McGrady To Houston Thread (Update: Francis will visit Orlando)

Here is my take on this whole saga, it's all about respect.

Weisbrod wants respect from other GM.
Francis wants respect as a player.

But the way they handles business, just ruin their reputation.

 

I think that would be tampering under NBA rules.

My guess is he CAN NOT answer it directly until the deal is done.

I really think people are a little impatient right now.

DD

 

Want won't cut it, respect is earned.



DD

 

Lue has no upside. (I'd rather have Declerc, or the money freed up for better use.)

 

If we do have a meeting,and I'm not saying we will, but if we do, which I may not know anything about, but if there is a meeting, but......................IT'S A SIMPLE QUESTION YOU infinite expletive,expletive,expletive!

 

I love how the Florida Today story says, "Curiously, Weisbrod continued to insist he's in no hurry to make a trade and hinted that he's still fishing for better offers." HILARIOUS!! Even they are getting tired of the schtick.

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...c29062904jun29,1,4871669.story?coll=orl-magic


Francis to meet with the Magic

Houston all-star Steve Francis softens his stance on being traded for Tracy McGrady.

By Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted June 29, 2004


Houston Rockets guard Steve Francis is coming to Orlando today for what amounts to a job interview with the Magic.

The meeting could pave the way to complete a much-anticipated multiplayer trade between the Magic and the Houston Rockets involving Tracy McGrady and Francis as the principals.

After news broke last week that the Magic and Rockets were working on the deal, Francis said he did not want to play in Orlando.

He softened his stance after an initial contact with Magic General Manager John Weisbrod. Weisbrod invited Francis to Orlando -- with the Rockets' permission -- to learn about the organization and the city after they talked last week.

Jeff Fried, Francis agent, confirmed that the all-star point guard will meet with Weisbrod and team officials.

"It may be unusual, but certainly productive for both sides," Fried said. "Why wouldn't a team and an organization want to speak to a player they are considering bringing in and being a centerpiece? And why wouldn't a player want to meet with the team before everything is final?

"It's productive for both sides. Steve is very impressed with what he's heard from John to this point."

But Weisbrod said the meeting with Francis does not necessarily mean the Magic and Rockets are close to completing the deal. He said earlier Monday that the club still has offers from four teams for McGrady.

"We're letting Steve come in, but it's not like it's any big piece to this [deal]. It's not a difference-maker," Weisbrod said.

League sources say that in addition to the Rockets, the Phoenix Suns and the Indiana Pacers, another unidentified team has been pursuing McGrady.

Sources say that the holdup in the deal is that the Magic may be trying to get the Rockets to include some future draft picks or cash considerations.

Asked if he expected the McGrady trade to happen soon, Weisbrod said, "I have no way of saying it would or wouldn't. . . . If something were to suddenly break with that, it would have to happen pretty quickly."

Meanwhile, Grant Hill began, in earnest, his final comeback attempt on Monday at RDV Sportsplex.

Hill hopes to find out if his left ankle can hold up to the rigors of full-court basketball before the opening of the Orlando Magic's training camp Oct. 5 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Hill will work up to testing his ankle strenuously, and said if he significantly reinjures it he will retire immediately.

Hill has had four surgeries since being signed by the Magic in the summer of 2000. His last and most extensive procedure was in March of 2003, and doctors have told him that his ankle is as sound as it ever will be.

"It will be tested prior to camp, I can tell you that. If there's any problems or anything wrong, it will -- by all means -- not be worth it," said Hill, who started stepping up his workouts in a swimming pool at RDV.

"I don't anticipate any problems, but I'm not going to play Superman. It's not worth it. I'll save the Superman stuff for the rookies."

Although Hill said last week in Houston he had inside information that the McGrady trade would go down, he admitted he had no official confirmation.

"It's not as easy as trading baseball cards," Hill said. "We'll see. Whatever happens, Tracy is going to bring tremendous value."

Hill said he regretted being unable to play a full season with McGrady, who joined him in the summer of 200 as the Magic's prize signees.

"It just didn't work out the way we wanted it," he said. "It looks like we're going to have a new team, and from my perspective, a lot depends on health. There's mine and Pat Garrity's."

 

There it is, right there. The deal is done and he is trying to squeeze the Rockets for some more $$$. That's what this comes down to, I guarantee it.

OMG, that it hilarious. He got to Hill too! Now, Hill is like, "Um, yeah, I didn't really MEAN anything by that. I mean, uh, next question..."

Awesome!

 

I guess we just imagined that he said he DIDN'T ask Francis to come.

 

letting???

oh what a gracious @#$%^&* host you are.

 

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/merc...u@yahoo.com&KRD_RM=4qqkonpnmkoqpllkkkkkkkkmlk|Tony|Y

......

McGrady has been the centerpiece of a proposed trade to the Houston Rockets, but the deal has not been brokered. In fact, Magic General Manager John Weisbrod said that a total of four teams are still vying for McGrady's services.

One perceived stumbling block in completing the trade was Rockets guard Steve Francis' reluctance to play in Orlando. But Weisbrod was granted permission by the Rockets to speak with Francis, and Francis told the Houston Chronicle that he would be making a trip to Orlando on Monday for more discussions.

But Weisbrod said that Francis wasn't in town and said, "I don't know if that will happen."

League sources say that besides the Rockets, the Phoenix Suns and the Indiana Pacers, another unidentified team has been pursuing McGrady.

Sources say that the holdup in the deal is that the Magic may be trying to get the Rockets to include some future draft picks.

Asked if he expected the McGrady trade to happen soon, Wesibrod said, "I have no way of saying it would or wouldn't. . . . If something were to suddenly break with that, it would have to happen pretty quickly."

......

 

You know, this guy would get ripped apart on this BBS. People would be yanking out contradictory quotes all over the place.

Oh, yeah, but you said this before...

EXPLAIN YOURSELF!!!

CASE CLOSED!!!

 

Monday's Florida newspapers, Today and the Sentinel, IIRC, showed love for the hockey guy. Do I need to back out links?

They're spilling printer's ink, too, just looking for angles.

 

Thing is, Wisebrod MUST ask permission to speak with Francis and Francis must receive permission to visit. So, the guy is just lying out of his ass when he says that this was all up to Francis.

 

How can you tell when Hockey Guy is lying?

 

I read somewhere that Rockets granted permisson to Magic to talk to Francis

 

His nose gets bigger. No, wait, it already is bigger.

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~stealthninja/weshchannel2.wmv

 

Just watch his lips. When they move, he's lyin'...

 

Anyone else get the feeling this is a really important quote:

This does two things. It lets the Rockets know they can end this thing by pony-ing up a draft pick(s) and it lets the media and fans know that if it were to suddenly get done, that wouldn't be too surprising.

What a nut.