McGrady To Houston Thread (Update: Francis will visit Orlando)

I want to know from the others members of the BBS what do you think the Rockets will do if the trade collapses?

 

Hopefully make Francis a Clipper.

I really think we should keep an eye on Chicago, in case this deal falls through. Whether is Gordon, Hinrich, Chandler or whoever, I really think Chicago is willing to pay the price to get a player like Francis who has the will to win. Francis might be happy to follow in Jordan's shoes.

 

Man I don't want to get into another Francis argument, but it just surprises me that Francis has this reputation for being a great fastbreak player. Francis does get a few easy fastbreak points when he gets a steal or he cherry picks, but he doesn't push the ball that well, make good decisions on the break, or finish all that well at all. But yet, not only do many fans think that JVG was holding steve back from playing in the open court, but I hear opposing announcers all the time commenting on JVG putting the clamps on Steve's fastbreak game.

I just think it's funny how people can get these reputations that just aren't true.

 

i think steve and cat are both good finishers on on the break, as long as neither make the the decisions. usually they didnt finish when the other would pass to late or too early. bring in an equalizer to handle the math like nelson and i think theyd flourish.

 

i was watching channel 11 earlier and they interviewed grant hill. He was in houston for an art gallery. He said he looks forward to playing with steve, cat, cato. He said it was unfornuate him and tmac couldnt play toghter. So i expect the trade to go down.

 

Exactly, I was thinking the same thing while I was reading that post. Steve has great ability to get to the basket, but once he gets there it is like he has a brain lapse and forgets what to do with the ball. He is the worst point guard I've seen at running the fast break, and I think that stems from his basketball IQ which is like zero. He also misses a lot of easy layups because he tries to do too much with the ball. I know if I were the coach of the Rockets I'd be pulling my hair out.

By the way, if Francis is meeting with Orlando Management today when do you suppose we'll hear how things went? I'm hoping tomorrow.

 

Francis is an excellent fastbreak player, especially on the wing. He just doesn't run a good fastbreak, as a point guard should.

 

Funny that people are talking to Grant Hill about this. He hasn't been a player in the NBA in years, which is a big part of the reason that McGrady's gone.

 

Why not the Ray Allen possibility?

 

Word bond. The one-time "next MJ" has been more of a "Ralph Sampson."

 

You know, it's odd that we have heard nothing about this supposed meeting between Steve and the Magic organization today. It's been reported more than a few times he was to fly down there today to meet with them.

 

Well, if anyone is going to know, it's him.

 

I found this on the Washington Post web site.

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A former star at the University of Maryland, Francis will fly to Orlando early next week, a source said, presumably to be in town when the Magic officially announces the deal.

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Link?

 

"next week"? Ugh, please tell me this is going to get done before July 1st. Please!

 

"next week" is day after tomorrow.

 

And hopefully it will be "early" next week. They have until midnight on Wednesday before the moritorium.

 

Here is the link, though you have to register. It says all the same things we already know, but that one line was interesting.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6751-2004Jun25.html

 

Yea, I hope they announce it Monday. I'm going on vacation Tuesday and will not have access to the net, especially this board. I check this board at least once an hour, so if they dont announce it on Monday, I will being going crazy wondering what is going on.

 

Houston-Orlando Francis-for-McGrady Deal Still in Works
Saturday, June 26, 2004; Page D02

The way has been cleared for the Orlando Magic to send TracyMcGrady to the Houston Rockets in exchange for all-star guard Steve Francis, and the two teams are expected to complete the deal sometime next week, a source close to the talks said.

Last week, Orlando agreed to trade McGrady, Juwan Howard and Tyronn Lue for Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. Before the deal could be closed, however, Francis raised objections.

Francis's concerns were addressed early Friday morning, just hours after Thursday night's NBA draft, when Magic President JohnWeisbrod spoke to the 6-foot-3 guard over the phone. Weisbrod convinced Francis that Orlando would be the right spot for him.

"They seem to have a common desire for winning," said Jeff Fried, Francis's agent. "I think John really impressed Steve with his and the team's plans on what they want to accomplish."

Said Weisbrod: "I think the two of us connected."

Fried and Weisbrod said that deal has yet to be completed. But a source close to the talks said that Francis's objections were the only snag holding up the trade.

A former star at the University of Maryland, Francis will fly to Orlando early next week, a source said, presumably to be in town when the Magic officially announces the deal.

Francis, who led the Rockets to their first postseason appearance in five years, initially balked at the prospect of going to a team that was rebuilding. Last season, the Magic finished with a 21-61 record, worst in the league.

According to a source, Fried had queried at least five other NBA teams about their interest in obtaining Francis from Orlando if he was traded there.

Francis's skittishness prodded the Magic into postponing talks until after Thursday night's draft, according to newspaper reports.

"Steve's principle concern was the manner with which the trade talks had transpired," Fried said. "John's discussion with Steve addressed the team concept and likewise alleviated Steve's initial concerns regarding [the Magic's] rebuilding process."

Orlando chose Atlanta prep star Dwight Howard with the No.1 pick, which may have also sweetened the deal for Francis.

The Magic began seeking offers for McGrady after he told the team he would leave as a free agent at the end of next season if the Magic didn't trade him.