The first-round draft pick that fell into the Rockets' laps last month fell back to Phoenix on Wednesday, at least for now. NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said Wednesday that a "clerical error" had the Magic sending the Knicks' pick, the 18th selection, to the Rockets before it was the Magic's to send. The mistake was with the Magic's deal with the Suns, owners of the Knicks' pick. Orlando does have the option to take the pick from the Suns, and if it takes the pick it must be sent to the Rockets to complete the Magic's part of the Steve Francis trade. The agreement required that the Magic send its own pick or a pick from the Suns unless those picks are in the top 17 this season, or in the lottery next season. The Magic has until 2003 to send a pick to the Rockets. Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said he spoke to Magic general manager John Gabriel on Wednesday and was told that the Magic had not decided whether to claim the pick and send it to the Rockets. The Magic must decide by June 4. "We're just going to have to wait longer," Dawson said. "I guess the league didn't see it was (Orlando's) option to take the pick. It's out of our hands." ------------------
Who knows, maybe this helps, depending on what trade we're working on, who we want to sign. Clutch said the #18 pick kinda messes with the Rockets' plans, according to his source. So maybe the Rox, for whatever reasons, don't need that pick...? Hard to imagine, but if we don't get it, let's hope it's miraculously for the better. ------------------
I don't think it's that big of a deal. If we had it, we'd just trade it away anyway, so it's not a major concern. ------------------ Founding Father of the Refs Suck Club
