http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1826029&type=story Monday, the Houston Chronicle and ESPN's Jim Gray were reporting a deal that would send Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard and Tyronn Lue to the Rockets for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato was "close." Several things will keep that deal from happening anytime before June 30. First, Francis is a base-year compensation player and can't be moved in the current deal until his base-year status expires at the end of the month. Second, the deal the two sides are discussing includes Reece Gaines, who is among the players the Magic left exposed in the expansion draft. Gaines can't be traded until after the expansion draft (assuming he isn't selected by the Bobcats). Reports that Howard was the player left unprotected (and thus was holding up the deal) are inaccurate, according to league sources. The Magic did not expose him on the expansion list. Several league sources with knowledge of the negotiations, including two GMs who are trying to pry McGrady away from Orlando, told Insider on Monday evening that a deal with the Rockets is not "a done deal." One league source with knowledge of the negotiations told Insider on Tuesday morning that Orlando still is soliciting and receiving offers from other teams. According to the source, the Magic still were talking with the Rockets about the deal reported Monday but had not yet made a final decision. The Suns, Clippers and Pacers also have made bids to acquire McGrady. All of them, on the surface at least, appear to be ale to offer much better deals for the Magic than the one in play with the Rockets. However, two of those teams told Insider on Monday night they hadn't had any contact with the Magic in the previous 48 hours. Complicating matters is Francis' reluctance to play in Orlando. Francis' agent, Jeff Friend, told the Houston Chronicle on Monday evening his client didn't want to play for the Magic. "Steve's preference is to not go to Orlando," Fried told the Chronicle. "Steve's tasted the playoffs. (The Rockets) got a series under their belts. He was looking forward to going further with the same Rockets team but with another year of experience together. This is certainly not his preference. He loves Houston. Steve loved the fans and his teammates. He's very friendly with Cuttino but also pretty friendly with Yao (Ming). Many of us thought there were the beginnings of something big there with a great center and great point guard." However, that may not be as big a stumbling block as it appears. One league source told Insider that if the Magic do end up pulling the trigger on the Rockets trade, it will be just the first in a series of moves that could see Francis or other pieces the Magic get back from Houston being moved to other teams. In other words, everyone may have to wait and reserve judgement on this deal until the Magic finish the rest of their rebuilding. That should bring a huge sigh of relief from Magic fans. On paper, the McGrady-for-Francis swap has the potential to be a disaster for the Magic. One GM went so far as to claim the Magic "could get even worse" if they made this trade. Francis has as much baggage as McGrady, and possibly more. He's coming off an awful year where new head coach Jeff Van Gundy asked him to play more like a point guard and less like a guy determined to jack up 20-plus shots a night. While McGrady is widely considered a top-five player in the NBA, Francis' reputation around the league has greatly diminished. Folks in Houston feel the backcourt of Francis and Mobley can't win because of its lack of size and playmaking instincts. Would the duo fare any in better in Orlando? So why haven't the Magic searched harder for a better deal? According to sources, T-Mac is insisting he'll only sign a contract extension with the Rockets. Because McGrady can opt out of his contract after next season, the teams willing to trade for McGrady want a guarantee he'll sign an extension if they acquire him. Should the Magic really buy into T-Mac's bluff? Teams like the Pacers, Suns and even the Clippers would have just as good a chance to win with T-Mac. Other offers that the Magic may be mulling include: # Pacers: They've reportedly offered Al Harrington, Jonathan Bender and Jeff Foster for T-Mac. Adding so many bigs makes much more sense for Orlando than piecing together a smallish backcourt. # Suns: They're offering Shawn Marion, Casey Jacobsen and either the No. 7 pick or Joe Johnson. Again, the extra size and youth make more sense for the Magic. # Clippers: They're reportedly willing to give up Corey Maggette, the No. 4 pick and possibly Chris Wilcox for McGrady. This is the best deal if McGrady will agree to play in L.A.
The fact that he says at the end "T-Mac will only sign an extension with the Rockets" contradicts the rest of his conjectures. Sure, to him, the deals with the other clubs seem better (although those are still rumors, and yet to be confirmed... or salary-cap agreed upon deals)... but if T-mac doesn't want to go to those teams, nor sign an extension with them, there's no way those teams agree to the deal. Sure... you could offer half a team for T-mac and it would seem like a better deal. That doesn't mean it works, though.
Again, Chad Ford proves what a boob he really is....TMac is in control here. He decides...and it looks like he has decided he wants to play in Houston. Good on ya mate !! DD
Just to confirm... was Ford the one who said yesterday that the Suns and Clippers were the frontrunners? If he was, then this article makes perfect sense (basically, he's just covering his ass).
Chad Ford's an idiot, doesn't want to admit he is wrong and obviously doesn't like Francis. "Francis has more baggage than McGrady, and Francis must take 20+ shots a night?"- This guy is just talking out of his a$$.
Even on his way out, I still need to defend Francis. When has he ever averaged 20 shots per game? His shots per game dropped when Yao arrived and he averages his lowest for his career this past season.
Nick, I think you are right. And of course Orlando is listening to other offers, why wouldn't they? But...and this is the clincher..TMac is in control, if he won't sign an extension, the Magic have no choice. DD
I have no doubt that there are other GM's hoping to torpedo the deal, but Ford is clearly going sour grapes over this. He's not Orlando's GM, he's just out there talking about theoretical this and that. Sure, Orlando's GM wants to get a bunch of draft picks in this draft and wait 4 more lottery years for them to mature. Sure, Orlando's GM likes unemployment. Moron.
SF Cat Cato for McGrady Howard Lue Gaines Now that sounds better. I hope it goes through after tonight.
What a complete idiot! Ford is determined to torpedo the deal anyway he can. Francis said he did not prefer to play for the Magic but would do his job if he had to. All these other team are bidding for TMac's services but they have not been in contact with the Magic for 48 hours. Hmmmmm...funny how the deal was supposedly done in the last 48 hours. The timing seems a bit funny. TMac will only sign extension with the Rockets. That is all that needs to be known.
If Ford was correct (law of averages has to work sometimes) what would Wiesbrod's cred be on any future deal? Ever?
It get the sense that Chad Ford, for some personal reasons, desperately does not want Mcgrady to be a Houston Rocket. He seems to have certain underlying intentions for writing each of his recent articles where he casts a false light on the Rockets and Francis. When it comes to the Rockets, he paints the bleakest of pictures. The dude is acting like a little b****. i wonder... just what is this little tuboflard's real motivation...
what I don't get is Chad Ford says it's not a done deal yet Jim Gray and David Aldridge, who both are coworkers of Chad Ford for the same ESPN, say the deal is done.
I think the most exciting thing about this article, is that he's confirming that "T-Mac is insisting he'll only sign a contract extension with the Rockets." That is everything. HUGE. If he holds onto that position, he'll exert the control, and Houston will win big, as will TMac. Let's hope he doesn't waver.
can anybody even get the link to work? When I click it, it goes straight to the ESPN homepage. Maybe even they know how idiotic this article is... its essentially a rant by a disgruntled bbs member... no factual information whatsoever.
