I found this article in the Orlando Sentinel. The Article talks about Orlando's need for some size up front & what they should do this off season to get it. Cato isn't mentioned in the article, but off to the side, they list the big man prospects that might be available to them & Cato is one that gets mentioned. Please, let this happen. I just wonder what they could mean by "his dirty laundry". http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...rl-sptmagic02050202may02.story?coll=orl-magic Wanted: Big, bad bully! By Tim Povtak | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted May 2, 2002 When Tracy McGrady got clubbed in the back of the head by Charlotte's Jamaal Magloire on Tuesday, he balled his fist and almost retaliated. But he stopped, and he walked away. And he was smiling about it a day later. "I'm not going to knock him for that. He was just trying to win. We need to be more like that next season," McGrady said Wednesday. "Maybe that's where we need to change. We have to be a more physical team. That kind of thing sends a message." McGrady and his teammates went through their season-ending physical exams at the RDV Sportsplex on Wednesday with the hurt from a first-round playoff ouster by the Hornets still fresh on their minds. Although Magloire was ejected from Game 4 -- then suspended and fined by the league -- he will return to play in Game 2 of the second round next week, while McGrady will be watching from home. That wasn't lost on McGrady or anyone else with the Magic. Getting pounded by the Hornets just reinforced the fact that the Magic need to become a bigger, stronger and more physical team if they hope to climb the NBA hierarchy. Their lack of rebounding, shot blocking and interior defense was a problem all season that reared its head again in the playoffs and likely will shape their direction this summer. "We've got to do a better job at rebounding, playing defense, blocking shots, than we did," Magic General Manager John Gabriel said. "We need to fortify that area -- at power forward, center -- to get the job done, to compete with teams like Charlotte. I think a lot of things became evident in that series." The Magic will be restricted by the salary cap in their efforts to restructure their frontcourt this summer. They had a player payroll of approximately $48 million this season, which was $6 million over the salary cap, and neither of those numbers is expected to change significantly next season. The most money they can use to sign a free agent this summer is the $4.5 million middle-class exception that every team over the salary cap has available. But adding another player for more than one year would hurt their ability to create major salary-cap room for the summer of 2003, when free agents such as Antonio McDyess, Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd, Jermaine O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning become available. Still under contract for next season are frontcourt players Don Reid, Andrew DeClercq, Horace Grant and Patrick Ewing. Both Grant and Ewing are considering retirement, although neither is expected to make a decision until later this summer. Their retirements would make the Magic more willing to use the $4.5 million exception. Although there isn't a good crop of free agents available this summer, McGrady already has suggested veteran power forward Charles Oakley, his former teammate in Toronto who has a tough-guy reputation. Oakley, 38, finished this season with the Chicago Bulls, but they are rebuilding with youth and have no interest in re-signing him. The Magic tried and failed to swing a trade for Oakley early last season. Besides Oakley, other free-agent big men who might provide some frontcourt help are the Timberwolves' Gary Trent, the Wizards' Popeye Jones, Scott Williams of the Nuggets and the Warriors' Dean Garrett. The Magic still believe they will improve considerably next season, even if they make no major moves, which is another possibility. They think that Grant Hill will return after sitting out much of the past two years with ankle problems and that Steven Hunter will become a factor. Hunter, the 15th pick of the 2001 draft, fizzled this season after making 21 starts. The Magic have him slated to be on two summer-league teams and will work with him closely. He could provide some of the frontcourt athleticism the Magic lack. "I still think he's going to help us significantly next season," Magic Coach Doc Rivers said. "He will have an impact. We're going to count on him." The Magic expect to re-sign free-agent forward Pat Garrity and free-agent point guard Troy Hudson. Entering the last year of their contracts are Darrell Armstrong, Reid, DeClercq, Jud Buechler, Ewing and Grant. Landing a big man via trade is another possibility, except the Magic don't have a lot of commodities. Mike Miller is probably their most marketable player, although they rejected trade offers for him last summer. They also will not get much help in the NBA draft with pick No. 18. "I wish we had a Charles Oakley. We need to get that kind of mentality that he brings," McGrady said. "You get a guy like that, and it rubs off on everyone. He's a winner. I don't want to be one of those guys who takes six or seven tries in the first round to get to the next level." This was the third time McGrady's team reached the playoffs and lost in the first round. His first try was in his last season with the Raptors. The Magic haven't gone past the first round since 1996. "I want to do whatever it takes to get better," Rivers said. "Whether it's a killer instinct, making shots, getting taller or rebounding better. Making the playoffs isn't good enough anymore. I didn't come here to make the playoffs. I came to do something in the playoffs. We got beat by a team that was bigger and better than we were. Let's do something about that." Possible hires -- Where the Magic could get help next season FREE AGENTS: Charles Oakley (Bulls): At 38, he's too old, but he's still mean enough and McGrady likes him. Scott Williams (Nuggets): He's big, and he has the experience. Gary Trent (Timberwolves): He's not as big, but he has the mean streak. DRAFT: Curtis Borchardt (Stanford): Will be gone before Magic pick at 18. Melvin Ely (Fresno State): From shady program, but can play. Chris Marcus (W. Kentucky): Outplayed by Borchardt in NCAA tourney. Chris Wilcox (Maryland): Amazing athlete at 6-10 but a lottery pick. TRADE: Kelvin Cato (Rockets): If you don't mind his dirty laundry. Danny Fortson (Warriors): He's a bear around the basket. Anthony Mason (Bucks): He didn't work out in Milwaukee.
Wasn't Cato into some minor trouble before he went to Iowa State? Or is it his underachiever reputation? Can't imagine they'd let Grant go. Maybe Cato, KT and picks for? Here are some salaries: Jud Buechler $4,074,074 Andrew DeClercq $3,262,500 Mike Miller $2,668,080 Horace Grant $2,661,538 Pat Garrity $2,238,380 Steven Hunter $1,338,240 Don Reid $1,100,000 Jeryl Sasser $969,480 Mike Miller and Steven Hunter, anyone? Now, where are all of those Magic fans..mfclark, etc?
Hwe was a murder suspect before he went to college, but no one ever mentions it, so I assume it's the work ethic and underachieving they refer to.
Kato,Mooch, and KT for Miller, Hunter and Sasser(I think Sasser has potential.) We have tierre who is rising quickly and could be a great backup.
I am not against trading Cato, but if we do, who plays center for us? RE: Tierre He looked good until he got to paly more during tank time. Once he was onhte court and stayed, he looked very inconsistant and out of controll. I think John Lennon summed up second stringers perfectly by singing, "Got to be good looking cause he is so hard to see."
Bad trade partners. If we're trading Cato, it better get us another Center. MAYBE Hunter, their pick and Armstrong for Cato, Mooch and KT? The 18th can replace KT, Hunter and the 18th make up for Cato, and Mooch for Armstrong? I don't know. Don't think Orlando and Houston can agree on a trade that includes Cato. Plus, oeilpere said they want Cato to stay and start.
The Magic believe Hunter is their center/PF of the future (not named Tim Duncan)....except they need depth in the frontcourt badly. The dirty laundry with Cato consists of his all to often spurts when he isn't putting forth the effort he should be (something the Magic org. doesn't like) and his huge contract. That huge contract is key...taking it on would severely limit the Magic in the following offseason, since his deal isn't up until 2006. For that reason, any deal is unlikely, especially involving ending contracts. Do note, though, that it's just an idea the writer proposed out there...no need to go off with 100 trade proposals.
Probably not Steven Hunter. The team is very high on him. They've always been high on Mike Miller, but start tossing around picks, KT, and Cato and it gets interesting. The problem with any deal is salary matching, though. Most of the Magic makes a very low salary, sans for McGrady and Hill. Beyond those two, the highest are Buechler and Armstrong, both with ending contracts for 2003 - and I don't think they'd trade Armstrong anyway. Now if it's Andrew DeClercq you are looking for...haha...I'm sure the Magic would be happy to part ways with him, except that his contract runs out in 2003. If Cato didn't make so durn much, though... Best prospects for a deal - if any - involve a sign and trade of Pat Garrity. He fits the Magic pretty well and I think could be a decent big SF for Rudy T in Houston. He'd probably get about $4m a year over a few seasons, and to match salaries either a trade exception would be involved (don't know if the Magic have one) or someone like DeClercq would go. But on the whole, I see a deal as unlikely, mainly due to his contract and work ethic questions.
How about McGrady? Cato + Mooch + Tierre + Collier + Langhi + Walt + KT + #15 for McGrady. See the resemblence to all those other boneheaded trade proposals in this BBS?
mfclark, We need to talk! Are you saying that you'd take Cato for DeClerq/Garrity (S&t)? I'm interested in hearing more specifics. Would you do that deal straight up?
Hottodie, don't let your hatred of Cato get to you. Obviously, from the way the guy is speaking, there's something wrong with Declerq. Probably the fact that he's awful. We don't have space for Garritty on our roster. Nowhere. I'd rather keep Cato. We dont' need Garritty, and as for Declerq vs. Cato, at least Cato has shown he'll put in the effort. What about the other guy?
DeClercq puts in effort, but he's not that good. A disappointment after trading Harpring for him two years ago now. A sign and trade of Garrity would allow the Magic to get something of use in return for him (instead of keeping him against their cap) and clear roster space for a rookie. Garrity justs seems to me to be the type of shooting SF that Rudy likes to play at SF...and can slide to the 4 if need be. I don't much like Cato, but that would be the most likely deal I can think of that would be acceptible to both sides. But like I said before, I doubt anything gets done, just because of Cato's large salary.
I can guarantee the Rockets would say no to that deal. Cato is better than Declerq. Garrity won't play in Rice's place, nor will he take up T-Mo's minutes (Francis' orders).
Rice may very well be injured and Morris isn't the answer - at least not yet. Taking orders from a player has proved to be disasterous...many teams have crumbled due to it. They may say no (if ever proposed, remember it's just something here on a message board), but I'm not so sure it'd be in the Rockets' best interests.
Sane, Don't let your love for Cato get in the way of a sound business decision. Even if DeClerq turns out to be a dud, he has a Team Option after next year. Which means that if we don't pick it up, he'd be off the books. I don't hate Cato personally. I just hate his work ethic. He wants full time pay for part time work. Cato is a career backup center, but he's getting paid what an above average starting center would make. If the chance to move him for a starter at a need position is available, I'm going to take it. We definitely need Garrity at the SF position. The only SF's that we have under contract are Rice & T-Mo. No one knows for sure if Rice is going to be able to play up to his old self next year & T-Mo still has some learning to do, not to mention working on his shooting consistency. Oeilpere has already stated that Langhi is history & if Walt won't accept the veterans minimum, he's most probably gone as well. Garrity is 6'9" 238lbs. He shot 43% from the field & 43% from 3pt range last year. He would be the ideal SF for this team. Mfclark, What's Garrity's defense like? I'd rather go after Artest as our starting SF, but if Garrity can play adequate defense & we can move Cato, then I'm all for it.
It's passable, though nothing to write home about. He's primarily an offensive specialist who has worked hard on improving his defense and rebounding skills, as evidenced by his play over the last half of the season. He's slow around the perimeter, but won't let the defender get to the hole unless they absolutely blow by him. Probably better suited to guard a big stiff like MacCulloch, etc than a super quick SF, but he can hold his own. And definately a hardworker. But, his forte is as a shooter.
no, no, no, including FA's in a trade proposal has never been against the insane trade proposal rules here at cc.net. what was glaringly lacking in this proposal was a listing of the rockets' and magic's roster after the trade. duh.
