This may not be very complicated. Maybe Weisbrod just can't believe nobody will give him a better offer than we've given him. He figures if he can stall a bit longer and let the Suns or Pacers or whoever stare at McGrady being had for what we're offering, they'll decide they can't stand it and pony up more. It's a bush league maneuver -- if a better offer were coming, it would already have come -- but maybe we just have to wait this idiot out. We can't convey to McGrady that we don't want him, so we can't threaten to pull our offer off the table. Once this is over, we'll be done with Weisbrod and hopefully never have to deal with him again. Half the art of trading is never saying what you think of the slimeball idiot you're trading with.
It won't surprised me if in the end Magic's management decided to take the risk and keep TMac for another season and hope that they will somehow make it to the playoff and TMac will change his mind thereafter and resign with them.
I think its 4 things: <b>1) Francis.</b> I think Wiseguy really likes Francis, and had targeted him a long time ago. He referred to when Francis hit Stoudamire, and commented that he thought then they could use a guy like Francis. Wiseguy is a hockey man. Its that whole macho mano a mano thing. He wants a tough, competitive team, and truly likes what Francis brings to the table. He's seen how Stevie and Cat have eaten up East Coast teams, and how they just haven't really been able to adjust to the inside out game siince Ming came on board. Now Stevie can be the star, the way its most natural for him, and I think he sees the conflict in a positive way, not negative, since Steve and Cat are such gymrats and play with heart, even if its pig headed at times. I think Steve will shine in ORL, and we might wonder if we made a mistake (even though we didn't, since we're in the West). But, when Steve balked, it really threw a monkey in the works for Wiseguy. He has made his pitch, and a lot of this has been to get Stevie on board, bought in, and working together, so the fans get real excited about what Francis brings to the table. <b>2) PR.</b> The ORL fans balked when they heard about the trade. They had to get used to the idea that the NBA scoring champion was leaving their team. There was a death of a vision, and they needed a little time to grieve. So, Wiseguy has given them time. A lot of "experts" talked about how bad the deal was, so ORL fans thought they were getting screwed, which could cause them not to show up in the Fall. So, they had to not look anxious, or getting screwed by McGrady, they had to let McGrady look like the evil guy, but revealing he would only go to Houston, and show they weren't being hasty in this, and taking the best possible offer. When fans started hearing other players that could come in, and how other teams wanted the Rocket players, then they didn't want to lose them. This has all been a fairly masterful PR game with the ORL fans. Its made them look stupid to the other GMs, but not to the Orlando fans, and that's who buys tickets. Now fans see Cato/Howard/Hill/Cat/Francis as a radical improvement, and entertaining, going to the playoffs. <b>3) Negotiating. </b>Changing the deal at the last minute, when the other party has the bait in its mouth, and has a lot to lose if the deal doesn't go through, is classic Harvard MBA training. You get them very excited, think the deal is done, then back off a bit, so the other party lunges. Then you get a better deal. If Cato was being pulled off the table, now he's back in. If we weren't going to use our TE, now we will. If we had to have Gaines, maybe now we let him go. If they wanted some cash, we throw it in. If we didn't want DeClerq, now we take him. Maybe now we throw in a draft pick. Whatever it is, the deal get's sweeter. Also, by throwing it out to other teams, offers may come in for swapping of various parts. When the fans heard about the different possiblities that would make the Magic better, they got more excited about the deal. Also, if they needed to make a trade of one of the parts, such as Mobely/Gooden for Buitler. This way, they would know how to introduce them at a press conference as the total package, and get everyone on board, so they felt that the management cared about the fans to put a good product on the table. There's an old proverb that says, "he who makes haste with his feet, errs." They look like they got the best deal possible to the fans when they do it this way. So, they are just trying to sort out all the pieces of this blockbuster trade. Its not like its just a trade of Francis and McGrady. There are other players and teams possibly involved, and many variations. <b>4) The Draft.</b>They expanded this trade through the draft, so they were on Page One, and so that there were all sorts of options that came their way, in terms of draft picks, players, etc. They used the press to help them let others know what deals were on the table, in case someone would come up with something better. They also wanted to see who they ended up with, and how that might affect what they did with the players they got in this trade. Getting Jameer Nelson actually reduces Francis negotiating power to hurry up and do this thiing, or the hurt of possibly losing him, if that happened. It gave them choices and negotiation posture, which Wiseguy likes. Its the macho way of doing a deal. So, I don't think its only one thing. There are a variety of factors which have to be addressed. Just like it took a long time for Ming to come over, and we methodically worked through all those issues patiently, we are doing the same with this one. It'll happen, and pretty soon I think. At this point, it seems to be about getting Francis happy with the deal for the press conference. And, if he isn't, then putting the right deals together quickly that ship him right back out, and then introduce a team that the fans like. The Rockets still need to negotiate with McGrady's people too. So, maybe its this weekend, but it could go well into this week. But, I think its a deal that will happen. They wouldn't put all this effort into something they didn't want to happen. They wouldn't be meeting with Steve. Wiseguy wouldn't be doing all the PR to build up Francis to the fans. They are investing a lot into this. Its going to happen.
I don't see why so many people are mad at Weisbrod. He's trading one of the top five players in the league. He would be stupid not hold for better offers if the Rockets are going to keep their offer on the table. This franchise has lost Shaq, Penny, and now they are losing McGrady. The first two scenarios got them nothing in return. On top of that they traded away Ben Wallace. They can't keep screwing up these deals. He's got all summer. The Rockets apparently aren't talking to anyone else right now and we know they will make the trade whenever the Magic want so he might as well look at all his options.
That would surprise me. I think it is important to remember that with all this talk and speculation, if nothing happens (or if something drastic changes), there are going to be a LOT of pissed off people. Agents for at least six players, the players themselves (T-Mac and Francis, in particular), one whole organization in Houston and a bunch of other GM's around the league will be more than a little ticked off at how things went down. Then there are all the free agents and their agents who eye different destinations based on where players go. On top of that, you have all the players, agents and GM's who will forever be wary of the Magic and Wisebrod. Finally, you have all the fans on both sides who will never trust Magic management with Wisebrod there. The car is pretty far down the damn road at this point.
Sherlock, your #3 would explain the situation better if the deal were done by now, with the Rockets having thrown in the extras Weisbrod was trying to wring from them. The fact that the deal remains unconsummated, with Weisbrod saying he's still fielding other offers but having nothing really to show for it, suggests to me that he did try to game the Rockets for more, and that the Rockets didn't budge. So he's left acting like he's still got leverage when in fact he doesn't. He bluffed, he got called, and now we're just waiting for him to put his cards on the table. His laughable suggestion that he can string this out till August just confirms to me that he lacks the ability to threaten us with a deadline or an imminent trade elsewhere, so all he can do is threaten to stall, as though some unknown team will come along with a better offer. We can wait, too, John. Give us a call when you're ready to deal or when you're fired, whichever comes first.
I too, am getting tired of Weisbrod's delay tactics & lack of a positive attitude about the trade. However, it seems like he's playing this deal like a game of poker. While he may be just trying to lay the ground work for the fans & media to embrace the trade, it seems to me that he should be showing more enthusiasm for the players that he's going to receive. Instead, he's coming across like he's being forced to take players that he has no desire to have. That lack of enthusiasm is not going to get the fans & media on his side. The reason that I believe he's playing the trade like a hand of poker, is to get another team to step up with a better offer, that he could then present to the Rockets & force us to give him a better deal. Or, he's holding out to force the Rockets to lose patience & offer more than is on the table currently, like draft picks or another player (JJ or Nachbar). In poker, the first one to blink looses. What the Rockets need to do, is call his bluff. As others have alluded to, the Rockets should quietly start making inquiries about other trade possibilities. Don't threaten Weisbrod with a deadline, just start fielding other offers. It won't take long for word to get back to him. If he's trying to make it appear that he's in control of the deal, the last thing he's going to want, is for the Rockets to pull out of the deal. Then, he'd really be in trouble with the fans & media. He'll blink. As for McGrady getting the idea that the Rockets don't want him, it wouldn't be too difficult to let him know quietly, that we are still planning on trading for him, but are doing this to force Weisbrod to make the deal. That would keep McGrady from having to damage his reputation, by going public with a more forceful statement about playing for the Rockets only. Rvpals, We don't have "tons of time to wait on the T-Mac deal". Free agency begins next Thursday (July 1). In order to get in on the best FA's available, we have to be in a position to negotiate immediately. If we're still waiting on this deal to happen, then we could very well miss out on a player or two that we've targeted as complimentary players for Yao & T-Mac. Remember the "Dream" negotiations? We waited on his decision to resign, missed out on all the big name FA's, & then had to trade him anyway. I hope that Rocket's management learned a lesson from those negotiations. He who snoozes, looses.
Will, I didn't SAY he was good at it, just that its a tactic ... CD is a good ole Texas Trader, which would put most Harvard guys to shame when it comes to making a deal. I agree with you, too, that it hasn't worked, and that part of what he's trying to do now is put a good face on it ... and the Rockets are graciously letting him save some face, although Alexander is getting restless with the chicanery. They know they really have the cards, because of TMac sticking to his guns that he'll only sign an extension with Houston. Good points as always, Will ... Hottoddie, I believe the Rockets have been doing just that. Their discussions with CHI about Mobely for the #3 or #7, with PHO about their #7, etc.
One thing is for sure, the Magic still wouldn't make the playoffs by just adding D. Howard. Other than T-Mac, the Magic have basically no trading assets. While they are hoping that T-Mac would stay, they are still feeling the effects of Shaq leaving them for nothing. They let him walk and that was probably one of the biggest mistakes in sports history, and they are still trying to recover from that.
It is so funny that you say that, because I have heard more then a few Orlando fans complaining that Weisbrod is doing this for attention.
I think they also want to let their #1 pick garner the attention for a bit although all the speculation isn't helping either. In any case when they announce a deal they'll have a press conference and all the news will be about the deal and the #1 pick will be an after thought in comparison. In regards to Bird and others being patient, the guy is really high on T-Mac just like the rest of the league. You could argue that Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, Garnett are better but it's close. Up until last year I felt T-Mac was a better player than Kobe.
Sherlock, I meant they should field offers for Francis, since he's the center piece of this trade for Orlando. I haven't heard anything about them shopping him since this trade was reported. Oh well, this deal needs to be concluded one way or another by Thursday.
The Rockets can't make any deals until the TM situation is settled. Can't trade SF, CM, or Cato. Probably can't use their exception. That means the trade must be done before July 1st. If the Orlando GM expects Houston to wait all summer for his decision, then crack must be extra cheap in Florida.
Maybe this is what Weisbrod's shenanigans boil down to. Simply getting the Rockets to bail out. Ultimately, Weisbrod can only take the deal Tmac will agree to. Of course Tmac can only choose among the deals that are available. If Weisbrod wants to take another deal (like Idiana's) to which Tmac won't agree, then he need only get Tmac's number one choice to fold forcing Tmac to go with the second option, Indy. Weisbrod can't just tell Tmac "I won't deal with Houston," because then Tmac will just say "F-you" and refuse to re-sign with any team and promise to leave the Magic empty handed. The truth is out there...
Did anyone catch Channel 2's interview w/ Grant Hill? I was able to catch the end and Hill said: "Tracy wants to go to Houston, which is good for their fans."
