It's one thing to not say it's not done, it's another to claim it's not close to done and you're looking at other options. But if he were a businessman he wouldn't: 1.)Even be talking about the deal. If it's not done why even comment on it. 2.)Repeatedly deny something that the team you're trading with, the star player you're getting, the star player still on your team and the national media are saying it fact. If this guy is a businessman he is a bad one because he either a.)Lied to his star player about the deal (Grant Hill) or b.)Is lying to th national media about the deal.
For the Magic fans to be happy. Everything written or said since Steve opened his mouth seems to be damage control. He's just trying to look like he is calling the shots and doing everything possible to get the best deal whether that's the Rockets or another team. That's why they seem to be treating Steve like he is a Free Agent.
All of this is really interesting. For some reason, I find the Magic to be an incredibly interesting franchise. They have been invented and re-invented so many times in their brief history...and there were literally on the precipice of greatness before letting Shaq go. I was in Orlando in the summer of 96...when they were swept by the Bulls in the ECF. The hatred for Shaq among Magic fans was absolutely palpable. It surprised the hell out of me. The Sentinel ran a poll and roughly 80% of the respondents said they wanted Shaq gone. Amazing. And soon enough, he was. And they haven't been the same since. This McGrady deal is another opportunity they've blown...here they have, once again, one of the top 5 players in the game at a very young age, and they're going to let him slip through their fingers. Yes, they'll get Francis in return, but I believe Mobley only has one year left on his contract. I'm so tired of this deal...I do not even remotely understand what this GM thinks he's accomplishing...or what he is trying to accomplish. We have comments from other GMs around the league saying, "done deal"...we have Les expressing his frustration with the last week...we have the Orlando Sentinel calling it a done deal...we have Grant Hill now calling it a done deal. This thing is so sloppy on so many sides. I'm thinking the NBA ought to use this disaster as a cautionary tale, and shore up some rules about conduct during trade negotations, particularly in front of the media. Perhaps some of those rules out to fall to the players as well in a new collective bargaining agreement. Because this whole thing is absolutley ridiculous on so many levels. And comes off looking amateurish and unprofessional.
TBH, it's coming off as European. I follow European soccer extensively, and this is exactly how a lot of European chairmen (essentially GMs) behave. First, deny. Then, demand more than you can get -publicly. Talk bold, play loose with the facts, deny the inevitable. Then, when the trade goes down, pretend that it's what you wanted all along and that your team will be much better off. I've always found the difference between American sports management and Euro sports management interesting. But this Orland GM could fit in very well at a mid-sized soccer club in England.
Orlando GM Weisbrod is starting to get the reputation like the Iraqi minister did...whatever that dude name is ...remember how he said nothing happened while everything is going on in his country??? Yea that's what Weisbrod is ...there are some sort of resemblance there
\ LOL.. true, i think his name was Al-Sahaf or something!. you could almost see the US tanks in the background, but the dude was saying we are wining.lol..i nominate him for the next GM of the Orlando Magic!!
I completely agree with your post Jeff. There are other deals out there to be made. In fact, we might be able to get several players by trading Francis/Mobley/Cato in seperate deals. For instance, we might be able to swing these deals: Mobley/Nachbar for Al Harrington/Tinsley. Cato/Piatkowski for Kurt Thomas/Dikembe. Francis/Griffin for Rashard/Murray/James. That'd give us a lineup of: C: Yao/Dikembe/James PF: K. Thomas/Harrington/Taylor SF: Rashard/JJ SG: JJ/Murray PG: Tinsley/FA/Wilks Imho, that'd be a pretty good team, with good depth, to start the season with. Use our MLE on a FA PG & SG/SF combo, & we'd be set.
Al Harrington has asked to be traded because he wants to start. I hardly think trading him to a team that would then use him off the bench solves anything. Furthermore, he's a small forward, not a power forward. That being the case, it'd make far more sense to trade Francis for Ray Allen. Yao/Mutumbo Kurt Thomas/ Taylor Al Harrington/ Jackson Ray Allen/ Murray Jamal Tinsley/ FA / Wilks That sounds pretty good too.
I agree with the trade to send Steve, Mobley and Cato to ORlando. We need to break Steve and Cuttino apart! I thought about the moment that steve stood up for Yao and hit Amare with that elbow. I give him props for that because he did something for a teamate. That got steve alot of respect for him and I knew what kind of player he was. He stood up for his teamates! If you played for them that is what you would want. It is too bad that he WILL get traded, but what are you supposed to do you just cant pass on having to superstars on your team. For all of you that dont agree with this trade I think that you are damn foolz!!! Yao is a superstar, he could have had a better year but with all of his circumstances you have got to give him respect for what he did this last year! I trust this trade will be the best for this team.
You are crazy!!! How old is allen? He is too damn old give up on that fool unless we can get him for Wilks and a 2nd round pick!!! Dont be stupid!
That's huge! That's why this deal needs to be done before July 1st. You dont want this lingering into the middle to end of July or beyond. Come July 14th teams are going to be starting to sign all the big FAs. Remember each year teams go to players doorsteps at midnight on the 14th to get them to sign with their team. Teams arent going to make FA moves unless they know the direction of their team. This is a HUGE change for BOTH the Magic and the Rockets. This trade will dictate what positions are of need. And BOTH teams get screwed here if they are not allowed the opportunity to get the best FAs out there. Once again, another example of Weisbrod being oblivious and not understanding the ramifications of the situation.
If the Trade is consumated on July 14th and Lue is a fee agent and not coming to the Rockets then what is the possibility that Nelson is coming in his place?
Why would he tell the media anything? It is how it should be done, you inform your team and staff first. I think people are getting sour grapes that it has taken this long. I htink Weiserwhatzit is doing what he thinks is best...... DD
