Francis eyes get-together with Magic McGrady trade would need tweak after Wednesday By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Finally, Steve Francis can say it: He is going to Disney World. The Rockets' trade of Francis to the Magic for Tracy McGrady will take a 1,000-mile step toward completion today when Francis flies to Orlando, where he likely will meet with Magic officials. And if things go well, the Magic could make Francis the new cornerstone of their franchise. "I think tomorrow I'm going to Orlando," Francis said on his way out of Toyota Center after the Comets' game Sunday. "I don't know. But I think I'm going." Francis spoke by telephone with Magic general manager John Weisbrod last week. A face-to-face meeting today or Tuesday could be the next step toward removing any lingering concerns the Magic have after Francis and his agent, Jeff Fried, initially expressed unhappiness with the deal. Asked how he felt about the trade now, Francis said: "You know I was mad, but now I'm cool. I'm cool about everything." Assuming things go well in Francis' meeting with Magic officials, both teams can move toward sealing the deal, which had been considered close last Monday. If the trade can be completed by Wednesday, the Rockets would receive McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines in exchange for Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. After Wednesday, the July moratorium on trades would force the teams to wait until July 14. Francis' base-year status would expire, forcing the teams to revise the deal to make it work under NBA rules for teams over the salary cap. By then, Lue likely would have exercised his option to terminate his contract, making him ineligible for the trade unless via a sign-and-trade deal. For now, the Magic plan to introduce their new point guard this morning. And after introducing Jameer Nelson, last week's draft-night acquisition, they can work on getting the deal done for Francis. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2650619
I must be missing something. Tyrone Lue is about to be traded from a 21-61 team to a WC playoff team where he would be the starter on a depth chart and his Bird Rights go with him meaning he can sign a larger contract next summer. Instead, Lue and/or his agent are going to try to get some teams splitting of the MLE which won't be significantly more than his current $1.7m and he won't have Bird Right for 3 more years. Maybe it's just me, but I'd take $1.7m and test free agency next summer.
From the Orlando article. That quote makes me want to throw up. Does Weisbrod think he is in a cowbot movie? Weisbrod wants to know Francis true feelings? I can tell you without looking into his eyes! Francis thinks the Orlando franchise is the worst basketball team in the league, which it proved last year by finishing the year with fewer wins than any other team. He would rather play for Houston and with Yao Ming, but realizes that it probably isn't a team that will use him most effectively and he also doesn't get along with the coach terribly well. He's also beating himself up since he already used his only "I won't play for this franchise" card several years ago. I wonder if Weisbrod's piercing gaze will capture that much information, or if he will only see what his overinflated ego tells his undersized brain it is looking at.
God damn Jeff, you have been one with your keyboard of late. It's great seeing the likes of you, Will, and others come out of hiding the past week. The quality of this BBS had really gone down a bit there for a good few years. Maybe this McGrady trade brings in a new era on different levels? I'll still never forget the excitement when Jeff started a thread in 1999 titled "Rocket Trade News." Mark Berman had just reported on Fox 26 that the Rockets were close to acquiring disgruntled Vancouver draftee Steve Francis. The board was up in arms - we finally had that injection of youth and athleticism. This past week was crazy. With Jim Gray's announcement that the deal was completed, and the Astros' acquisition of Carlos Beltran, as Charlie Palilo put it, "in terms of personnel, off the court/field, this was the biggest week in Houston sports history."
Still typical Francis -- I was mad, now I am cool. I actually have no problem with Steve being a little pissed; he's a proud guy who has been here for all the crap years -- albeit partially his fault. But still, give him some credit, he is still going to Comets games. Thanks, Steve, best of luck
I have to admit, I have bumped up my postings a TON these last two weeks. Normally I am good for a few a day. But now I probably am doing well over 10 a day. I admit, getting Tmac to pair with Yao is beyond exciting!
Jeff when Francis is traded Yetti wont have anything to say! Where is Yetti he seems to have been very quiet of late?
So now Weisbrod wants to look at SF3 deeply into his eyes to see whether Franchise truly likes him? That's a nice spin that Michael Moore would love to use in his next movie (have nothing against Mr. Moore and his 'F 9/11' is a great movie).
This part worries me. Will Weisbrod prefer the post-moratorium tweaked deal to the current one? Given the hand he has shown, I can see him making everyone wait.
Yeah, proud of what? For Steve's welcome to his first year in the playoffs, the Grizzlies (the last team he jerked around like a crybaby 3 year-old) were a higher seeded team than the Rockets. Let's see Steve explain that one... Oh, I forgot, he thinks that after his worst season as a pro that he is actually responsible for the Rockets squeaking into the playoffs.
you know - this is highly irregular. I thought there were league rules against teams meeting with players who were still under contract with other teams. I'm no lawyer (well... actually I am) well I'm no SPORTS lawyer - but this smacks of an prohibited practice. In fact, usually the league cracks down on any GM even discussing other player who are still under contract... and this Gomer Pyle wannbe is out there demanding an interview with Francis and discussing this with the media David Stern is such a goof...
