AP: Francis Meeting with Magic Francis Meets With Magic Officials By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS June 29, 2004 3:24 p.m. ET HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston Rockets guard Steve Francis met with Orlando Magic officials on Tuesday, possibly paving the way for a multiplayer trade that would include NBA scoring leader Tracy McGrady. Francis' agent, Jeff Fried, said if all went well during the meeting with Magic general manager John Weisbrod and other team officials, a deal could be announced as early as Wednesday. "I think that would be a fair statement, yes,'' Fried told The Associated Press. ``We'll continue to go over the positive aspects of such a move with the Magic.'' Magic officials didn't return calls seeking comment. The proposed trade would reportedly have the Rockets sending Francis, Cuttino Mobley, Kelvin Cato to Orlando for McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines. If a deal isn't completed before Wednesday, both teams will have to wait until after a two-week player movement moratorium ends. Weisbrod has said he's considering offers from at least three other teams and is in no hurry to make a move. When reports of a prospective deal came out last week, Francis balked at leaving Houston for rebuilding Orlando. But Fried said a talk between Francis and Weisbrod after Thursday's draft helped alleviate some of the All-Star guard's concerns about joining the Magic. Fried said Weisbrod convinced Francis that the Magic could improve quickly with the additions of No. 1 draft pick Dwight Howard, a 6-foot-11 high school star from Atlanta, and point guard Jameer Nelson, the 5-11 point guard from St. Joseph's who won virtually every college player of the year award last season. Francis was also impressed that the Magic wanted to make him the centerpiece of the rebuilding franchise. ``I think that he certainly believes in what John is trying to build,'' Fried said. The Magic ``could well have gotten almost any player in the league for Tracy McGrady. Steve felt pretty pleased with their reasons for talking to him and what his role might be in the rebuilding process.'' McGrady, tired of carrying a mediocre franchise, has said he wants out of Orlando and vowed to exercise the opt-out clause that goes into effect at the end of next season. But the Magic will almost certainly trade McGrady, the NBA's two-time scoring champion, because they don't want him to leave without the team receiving compensation -- like Shaquille O'Neal did eight years ago. Francis, a three-time All-Star, averaged 16.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists last season to join Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson and Grant Hill as the only players in league history to average at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists in each of their first five years. Francis, Mobley and 7-5 center Yao Ming led the Rockets to the playoffs last season for the first time in five years. Houston lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. But Francis, who flourished in an up-tempo offense for the past four years, was put on the summer trading block after posting the worst numbers of his career in new coach Jeff Van Gundy's slower-paced offensive scheme.
The fact that the Magic aren't commenting seems particularly interesting. Given Weisbrod's recent penchant for denial, this has to be significant.
According to Francises agent the trade will go down On Wednesday!.. i dont think even mr weasle can worm his way out of this one!!.
This is getting ridiculous already; it's killing me waiting for concrete news either way. But, at least Rockets fans have something exciting to talk about over an otherwise dull Summer.