McGrady: If traded from Orlando, Rockets are first choice

The only other scenario I can see for a team to GAMBLE and take the risk that T-Mac flies the coop after one year is if the team in question believes that T-Mac will help them get the ring in '05-'06. It has to be a one shot, over the hump, going for the gold kind of event. But judging from the sounds of it, T-Mac is looking to pick someplace he can be for many years. This doesn't sound like a one year sojourn to me.

theSAGE

 

Orlando does NOT want to trade T-Mac. Doing so will be the kiss of death for them no matter what the proposed trade deal is. I believe that they are looking at the long run and understand that if they give away T-Mac and not get a Kobe or the like in return, they will not be able to attract the free agents to the Magic for years to come. Plus, they realize that ANY moves they make will have to be such that their fans will buy into it and the proposed deal of SF + TE for T-Mac + JH is in no way the type of deal that will go over well in Orlando. The fans would go into open revolt there and that's not a good thing when you (Magic) are campaigning for a new arena. I expect that behind closed doors, Orlando will bend over backwards to appease T-Mac in order to make him feel good about the organization to keep him onboard.

T-Mac had a rough year and is fed up with the whishy-washy front office in Orlando. He has put them on notice that he will opt out NEXT year unless things are dramatically changed. He's basically trying to force his way out of a bad organization. He may indeed get traded but for much more than the Rockets can offer - an SF for T-Mac trade is simply not realistic. The TE is worthless to Orlando if they will not be able to attract free agents and that's exactly what would happen if they make your proposed trade. Outside of the TE, the Rockets have nothing really attractive to add besides Cato who is not nearly enough to swing the deal. They have no attractive draft picks nor players sitting on the bench. Orlando will want to get players (plural) in return for T-Mac and the Rockets really have none to offer. That's why I consider all of this talk of us getting T-Mac to be just that: talk. If he does go anywhere my guess would be LA or Indiana or maybe even SA (God forbid).

 

Do you really think the Magic see Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Malik Rose as a better compensation for McGrady than Francis and Cato? Because for God's sake, you know SA will never, ever part with Tim Duncan.

Will a package of Ron Artest and Jonathon Bender really appease the fans in Orlando more than anyone else?

And let's get one thing clear: Kobe Bryant will not be traded, and he CERTAINLY won't want to sign with Orlando. So that leaves the Clippers.

Elton Brand has never won more than 39 games in a season, and the Magic plan to bring in Okafor or Howard anyway. Maggette is a good scorer and defender, but do you really think the Magic front office is salivating at the idea of giving up their franchise player for him? Q. Richardson's a free agent, and looks to be a career complemetary scorer to me.

Look. It's a lose-lost situation for the Magic. If it comes down to it, we can offer them Francis, Mobley, and a player like Cato, Piatkowski, Griffin, or Nachbar. That's two explosive guards and a solid role player, and though the Magic lose probably the best player in the Eastern Conference, they also dump dead weight on the salary cap in J. Howard and Garrity or Hill. Okafor and D. Howard are going to be special players. Not every team is willing to part with their franchise player for McGrady, especially if they know he won't resign with them.

We happen to have one Franchise too many. Orlando would be wise to exchange for him.

 

How would the TE be worthless in Orlando? It's not a free agent exception - it's a trade exception, meaning they can use it to trade for a player who makes $7mill more than they would be giving up.

 

Furthermore, you claim that Orlando will bend over backwards to appease T-Mac but later say that something like the TE is of no use to Orlando? How do you suggest they improve their team? All they have is the #1 pick and trading it won't net them nearly enough in return to stay. We know they want to try to improve the team for him, I'm sure they're trying right now, but there's nothing really they can do. You say trading T-Mac for anyone less than a Kobe would be the kiss of death for that franchise. No it wouldn't - the kiss of death would be losing him for nothing. Something they went through in 1996 - something they've stated they're not going to risk again. And understandably so. I'm sure they're trying all they can to keep him, but he's most likely gone. Why not wait till midseason to try and trade him you might suggest? Because fewer teams would be willing to blow up their team for him, teams that he would want to resign with, so why gamble that even less would be on the table at that point? The TE is useless you say? No, they can couple it with someone like Kelvin Cato to Portland for Sharif Abdur Rahim, someone who is rotting on the bench over there. Of course this is all not best case scenario for the Magic. They'll be set back for years. But there are things they can do to salvage the franchise somewhat and make losses minimal, and that starts with trading T-Mac.

 

I fear what SA will do because unlike Houston, they have a GM who knows what he's doing. I agree that if Orlando cannot convince T-Mac to stay then they will essentially be in a lose-lose situation. If that's the case, why would they compound that situation by trading a superstar for our junk? You want to trade them our starting backcourt plus Cato or one of 3 guys who sit at the end of the bench. This is attractive to Orlando? Their front office would be crucified for making this move. In former years, I could see Orlando doing something like this but their front office appears to have finally learned their lesson. I think that they will hold out for the best deal.

What you are proposing provides no benefit BOTH teams and that's why I consider this to be unrealistic. Let's flip the script. If we had T-Mac, would you move him for the players you mentioned? This is still mere speculation on everyone's part because it has not yet been determined if T-Mac will actually leave (we should know for sure by week's end). He's committed to playing there this year no matter what he says.

As for Kobe, he's already opted out. His ego is out of control although what's happened during the finals may yet bring him back to earth (the guy is on some weird Milton trip). If he continues to press the issue, I could definitely see LA swinging a sign and trade Kobe for T-Mac (plus spare parts) deal. T-Mac and Shaq are close and this would be a trade that involves two superstars. Remember, stranger things have happened.

 

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1087041464218220.xml

Just wanted to let everyone know

 

Add Ainge to growing list of Luke Jackson's admirers
Sunday, June 13, 2004
GEOFFREY C. ARNOLD
Former Oregon star Luke Jackson has a growing list of admirers, perhaps none more so than Danny Ainge, the Boston Celtics' president of basketball operations.


From Our Advertiser




"He's a complete player," Ainge said. "He doesn't do anything really great, he's just does a lot of stuff well."

Ainge wouldn't come out and say it, but he left little doubt that the Celtics would be thrilled to see Jackson available at their pick, No. 15. But there's a growing feeling that Jackson won't last that long in the June 24 NBA draft.

There's even talk of the Chicago Bulls trading the No. 3 pick to Atlanta (No. 6) if prep star Dwight Howard isn't selected in the top two picks. The Hawks would select Howard and the Bulls would then pick Jackson.

Robinson impresses: Many of the probable lottery picks don't compete in the NBA predraft camp, giving some lesser-known players an opportunity to shine.

That's what Nate Robinson did last week, when the University of Washington point guard stole the show with a series of electric performances.

"He was playing at a different speed than everyone else," said Ernie Grunfeld, the Washington Wizards' general manager. "He is very exciting to watch."

Robinson, listed at 5-foot-8, proved himself by scoring 22 points with four rebounds and four assists in 22 minutes during Wednesday's scrimmage.

"We knew he could score," Seattle SuperSonics president Wally Walker said. "But he did a good job of running the show, and that was what people were wondering about."

Robinson had a game-high six assists along with six rebounds and scored seven points in a scrimmage Thursday.

"As a kid, I was so quick I would just get the ball and go. That's where I got the scorer's mentality," Robinson said. "Now, I have to slow down and show that I can run the team."

Notes:

Houston is desperately trying to trade forwards Maurice Taylor and Kelvin Cato. They are also intrigued by a Tracy McGrady-for-Steve Francis deal. . . . Orlando general manager John Weisbrod said that "at least five teams" have inquired about Grant Hill. . . . Former Oregon State star Lester Conner is now the associate coach in Philadelphia. The title makes Conner lead assistant to Jim O'Brien . . . . New Toronto general manager Rob Babcock said he would prefer to keep Vince Carter, but the word around the predraft camp was that Carter could be available. . . . Former Blazers point guard Rod Strickland was at the predraft camp Wednesday, saying he was, among other things, looking for work next season.

 

I sorry, but I just don't see all of this value in the TE. It's nice to have but really nothing special. I do know Orlando will do everything they can to convince him to stay but one thing that won't happen is a repeat of 1996 - they will trade him if their backs are to the wall. I just don't see them at that point just yet. T-Mac HAS to play there this season regardless. If T-Mac is moved, it has to be done in such a way that the Magic come out ahead or there will be hell to pay in Mouseland. I am certain that sending him here for SF and some of our junk is not what they had in mind. That's why these trade scenarios are not realistic IMHO. For a trade to work BOTH teams have to benefit and so far, I see no real benefit to Orlando in any of the proposed Rocket trades.

I must confess that I do not understand all of the passion associated with trading for T-Mac. Sure he's a SERIOUS upgrade at the 2 but all of the proposed trades do nothing to address our shortcomings at the 1, the 3 or the 4. This team has problems at multiple positions and no one trade will bring enough to fix them. T-Mac alone will not elevate the Rockets to contender status. The bad drafts, bad free agent signings and bad contracts have all conspired to work this team in a very tight corner and it's going to take some smart decision making and a lot of luck for them (Rockets) to get better. And with their current front office, that will be asking for an awful lot.

 

I'm trying to recall the brilliance of recent SA GM moves. Horry didn't get to shine in June, as history lessons imply he should have. Parker was irreplacable when he needed help because the GM didn't provide help at the Point that worked out. Rose is a contract albatross for SA. Rasho was a rasher of bacon, hardly the next coming of David.

I guess our dope would have done worse by them in reversed roles?

I contend, as I have for some time, Orlando's best deal and one THEY should push is TMac and Juwann for SF and the TE. That would give them a recognized talent (yes, Stevie haters, a recognized talent) and 10 million dollars of cap replief. They could use that TE and another lesser valued contract for a couple of contributing players.

Lesley A would have to OK the budget ballooning. (Cato/Cat for Artest/Pollard) would lessen that sting by 2+ mil.)

 

Actually, you could just leave Cat at the 2, start TMac at the 3, and have JJ back up both positions, leaving holes at the 1 and 4 only. Another way to go is to start Cat, JJ, and TMac, since Cat is a good enough ball handler to advance the ball and pass either directly to Yao, or to TMac or JJ to initiate the offense. Doing that leaves a hole at the 4 only, and that is assuming that Cato had to be included in the TMac deal. If we still had Cato, I would say a Cat, JJ, TMac, Cato, Yao starting 5 could contend for a long time, with JJ eventually replaced by another player (probably Boki, or possibly Pike).

 

I think TMac may be able to play the 1 similiarly to the way that Kobe does for the Lakers. If you notice in the finals, Kobe is bringing the ball up and initiating the offense over half the time.

TMAC
Cat
JJ/BOKI
Yao
Cato/Howard/whoever else we trade or sign

 

I rather have T-mac and his defense/blocking, rebounding, and passing in the SF position. His offense of course, will be beneficial from either the SG or SF position.

 

Althought you're right, I doubt JVG would have T-Mac do just that. If you haven't noticed, JVG is a pretty straight up coach when it comes to identifying positional players. That's why the lack of a real 4 hurt us big time last season. Utlimately if T-Mac were to come to Houston, he'd play the straight up 2 and take over the starter's spot from Mobes. If we were talking a more creative minded coach (e.g. Don Nelson or Larry Brown) then perhaps you'd see more hybrid playing. But JVG???

No way, IMHO.

theSAGE

 

I cut and pasted the following from the Orlando Sentinel, , it's looking more and more like were getting McGrady, I just hope it's for anyone other than Ming, Cato, Taylor, Jackson, or Mobley...

The Orlando Magic expect to know "pretty soon" whether superstar Tracy McGrady is in their future, but everybody else may be left guessing for some time.

"I don't know when the resolution will be made public, but we'll have it pretty soon," Magic General Manager John Weisbrod said Monday.

Frustrated after a 21-61 season, McGrady can opt out of his seven-year contract after next season, but the Magic have been pushing for an answer since this season ended.

Magic owner Rich DeVos will come to Orlando this week in hopes of speaking to T-Mac, who has said he is "90 percent certain" what he will do.

Magic President Bob Vander Weide told the Sentinel recently that he and DeVos want to know "whether Tracy is in or whether he's out."

In other news, Weisbrod said Monday that the Magic, who have the No. 1 pick in the June 24 NBA draft, "were of the mind to make the pick."

He said no team has swept them off their feet with a trade proposal in which the Magic could receive veteran players, a deal that might help McGrady win games and persuade him to stay.

Weisbrod said several teams who don't have lottery picks have called to inquire. He admitted "nothing is set in stone," and that normally the serious dealing doesn't occur until close to draft day.

A league source, however, said Monday that the Magic are trying to trade the No. 1 pick and that two teams -- one a non-lottery team -- are aggressively pursuing the pick.

But looking "at the value of the players involved," Weisbrod said he feels it's better to keep the top selection -- whether it's Emeka Okafor or Dwight Howard.

Okafor will work out for the Magic Friday morning. Howard will arrive Friday night with his parents and, according to his agent, Aaron Goodwin, will work out sometime Saturday "after the Magic have had a chance to digest Okafor's workout."

McGrady has scoffed at the available draft prospects and said he did not want to be part of a rebuilding project. He has lobbied the club to trade their draft pick for veterans.

If McGrady wants out, the Magic want to be able to trade him and receive compensation in the form of players or draft picks.

Weisbrod has said he has a "sense" of what McGrady will do, but neither McGrady nor McGrady's agent, Arn Tellem, have publicly announced their intentions.

It appears McGrady is ready to ask the Magic to trade him to a playoff team, and the silence of all parties may indicate that a deal already may be in the works.

 

My Way or the Highway Tactics Usually Means a Dead End

Thx for the article Manuel.

What's interesting about it, to me at least, is how impatient the GM and the Owner of the Magic are in getting T-Mac's reply. What that tells me is that there is little to no communication between T-Mac and the Magic organization as to how to sincerely rebuild this franchise into a contender with T-Mac as part of the puzzle. Instead, it sounds like two distinct paths:

1. Rebuild altogether by using the #1 pick w/o T-Mac
2. Keep T-Mac and trade the #1 pick for some veterans.

Smelling blood, the rest of the league is apparently smart enough to know what NOT to give up to the Magic as far as veteran talent goes. Fact is, Orlando is bargaining from a position of WEAKNESS, not strength. Moreover, they're lack of resolve in setting a clear plan and instead preparing for all these contingency plans suggests that T-Mac is clearly not involved in the future direction of this team. Without going on a limb, I woundn't be surprised if half of T-Mac's frustration has to do with the organization too and all the nimwits running the show in Orlando.

T-Mac, if you're reading this. Come to Houston. Your future home is calling you!!!



theSAGE

 

You are correct in that their moves didn't quite pan out for them this year - particlarly Rasho & Horry "stick a fork in me, I'm done" but at least they MADE moves to try to get better. You did mention Rose whom I think would be a good addition to the bench here at PF - he's cheap and better than Witherspoon but that's another discussion.

As for the Orlando deal, it may very well be that you are right in that it is the best possible deal for them but it's so one-sided in our favor that they'd be exorcised by their fan base for making it. I see the Magic at a crossroads of sorts. If they deal T-Mac, it will have to be the type of deal that will give their fan base some hope - they simply cannot sell a wholesale rebuilding job. They want (and need) to trade for an established star and I'm not sure SF fits the bill. That's why I said they'd be looking for a Kobe-like player in return. But who knows? Anything could happen and I would not be surprised one iota to see T-Mac land in NY or Philly or LA or SA.

 

TMac might land anywhere, that's for sure. Or even stay 'home'. However, Magic's (mis)management can deal the TE 'simultaneously' * to create whatever cushion they might feel they would need with their fanbase.

More likely is that they'll smear McGrady's name to 'save face'.

* You'll recall Rox doing that with the 4 - 1 Chuckles deal, bringing in Willis and Price as part of the same (money freeing) deal.

 

You cease to amaze me Hillboy! It is as if you have fail to understand the whole premise behind these potential trade talks. I've been reading each of your posts and I just cringe in frustration, because the truth of it is that this is a fairly simple situation. First a few things must be established. One, Tracy McGrady wants out of Orlando! There is no doubt that he wants out of Florida so he has pushed Orlando into a corner. Secondly, he has stated that he would like to play for a possible contender with a low post presence. These two things severely limit options for Orlando, and if you don't think T-Mac has a choice in where he goes you are quite naive. You claim that Orlando cannot "sell a wholesale rebuilding job"? Too late buddy, they are trying to sell it already. They know it is going to happen and their fans know it. For christ sakes, a majority of Orlando fans would be content with landing Shawn Marion for McGrady, and your telling me that's better than Francis?

The Magic are not at a freaking crossroads! They've been traveling on the road of 'suck' for a few years now, now they have to go in reverse and start over, there is no denying that. The bottom line is this: If McGrady wants out and wants out to a playoff contender with a big man ( in the Western Conference b/c Orlando would not trade him to an Eastern Conference team) that leaves Houston, Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Phoenix (the latter being a potential playoff contender). First, Kobe Bryant will not go to Orlando! If T-Mac is leaving because Orlando is hogging all of the suck then I don't think Kobe, even with his ego, will want to fill in his shoes. It doesn't matter if Shaq and T-Mac are bestest friends, what matters is that Kobe would have to approve a deal to Orlando, and besides the fact that he wouldn't want to play with scrubs he also wouldn't do anything to appease Shaq. You talk about San Antonio as a possibility. Perhaps, but the idea of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili lighting up Orlando is ridiculous. Those two are not stars in my eyes, and at least Francis has All-Star appeal. That would be the most boring team in the history of the NBA, and a lot of what the NBA is about is putting stars on the court.

You also for some ridiculous reason mention New York and Philly. Once again, I don't imagine Orlando trading their star to a Eastern Conference opponent, it just doesn't make sense. Second off, you act as if these two teams have more to offer for T-Mac! What does New York have to offer besides Stephon? Allan Houston is overpaid and injury prone, same with Kurt Thomas, and the rest of that team is compost compared to our 'junk'. Maybe Allen Iverson right? Wrong, because while AI is a All-Star player he has a worse attitude than Francis, he is a injury waiting to happen, and this past season proved that, with no help around him, his team will get nowhere.

So this brings us to Houston and Phoenix. Francis, Mobley, Cato, and the TE for T-Mac, Hill, and Howard (if numbers work out) is about the best Orlando can hope for. If Phoenix were to offer Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson, and a pick then that might be the best offer, but I doubt Phoenix will part with Johnson. Francis is not garbage as you make it sound. I don't care if you hate Francis, you can't deny his talent.

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...n15,1,5793759.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines

It appears McGrady is ready to ask the Magic to trade him to a playoff team, and the silence of all parties may indicate that a deal already may be in the works.