http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2649598 NBA NOTEBOOK Weisbrod taints reputation Future partners to be wary in deals with Magic GM By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Nearly a week since the Tracy McGrady-Steve Francis exchange was close enough to a done deal to tell Francis — albeit late, for his tastes — Orlando Magic general manager John Weisbrod has taken to pretending the trade is just an idea he is mulling around. You don't often get this much double talk for no extra charge. But as much as Weisbrod insists this is just one option — while chatting on the phone to a player under contract to another team and even repeatedly saying a decision will be made before the draft — the rest of the NBA believes agreements were reached. General managers know deals are not done until the ink dries, so this one is not done. But this is Weisbrod's introduction to the NBA. His only previous GM experience was in hockey's minor leagues. And while his Harvard MBA and ability to direct a wrist shot to the five hole are impressive, this trade will determine his reputation. Weisbrod has let this go on for reasons that might become clear this week. Maybe he wanted the draft — in which Orlando had the top pick and used it on Dwight Howard — to have its own spotlight. He might be trolling for better offers. He probably is trying only to serve his franchise, though he might be, as many have suggested, enjoying holding all the cards. But many around the league have already said that the first time they deal with Weisbrod, they will watch their backs. Trust but verify. Believe it when you see it. If the Magic prosper or if Weisbrod pulls off a deal even better than this one, that will be his reputation. But for now, he is the guy who left the Rockets and seven players twisting in the wind. Many have promised to be wary before they are next. Word to the wise When Magic forward Grant Hill spoke on Saturday of the expectation that the Tracy McGrady-Steve Francis trade would go through, he sounded like everyone else. Of course he assumed the deal would happen. Everyone assumes the deal will happen. But Hill usually knows. Magic general manager John Weisbrod is thought to talk frankly with Hill and teammate Pat Garrity. In town to exhibit his art collection at Texas Southern, Hill probably knew of what he was speaking when discussing his expectations. "A little birdie told me it's going to happen," Hill said. "It's going to happen. That's part of the business of professional sports. (McGrady) is going to go on and do well here in Houston with coach (Jeff) Van Gundy and Yao Ming. Hopefully, we're going to go on and do well with the guys we have. Life is about change, and sometimes change is necessary. But sometimes change could be good. For the Rockets and for the Magic, it could be good. "It would have been nice to be able to play at least one season with Tracy. It's not going to happen. That's fine. I look forward to playing with Francis, (Cuttino) Mobley and (Kelvin) Cato." EXACTLY what I was saying. Thanks, Jonathan!!!
I feel bad for our guys (as of now) who are just waiting for the official announcement. But then if it doesn't happen, what then? It seems like a PR nightmare. I think Francis, Mobley and Cato deserved better than this, but at the end of the day it is a business and while it's bad ethics on the part of the Orlando GM there's nothing illegal about it.
It has been quite crazy..but I can't wait for Tmac and company to start playing with the Houston Rockets!!!! FINALS 04-05!
I'm glad to finally see this addressed in the media too. I've been thinking what a jackass he is for a while now. Maybe just an attention w**** who loves being in the spotlight... let's milk this for all it's worth. But, I get the distinct impression that the only ones twisting in the wind is us. Everyone (except Weisbrod) involved in the deal has talked all along like it's done, despite his denials (Grant Hill even?). That, plus his interviewing and rolling out the red carpet for a player under contract, leads me to believe that he's not denying anything with those involved. I mean, why would the Rockets allow that if the deal isn't done? He's just BSing the media, the league, other franchises, the fans... for why, I can't imagine. Playing it like this is still bad business. As Feigan reported, others are already going to be leery, but if the deal doesn't actually go down, if he is actually trolling for better offers, good luck dealing with anybody after this. BTW Jeff, are you sleeping at all these days? Jeez, scrounging up Chronicle reports at all hours.
finally someone has the balls to say how weisbrod can be an a$$. i liked what hill said! thank god even hill admitted it that this deal is going to happen! weisbrod, just stop this bs and just stop leaving people up in the air.. one of the great quotes for me:
Weisbrod was brought in to try to give the franchise a new look and judging his first moves he is more likely to destroy it (especially for being dumb enough to consider trading for SF)...
It's more discouraging to read later into the article how out of shape Yao is. Apparently he's had to sit out some practices already.
Del Harris, coaching the Chinese team here, said in the DMN a couple of days ago that Yao was so out of shape he had to sit our their second practice. On one hand, I'm glad he got to rest from bball for a while. On the other, he may have been doing absolutely nothing to increase his endurance and strength - if so, that's a bad harbinger. D R
Great article! Glad Feigen finally wrote something noteworthy. Glad Weisbrod's being called out on the carpet. I honestly havent see any other trade in the NBA go down like this. It really has been terrible. It will be a JOKE if Weisbrod lets this trade dangle past July 1st, pushing it to July 15th and beyond. My gut tells me he is just buying time to massage the media in Orlando. Give his new drafted players time to shine. But enough is enough. This needs to happen before Thursday.
This is so funny. This guy is an idiot but he's holding us by the balls. Maybe this other GMs won't be willing to deal with him in the future, but I doubt he will also be in the position to be dealing a top five player in the future, but if he does have a player of McGrady's caliber in the future, once again he will be able to do whatever he wants.
This reminds me so much of Jim Bowden, former GM of the Cincinnati Reds. He finally got to become GM and he let it go to his head, showing up fellow GMs and trying to grab the spotlight and constantly do interviews and drop snide quotes to the media instead of doing deals. Eventually, the rest of the league grew tired of him and the Reds were unable to make significant deals why he was GM, and eventually he was fired.
This is so funny. This guy is an idiot but he's holding us by the balls. Maybe this other GMs won't be willing to deal with him in the future, but I doubt he will also be in the position to be dealing a top five player in the future, but if he does have a player of McGrady's caliber in the future, once again he will be able to do whatever he wants. Actually, the fact that he won't be dealing a McGrady caliber player will make it harder for him to do a deal. If teams are wary of doing a major deal with him, you can bet that it's going to be hard to do minor deals with him. He's NOT going to be able to do whatever he wants.
What's funny is reading the Magic board; it seems all Weisbrod's posturing truly has affected Magic fans. In the begginning, the majority were calling for his head. Now they believe he's in the driver seat and is overly clever. It's funny how gullible fans actually are. I think there is reason for this delay. Just look at the Magic board to understand what it is: manipulate public opinion. Change their perspective on the deal, on Steve, on TMAC, on the Magic organization, and ultimately on Weisbrod.
By us maybe, but not necessarily by fellow execs. Here's a copy of an email I sent to Feigen and his reply from 3 days ago: Q--I'm wondering what your experienced insider point of view is about Weisbrod. From this point of view it seems the Magic picked the wrong time to promote someone like this guy to run their franchise. At this critical time in their history, they have what appears to be a total boob calling the shots. Handling the whole TMac situation in public seems to have exposed him as completely incompetent. And now it would appear he's trying to save face by delaying the Houston deal, which is transparent even to fans. All this in contrast to CD and folks who we don't see on camera at all and don't hear a peep from...you know...professionalism. What's your opinion on this? Do actions like his have CD and other GM's angered at his behavior or are they all laughing at him and wondering where the Magic found this bozo? A---"I don't suppose we can fully judge Weisbrod until this all plays out and even then, might need to know what the owner wanted. But Weisbrod did seem to have forced the McGrady divorce and there are suspicions that he has been using the Rockets to flush out better offers. We don't know if that is true, yet. But CD is well respected by his peers and general managers that try to trick or disrespect their peers have a hard time doing subsequent deals. (Jerry Krause is the poster boy for this.) I don't think the league is laughing at Weisbrod. He's a bright guy and it's too soon to draw conclusions even about this deal. But GMs will be wary, especially if he doesn't get this done."
