Just a thought I havent heard mentioned much. As of July 1st all free agents are able to deal with other teams. This includes the biggest free agent of the off season Kobe Bryant! This is why I believe Orlando is trying to move T-Mac before July 1st. Right now T-Mac hype is in full force, but once Kobe actually becomes available, I see the T-Mac hype dropping dramatically causing his stock to drop. Am I fooling myself? or could this actually be a factor in getting the T-mac deal done this week?
My fear is perhaps the Phoenix Suns have said to the Magic to hold off trading Mcgrady until the Suns see if they have a legitimate shot at getting Kobe. If they can’t get Kobe, the Suns will then give in to the Magic’s request of Marion+JJ for Mcgrady.
wrong the Magics request was Amare, and what you have written was Phoenix response. The Magic will not take Marion and JJ for T-Mac, but they will take Amare.
The Lakers have taken a Kobe sign-and-trade deal off the table. So no other teams have a real shot at him, because Jerry Buss will open the vault to Kobe and promise to rebuild the team around him. Kobe is going to be a Laker for life (unless he is a prisoner for life). All of the other teams realize this. The Lakers are serious about keeping Kobe -- serious enough to trade away Shaq. So while they will make their best pitch, they know that Kobe isn't moving this summer and so there's no real connection between Kobe and T-Mac.
Unless he is not happy with the Rockets (or any other teams) current offer. He could hold out as long as he wants hoping some team will make a desperate move. As far as the Lakers, they have promised the team to Kobe, but Kobe will still explore his other options. And if teams are willing to offer their arm for T-Mac, for Kobe they will offer an Arm and a Leg. LA will not trade Shaq until Kobe has agreed to stay in LA.
McGrady still holds the chips as far as where he will go. He said Houston is the only place he would resign. That will scare away any other offer.
