It's not exactly the same thing...look at Wallace...but I see what you're saying. The difference is that the alternative of letting Rasheed walk for nothing and gaining $17M in cap space was very attractive to Portland, so they could afford to be selective on which deal they took. Straight cap space for McGrady isn't too appealing to the Magic. Sure they'd have money freed up, but they'd be the worst team in the NBA and they'd have a really hard time attracting free agents. Think of the Bulls with even less talent. Orlando has to get something in return for McGrady.
That's not true. He clearly stated that Vancouver was too far for his grandmother. And as for calling Vince, Vince at that time was a much more attractive teammate than he is now. STEVE WILL NOT END UP IN TORONTO UNLESS THEY WIN THE LOTTERY or they make BOSH OR CARTER AVAILABLE in the DEAL!
I don't like these trade proposals. I wouldn't trade Steve for draft picks period. This year's draft class blows. It's going to be one of the weakest drafts ever. Okafor will be a solid player, but he will NOT be as good as Elton Brand was in his rookie year. Deng can be a contributor, but he's still young. After that, you have a bunch of HS kids, a bunch of foreign players, and a bunch of college players who'll be role players in the NBA. There may not be one real star out of this draft class.
Must've missed that. That's a very good reason IMO. Didn't his grandmother pass away? If so, he'd be open to playing in Canada now right? Not like it matters. It's not really his decision.
Uhm, and I agreed with that point. My point was, just cause Steve's kind of a leader, we shouldn't settle on him as our PG or our "franchise" player for years to come. But we definitely, shouldn't practically give him away to a team, as we would be doing if we dealt him for Jalen rose. T-mac or a great PF. Other than that, any other move would blow. Including Ray Allen, and *shudders.. Allen Iverson.. I still don't know what people are thinking when they suggest that name when it comes to trades involving Steve. And from what I hear, Ray Allen's just a Cuttino clone, but slower and a ball hog who shouldn't be a ball hog.
I'm not saying he wouldn't go although I can see why you think I believe that. Steve has seen plenty since his days in college. Toronto is a beautiful place and he probably knows that.(Not as beautiful as Vanvcouver however) I am saying the deal doesn't make sense.
Whatever. Yao was improved the day he arrived in camp. Francis was the same player with another year under his belt. Are you going to deny that the Yao Ming who took the court for the first time this year was light years ahead of the Yao Ming who took the court last year, independent of coaching? Gundy has nothing to do with that. I guess you're telling me that Gundy is so great, that he was able to win a whopping 2 more games than a coach who had supposedly lost his team, had no control over his players, whose system was a joke, whose team was stuck in mud, dwelling in mediocrity, and heading nowhere fast ... Gundy is 2 wins better than that. 2 more wins and I guess we're out of the mud now ... we're going somewhere! Ringing endorsement there, cabbage. Maybe you should stop, out of respect for Gundy.
Speculation rules. I say we need to keep Francis and Yao together, everyone else is fair game. We need to let these guys continue to develop their chemistry and adjust the lineups around them. Everyone is too impatient these days. Keep stevie, and bring in some other players to help. who? I dont have all the answers...
yeah tell me about it. The guy that promotes my sunday nights where all the players come out to is a sports agent himself. The guy always has some stuff to say about players. I have heard a few things about the Texans etc, which for the most part are true to now. But overall i hear it all the time and some is true and the other usually deals with frustration of the players and just wheeling and dealing by the agent himself.
I don't think Steve just made up "I'm outta here". It is possible that his agent planted the seed in his brain and there it took root; but after this jacked-up season (OK, we did make the playoffs) in which Steve and JVG did their best (and often failed) to coexist, does anyone really think Steve will be on the Rockets next year if we get a decent deal (and we will)? I don't see the Toronto deal happening. JVG doesn't play rooks. If that #8 pick went with Mo-Pete to another team for the player we want (Rashard?), then maybe. But you have to get back a star player in exchange for Steve because once you move out Francis, you need another player who's gonna put butts in the seats at the Toyota Center. Now, that being said, I have speculated in the past about moving Steve and Cato to Atlanta or to Charlotte for a Top 4 draft pick. You get us down to about $32 million. Do you use that space to sign Rasheed? Okur? Barry? Do you move the #4 pick to a team that wants to free up space (to Phoenix for Marion? to LAC for Brand?) Probably in that scenario it would make more sense to get an idea that you will be making that trade; then you sign a player to the MLE (Camby as backup 5/4?). Charlotte, Atlanta, Toronto, Washington (Steve's hometown). Good possibilities, I suppose. So much depends on who drafts where.
Jalen Rose.......uummm.....no thanks... if you think that Stevie shoots to much, and that the incident at the Super Bowl was tuff, what do you think J-Rose is going to do for us?? and oh yeah, he doesn't play D MoPete might work, cuz he can knock down the 3, but that's about it... the #4 pick overall?? a rookie PG.........not a good fit.....rookie PG's can never really hang.......if there was one rookie PG in the draft who would fit in JVG's system, it would be Chris Duhon, and that is that
I just had a revelation and it goes something like this: I've been worried that Steve Francis is going to get traded, and my passion for this Rocket team will be gone. That, I will not like this team any more. It just hit me, that if steve got traded to the east, Steve would become a contender right away. This means playing for the title, because its easier in the Eastern Conf. I can root for steve ( if hes on the Raptors) in the east and it would feel good. I would be that much happier!!
add me to the list of members that are against trading steve for the rumored deals. i believe steve was our best player in the playoffs and i think that he did improve this year to fit jvg's system. i'd give it another year and see what happens.
Orlando gets the best or second best backcourt in the East instantly and a center who would be in the top 5 Alot with gooden . .and Howard they have a VERY credible Squad and something else . . . maybe SOME cap releive soon Rockets get McGrady . . . he is that good and Hill could be half as he was. . but he would be great Rocket River
