We all know by now the teams involved in the TMac sweepstakes, what they have to offer, the #1 pick (Orlando) in the draft barring trades, and the probable outcome of the 2004 Finals... With this in mind, I believe the draft status of Orlando has little to do with TMac Staying or leaving, one because he has given a post-Finals (season conclusion) date of giving the Magic a heads up as to his plans, two because LAC have Brand, Wilcox, Ely, and CHI has Chandler, Curry, and Fizer, giving Orlando Okafor buy default possibly anyways, and three because TMac already knew Orlando was going to get a great young player (possibly #1 overall) out of the June draft when the season ended at 21-61. If you have Tmac on your team and finish with the league's worst record, as an organization, where is the Magic going anyways? I'd be more concerned with him getting married now and sticking around then I would be of the draft status. The gravity of the pick does however allow them to get more in return for McGrady (if that's at all possible) by swapping first-rounders, and obviously, the players... With that said, the Lakers I am assuming would not be trading Shaq to Orlando, for "bad terms" reasons, amongst others such as common sense, for Okafor (kid's great, he's not LeBron though). Kobe I don't expect back in a Laker uniform next year as LAC, Atlanta, Phoenix, etc. are all going to make serious offers. The Shaq/Kobe thing can't coexist for much longer I'm thinking. Lakers won't lose both... Phoenix has some bargaining and cap room for TMac as well, fortunately enough however the main players involved "only" include Marion and Johnson at this point. Orlando apparently wants Amare in the mix for this to happen instead of Marion for the Amare/Okafor tandem (rules the East for years and years). I believe San Antonio is the real player here. With the cap room and personel they have to offer, they appear to be the front runners AT THIS POINT. The only problem is what to do with Malik Rose. Assuming Charlotte passes him over in the Expansion Draft, before the Rookie Draft, Rose would have to be a part of the TMac deal for the numbers to work. However, Orlando isn't interested in taking on his cap figure along with Hill's. They'll figure something out soon as a TMac/Duncan tandem is the next Western dynasty... That leads us to Houston. With a "down-season" Francis as the centerpiece and no first round draft pick we come up just a little short in terms of firepower. But our cap space is a great plus due to our TE, despite our bloated contracts in Cato, Taylor, and Spoon (some of which we might lose to Charlotte). The marketing scheme for us to land TMac has to be selling the Cato/Okafor tandem as one of the best in the East and the All-Star, electrifying, guard Stevie "Franchise," not Steve Francis. Obviously, the deal may include other players such as Mobley and/or Taylor but the key is being able to take on another bloated contract, that being Grant Hill's. That has to be a HUGE selling point for us with the Magic at this point as they want to sweep that whole thing under the rug by now. We'll see though... as TMac ultimately has the final say in this whole thing anyways as he will most likely request to be traded at the end of next month. TMac in a Houston jersey next season? Realistic, however unlikely...
I think that you will not be working for cliff any time soon. Cliff Note Version: In your opinion: Shaq will not be traded to Orl Kobe signs elsewhere T-MAC choose his spot and you think it will be SA and not Houston. See, I used less words, but somehow managed to say the same thing.
Not as compelling... Besides, I guess I just needed to get all that down! So on with others opinions on the topic...
