Top 10? Try Top 5. There are only 5 real superstars. 3 players better than McGrady - Duncan, Shaq, and Garnett. McGrady and Kobe are on par.
Kobe has the luxury of better teammates which makes him better. When Shaq was out for a stretch 2 years ago, Kobe struggled big time to carry that team. Kobe does not make his teammates better. We'll see how McGrady plays once he gets some people around him.
BRANMAn You are wrong. The morning crew's John knew a lot about the Drew Henson deal before it went down. He long knew that drew would live the Yankees before it was made know to the public. He also knew, to some extent, of the deals in place for Drew. John confessed all of this on the Friday's (June 18) editions of the morning show following the Drew Henson interview. So it is not inconceivable that Sports Radio 610 or some other news outlet in Houston would get a heads up on what is going on. To be frank, I believe it will be even more surprising if TMac is not a Rocket by July 16th than if he is.
John, Lance, Rich and Charlie do know things. Actually, David Dalati probably knows more than all of them put together when it comes to insider stuff. But, the insinuation that they got some notice from the team in the broad-stroke manner (a fax?) is crazy. If they had, they would have investigated and reported. Period. They obviously keep things in confidence when they know not to reveal them - sources and all that - but, this is a bit different. Plus, each of them has specific kinds of contacts. John works with the Texans, so he tends to have Texan news. When he worked for the Stros, same thing. Palillo tends to be more in touch with the Rockets as is Lance. Lance knows a LOT about football because his dad is the offensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns I believe. But, they aren't getting rumors via fax or email that are credible.
All of these TM/NBA trade threads are getting confusing. How about one long super thread. TM will be traded to the team that TM wants to be traded to - period. So does TM want to play with JO, AS, or YM. That's what it boils down to. If there are rumors out there, it's only to get a better offer from the one team TM wants to play for.
TMac does have the ultimate say, something I've noted in other posts (admittedly, not my previous couple in this thread). What I'm trying to do is gauge how the deals work out for the Magic assuming McGrady is open on any of the squads. Obviously, if he says "Houston is it" or "Indy's all I'll play for," it changes the whole equation. No idea on where McGrady really wants to play. Think we might see something in the next hour or two, once the Orlando Sentinel and Florida Today update for Sunday's editions, though. If not tomorrow, we'll know by Monday...that's when the Sentinel, at least, runs its Magic Confidential section.
Risk of Injury Folks That's a very real concern that can make us looking like idiots if a trade is made where we lost Cat and Francis. I mean, c'mon, it's public knowledge that T-Mac has been battling back problems for the entire season - so much so - that he even has an acupuncturist working on his back regularly. And you saw what injury depletions do for teams that lack depth in the playoffs. The Ghost of Grant Hill is Warning Us!!!! Do not make trades involving injury-prone players!!! prudentSAGE
I get the feeling it will work out for us...I wanted Tracy from the start of all this, and I believe a backcourt with a bigger 2, and his style will be mutually beneficial to Yao and Tracy...I recall Tracy talking with amazement about Yao's potential to be unstoppable...The thinking has been there for a while... This is gonna be a fun off-season...
Fundamentally, you and everyone on this board is right about the virtues of getting a bigger two. The problem though is one of: "AT WHAT COST???" Based on the trade proposals being entertained, the risks outweigh the rewards IMO. And we shouldn't get caught in this silly bidding war. theSAGE
Sage.... how much would we have to give up in your opinion to make the risks = the rewards in this scenario? I dont think we should have to give up all 3 that is being asked....Im a little leary about losing both guards at the same time..and would like to know where we are going to get as good of a backup center as Cato if we lose him? Yao still cant play more than 30 minutes a game...and Cato has become one of the better defensive backup centers in the league imo... Who comes in for Yao at the 5 minute mark in the first that does as good as Cato can?
Got this from a Pacer board The reason we WILL get TMAC Next is Houston and I believe the rumor is at least Francis and Mobley for TMAC... Again when Houston considers giving up these two they will realize that Mobley, while not as great as TMAC, would be a lot better than losing both Mobley and Francis. Mobley's numbers are: YEAR TEAM G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG 03-04 HOU 80 80 40.4 .426 .390 .811 .50 4.00 4.50 3.2 1.34 .41 TO PF PPG 2.25 2.20 15.8 Again not TMAC numbers but Houston won't give up Francis for just an upgrade of 10 ppg from a spot that they have a nice player to begain with. Plus it makes more sence for Houston to trade Francis somewhere else and get maybe two or three players for him instead of giving up 2 or 3 to get TMAC... Bottom line Houston doesn't need TMAC that bad and if you give up Mobley and Francis for TMAC just having Yao and TMAC and nothing else around in the West won't get you into the playoffs Theres more, i just posted why he said Houston will not get him.
Agreed. Remix kind of stole my thunder but Cat + Cato + TE or some financial consideration would be worth our while, IMHO. But adding Francis to the mix would be plain larceny on the part of Orlando. Keep in mind though, that I'm working on the assumption that, as most negotiations go, the opposing party asks for the most up front only to work down to some middle ground. So when Clutch posted the Cat+Francis+more thread, I figured this was the "upper ask" price from which we work down from. Cat+Cato+money is one possible scenario. As for finding a replacement for Cato, there are some good candidates floating around. e.g. Erick Dampier, Adonal Foyle, heck, I understand that even Vin Baker is on the market. Although you're right that a backup center is essential relieve Yao's minutes, I think priority wise, the more difficult and valuable players to lock down are: 1. a big FOUR 2. stronger bench players including backup center. 3. a bigger 2 Fact is, these are the areas we are most lacking and we should not get sidetracked on some superstar sweepstakes. theSAGE
True, if we give up Steve, Cuttino, and Cato for T-Mac, and do nothing else to bolster the roster this summer, there's a fair chance we'll miss the playoffs next season. But after that, if the Yao/T-Mac combo works as well as we hope, free agents will be begging to join the Rockets. We could be making serious playoff runs starting in 2006. Heck, the begging could start this summer, once the bombshell news of T-Mac becoming a Rocket stops reverberating around the league!
Orlando Sentinel report: "The Magic intend to trade McGrady, not toss him to a team of his choice. Weisbrod is determined to make as good a deal as possible. McGrady has considerable say in this -- he has the card of an opt-out clause in his contract after next season -- but it's not as simple as the Magic will trade McGrady wherever he wants to go." Portland may also be in the mix, along with Dallas and the other three that have been mentioned before. Detroit and San Antonio are mentioned as fleeting possibilities. We'll know more come Thursday... http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...e20062004jun20,1,2311152.story?coll=orl-magic http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...c20062004jun20,1,3851815.story?coll=orl-magic http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...rt20062004jun20,1,435830.story?coll=orl-magic
It seems someone else in the "Depth Loss" has already made the point that a Yao/T-Mac would attact free agents to Houston. How about Derek Fisher?
the TE can't be used unless it's a player for player swap. i.e. Francis + TE for McGrady. Also, I wonder why I haven't yet heard any rumors of the Magic, Indiana and Houston working out a three way deal. While I'd love to have McGrady in Houston I'd also say goodbye to Francis, Cato and Mobley for Artest + Tinsley + Bender and a draft pick or something. Something could be worked out. I'd really like to hear this possibility mentioned just so I know the Rockets are working every single angle.
One has to wonder how SF is taking this news. It's doubtful the Rox will keep him now, even if the TM deal falls through.
