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

Sorry, I missed your post, Jeff. It's a forest in here.

Now I understand why Weisbrod is pretending Francis isn't there. Francis is trying to get this over with, and if the Orlando media make it look like a happy wedding, the fans will be sold, and Weisbrod won't be able to call it off.

Good for you, Weisbrod. Go down in history as the GM who treated his incoming star like garbage in the hope of extracting a late first-round draft pick. Penny wise and pound foolish.

 

You know, I don't think we'll ever know the full exchange of conversations between C.D and Weisbrod.

I believe the former has too much respect for his craft to step out of bounds like Weisbrod has. I'm pretty sure Weisbrod came into this deal with a huge chip on his shoulder, trying to prove that he is as worthy of a GM as anyone.

I just hope that as 'by the hairs' as Weisbrod has C.D., that he won't bend over and grab his ankles for too much longer.

TMac is TMac, but he's not worth the respect of an organization.

 

Ironically, Weisbrod will probably end up the hero to Magic fans. Funny.

 

Weisbrod thinks time is on his side. That's supposed to be his leverage to make us cough up more. And it is hurting us: Until we've got McGrady nailed down, we can't line up the other players we'll need to fill the holes left behind. But time also hurts the Magic, by leaving Francis hanging out there in humiliating limbo. The only way Weisbrod can avoid alienating Francis while playing this public poker game is to tell Francis privately, "Don't worry, you're going to be here."

I think that's exactly what Weisbrod has done. And that's why Doc's source and all these reporters have put out the word that the deal is essentially done.

 

I think at some point we have to stand our ground.

Tell McGradys agent to intervene and threaten to veto any trade to anybody (but us) THROUGH THE MEDIA, if they keep these games up. McGradys camp must realize the more they squeeze from the Rockets, the less support he will have in the future.

This is a game of poker, and the only way we can Loose is to fold. We must call their bluff. Just make sure McGrady is 100% behind us and is not thinking of the Pacers as a backup plan.

 

Fox uses the Washington post as a source..

http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2528476

 

I guess we all know why T-Mac wants to get the hell out of there so fast:

1. This is a front office that provided T-Mac with absolutely no help, even after he repeatedly asked for it.

2. They brought in a moron GM who basically gave T-Mac an ulitmatum (sp?) on to leave or stay. Magic fans were furious with this because if you just tell McGrady you will find help, he would most likely stay, but Wisebrod gave him the option of leaving. Which worked out for us.

3. This rookie GM is making a mockery out of teams, players, and fans. He thinks he is playing some high-level mind game when everyone sees right through it.

Does this guy really think people will believe that CD, Francis, Hill, Jim Grey, D. Aldridge, and countless sources, lied about the deal for their own good? What do they get out of it for lying, nothing.

 

Weisbrod is such a shady character. I refuse to believe T-Mac is a Rocket until I see him in Rockets' jersey.

 

Heres a question for the experts:

If the trade has to happen by midnight, does that mean we have to get the extension with McGradys agent agreed by that time too?

 

Don't think this has been posted today, but it gives the same info except for some lines that may show Florida media starting to get tired of Weisbrod's chirades. I have a good mind to email John Denton and get his opinion on this whole episode.

http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/sportstoryS0629FRANCIS.htm

Francis scheduled to meet Weisbrod

BY JOHN DENTON
FLORIDA TODAY

ORLANDO -- Steve Francis will meet with the Orlando Magic today in a session that could signal that the much-talked-about seven-player blockbuster trade between the Magic and Houston Rockets is imminent.

Francis originally told reporters in Houston that he would be in Orlando on Monday, but the trip to visit with Magic general manager John Weisbrod and possibly team owner Rich DeVos got bumped to today.

Weisbrod confirmed that the two sides were not meeting Monday, but he squirmed, mockingly contorted his face and didn't directly answer when asked if the All-Star guard was due into town today

But Francis' agent, Jeff Fried, indicated that the session would finally take place today at the Magic's headquarters.

"We're in the process of making arrangements for Steve to fly (today)," Fried said. "I know he's meeting with John (Weisbrod). If John decides to bring in the ownership group, that's John's decision."

The topic of a meeting in Orlando was discussed last Thursday night when Weisbrod and Francis talked on the phone about the potential trade. Francis was initially upset that he would be leaving Houston for a rebuilding Magic team, but Fried said that Weisbrod has since changed his mind and that Francis would welcome a trade.

In the trade, the Magic would get Cuttino Mobley, Kelvin Cato and Francis, while the Rockets would receive Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines.

Today's meeting could be the only thing holding up the trade that has been discussed for two weeks. But Weisbrod stressed that the idea was Francis' and that it will likely have little effect on the trade he decides to execute.

"If we do (meet), it will be something that he's interested in doing," Weisbrod said. "I didn't ask him to come to town and that's probably why he's a little further down that road and telling people that. But if he wants to come to town, we're certainly happy to spend the time."

Curiously, Weisbrod continued to insist he's in no hurry to make a trade and hinted that he's still fishing for better offers. He said four teams are still in the hunt for McGrady, down from the seven he suggested on Friday that were still bidding for the services of the two-time scoring champion. Those teams are believed to be Houston, Indiana, Phoenix and Miami.
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Jun 28, 8:21 PM

Francis scheduled to meet Weisbrod

BY JOHN DENTON
FLORIDA TODAY



ORLANDO -- Steve Francis will meet with the Orlando Magic today in a session that could signal that the much-talked-about seven-player blockbuster trade between the Magic and Houston Rockets is imminent. Trading block
The Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets could be near a blockbuster deal that would send Tracy McGrady, among others, to the Rockets. Here is a look at three players who could be dealt to the Magic:


Steve Francis
Team: Houston
Position: Guard
Height: 6-3
College: MarylandYear Ppg. Rpg. Apg.
03-04 16.6 5.5 6.2
02-03 21.0 6.2 6.2
01-02 21.6 7.0 6.4
00-01 19.9 5.3 6.5
99-00 18.0 5.3 6.6

Cuttino Mobley
Team: Houston
Position: Guard
Height: 6-4
College: Rhode IslandYear PPG Rpg. Apg.
03-04 15.8 4.5 3.2
02-03 17.5 4.2 2.8
01-02 21.7 4.1 2.5
00-01 19.5 5.0 2.5
99-00 15.8 3.6 2.6
98-99 9.9 2.3 2.5

Kelvin Cato
Team: Houston
Position: Forward
Height: 6-11
College: Iowa StateYear PPG Rpg. Bpg.
03-04 6.1 6.8 1.39
02-03 4.5 5.9 1.16
01-02 6.6 7.0 1.27
00-01 4.7 4.0 0.86
99-00 8.7 6.0 1.91
98-99 3.5 3.5 1.30
97-98 3.8 3.4 1.27



Francis originally told reporters in Houston that he would be in Orlando on Monday, but the trip to visit with Magic general manager John Weisbrod and possibly team owner Rich DeVos got bumped to today.

Weisbrod confirmed that the two sides were not meeting Monday, but he squirmed, mockingly contorted his face and didn't directly answer when asked if the All-Star guard was due into town today.

But Francis' agent, Jeff Fried, indicated that the session would finally take place today at the Magic's headquarters.

"We're in the process of making arrangements for Steve to fly (today)," Fried said. "I know he's meeting with John (Weisbrod). If John decides to bring in the ownership group, that's John's decision."

The topic of a meeting in Orlando was discussed last Thursday night when Weisbrod and Francis talked on the phone about the potential trade. Francis was initially upset that he would be leaving Houston for a rebuilding Magic team, but Fried said that Weisbrod has since changed his mind and that Francis would welcome a trade.

In the trade, the Magic would get Cuttino Mobley, Kelvin Cato and Francis, while the Rockets would receive Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines.

Today's meeting could be the only thing holding up the trade that has been discussed for two weeks. But Weisbrod stressed that the idea was Francis' and that it will likely have little effect on the trade he decides to execute.

"If we do (meet), it will be something that he's interested in doing," Weisbrod said. "I didn't ask him to come to town and that's probably why he's a little further down that road and telling people that. But if he wants to come to town, we're certainly happy to spend the time."

Curiously, Weisbrod continued to insist he's in no hurry to make a trade and hinted that he's still fishing for better offers. He said four teams are still in the hunt for McGrady, down from the seven he suggested on Friday that were still bidding for the services of the two-time scoring champion. Those teams are believed to be Houston, Indiana, Phoenix and Miami.

Weisbrod said he was not concerned with the off-court problems that Francis had in Houston this past season. He openly feuded with new coach Jeff Van Gundy and was suspended for a game after he skipped a flight when the Super Bowl was being playing Houston. Also, Francis led the league in technical fouls and was fined for hitting Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire in the neck with a blatant elbow.

Weisbrod said getting Francis to Orlando could help him the same way that Rasheed Wallace improved once he was traded from Portland to Atlanta and ultimately Detroit. Known as a malcontent with the Trail Blazers -- Weisbrod referred to him as "the poster child for talent dysfunction" -- Wallace helped the Pistons win the NBA championship.

"If your organization is strong enough, the structure is something they will want to be a part of," Weisbrod said. "Now you look at Rasheed Wallace, he's a leader and a champion and all of the good things that people thought about his talent.

"So that's one example of being in one environment and in another environment and it's testimony as to why you want to make the environment what we've been talking about here."

Contact Denton at jd41898@aol.com

 

Actually, it was posted just after 11pm last night.

 

Anyone else feel sorry for Steve? Not because he is being traded, but because he has to work with Weisbrod?

"Weisbrod confirmed that the two sides were not meeting Monday, but he squirmed, mockingly contorted his face and didn't directly answer when asked if the All-Star guard was due into town today"


"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.

What a jackass.

 

Really? Oh well, there so many freaking articles and thread pages, but I still found those quotes entertaining. It seems like Fiegen isn't the only one that notices his crap. Thanks though

 

It's cool. The best assumption is that, especially in situations like these, if it is older than 4 or 5 hours, it is on the board. There are a lot of people who actually have mulitple windows open to a wide range of sites and are reloading them every minute or two to see if anything comes up. Crazy, I know.

 

Why is the Florida Today and the Houston Chron reporting that Gaines is also involved in the deal?

 

Hmmm.... read this:

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040629/NEWS/406290388/1002/SPORTS

 

Orlando vs. Houston Finals Pt. II anyone?

 

Same thing we've already heard, Weisbrod being a tool. I doubt they take their chances of trying to convince Tracy to stay. Tracy is for sure out of Orlando either this summer or next, and if they keep him then his trade value drops significantly towards the trading deadline since other teams no he will walk. Weisbrod may be a boob but I doubt he's dumb.

 

Yeah, I've been thinking that.

Recent Weisbrod quotes remind me of Larry Bird's position a week ago. Bird basically said he had an offer on the table for Orlando and he essentially wasn't talking to them anymore unless they call. It gives me the feeling that Weisbrod is behaving much the same way in private negotiations as he does in the media and Bird was just sick of talking to him.

 

Ok i think many people in here can agree with me that Weisbrod has takin over the spot as BBS(public) ENEMY #1 over the previous holder K. Malone.