m committed if Mobley only takes his $6.4m POpt. That $41.9m is only for 6 players...TMac, Howard, Gooden, Gaines, Cato and Taylor. Again, there is an unfounded general mythical misconception that Grant Hill provides some cap relief which is not there when you actually look at the numbers. TMac and Howard are the Magics' equivalance to Francis and Taylor.
Sane - BTW, we are you arm wrestling with me over the numbers when you know that after a 21 win season, there'd be rioting and looting in Disneyland if Kelvin Cato and Cuttino Mobley were the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Wait, what does Taylor have to do with this? Is there a Taylor on the Magic or did you put MoT in there by mistake? Why would they want Mobley to opt out or why WOULD he? He would be a big piece on that team. Won't Gooden be off the cap after next season as well? Isn't that 4 years for him? Assuming the Magic make this trade, they can sign someone to the MLE every year, or a couple of players.They have draft picks. They have the minimum. They wouldn't be looking for capspace because they are trying NOT to rebuild - keep in mind T-Mac only stays if they DON'T rebuild. Shooting for capsapce would be rebuilding. In the initial deal, Orlando's roster gets bigger. They have a second rounder I believe. They have their MLE and they have their minimum. They also have all of that the following season, as well as a first rounder. Why are you assuming they stand pat? Looking at that team, if they are able to sign a solid PG or C, they are in Detroit/Indiana territory, except they have star power (T-Mac). Garritty comes back, Gaines plays a bit more. basically, their last season's team, plus Mobley, Cato and Garritty. They also have a 5M exception. I can easily seeing them going up to the top of the East, locked up for homecourt in the first round. As for us, even if it's just MLE money under the cap, we will be able to make a trade in which we take an extra 4 or 5M if we're that much under the cap right? Also, you can't assume that LES is as willing to sign someone to 5M while he's below the cap, as he is when he's over the cap. In such a situation, we would have, for example, probably kept James Posey.
LOL, I know what you mean, but I think that the prize for Orlando would be that T-Mac stays and signs an extension, and Mobley/Cato would be a big reason for that. Mobley can pour in 20 points on any night, and Cato can pull down 10 rebounds on any night. In an interview, he said he wants a scorer, a defender on the wing, a big man shotblocker/rebounder, and help at PG. If they sign a PG, they are giving him everything he wants.
Typo. The $'s are Mobley. What if Mobley thinks he's worth more than $6.4m and decides to test the FA waters? The Magic have effectively traded Okafor for Cato. The Magic can offer Mobley more than any other team, but (assuming he would stay) that cuts into the miniscule cap space I listed. I'm not going to repeat the numbers, but it is a misconception that Hill's expiring contract yields some outrageous cap relief to the Rox or Magic. It doesn't.
GATER, you are usually flawless about facts. But it's Disneyworld in Orlando. Disneyland is in LA. You didn't propose trading Cato and Cat to LA for Kobe, are you? Sorry, carry on.
Thanks, Easy. I've never been to or had the desire to go to either one. My Fantasyland tends to be a little more R-rated.
I see your point but if the deal was to go through then the Magic or effectively trading the #1 pick and a contract that they do not want at all for 2 servicable ( dare I say) quality veterans. Which is what Tmac wants to happen. I am not saying that Tmac wants Cato and Cat specifically but they do meet the basic criteria. We could also sweeten the pot by added anyone else needed...possibly the trade exception to allow the magic more room to manuver. Now I was only suggesting that Hill would retire and get a little cap relief( you can't get something for nothing and it is a bold move to take a chance on Hill). Lets say he actually can contribute a little over the long haul. Also we would be a very young team with good to great players in Yao, SF, & Okerfor
