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

according to orlando fans, ABC news (in orlando) is reporting that more promising offers have been sent in to the magic (including the phoenix one).

 

One note on Francis...

Everyone has said - media, members of the Rockets staff, etc - that Francis' people (agents, etc) are VERY difficult to deal with and always have been. I think this is a good example. Palillo even alluded to that fact on the air yesterday.

 

I don't know why but for reason I'm expecting something to happen right now (meaning some news on something) because I've been wandering this site for almost an hour now looking for new info

 

oh well TMac signs and opts out, then what happens? remember Tmac said he would only sign an extension with the Rockets, correct? then why are other teams even trying anymore? its ridiculous and irritating. If he does get traded do we keep Cat Francis Cato? Cat has said it wouldn't be the same, Francis would probably feel the same, do we trade them? this sucks! This whole situation has caused a disturbance in my daily internet surfing habits

 

great....just great.

 

They were talking about Francis' agent on 610 this afternoon. The guy just seems to like dramatizing the situation and making it diffucult. Apparently, he said if the trade fell through, Steve's relationship with the Rockets would be "scarred". Probably true, but shouldn't the agent leave those comments up to the player? I would think that the agent is supposed to leave out the players personal feelings other than where they want to play or how much money they want.

I don't think Francis is the biggest problem here. His agent is.

 

I've never heard of Francis's agents before, who else do they represent?

 

First of all Steve's agent is correct. McGrady is refusing to play for the MAgic, and he he's getting plenty of say in what teams he goes to.

Secondly it's too early to say for sure what the deal is, and until we know one or the other we might want to wait and see what the outcome is.

Remember when people started hating on STeve based on the rumor that Steve would leave if we drafted Yao? Steve never once publically complained, and in fact jumped on board, praised Yao to Cat and other teammates, showed up to pick Yao up, and drive him around, made a show of support by sticking by Yao in practice etc. He ended up being very classy and handling the situation in a very professional and classy manner. Others had prematurely bashed him and trashed him, but Steve's own actions were nothing but professional.

On another point I don't understand how people can hate on Steve for doing the same thing that McGrady is doing. Steve went to the playoffs, elevated his game during the playoffs and lead the team. Like McGrady he doesn't want to play in Orlando unless they are greatly improved.

Rather than get angry at Steve based on rumor, I'll wait and see what happens.

 

All that level headedness and logic won't make you popular around here FB.

 

Not true. McGrady has just told them that he will pursue free agency after this season because they demanded to know one way or the other. Francis has a contract for six more seasons. He has no option to get out of it.

 

This is from the Florida Today story posted in the other thread...

And it appears now that the Magic, seemingly determined to deal McGrady but unwilling to accept an offer from the Rockets, have reopened trade talks around the league because they are wondering if they can get a better deal.

Francis' agent, Jeff Fried, said on Monday that he thought a deal that would send McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines to Houston for Cuttino Mobley, Kelvin Cato and Francis was imminent. But the potential blockbuster stalled Tuesday and might drag on for days now as the Magic weigh other offers pouring in from around the league.

"It was just communication," Fried said. "It's still moving. There's nothing definitive. Steve (Francis) really likes Houston. You have to face reality. If Houston is set on moving Steve, which is not Steve's preference, you have to deal with reality. There is nothing against the Orlando Magic. They are a fine organization, but they are also in a rebuilding stage."

 

The stupidity of that thought is probably what scared them away.

They had to be saying, "This guy is no chad ford, but is he really that stupid, did he really just say, he will only play for us if he we get Shaq?

 

Agreed.

I like Steve and I still have mixed feeling about this trade (mainly because we have to give up Cat and Cato too), but Steve and his agent are wrong here.

TMac is not saying he won't play for X team next year or that he doesnt want to play for X team next year if Orlando trades him there. Nor is he saying that he doesn't want to play for Orlando next year if they don't trade him to X team. He is saying that he won't play there after he becomes a FA, which he has a right to do because he won't have a contract with them.

Francis (and Ive always been a Steve defender) has a contract. He has no say so in who he plays for because of that contract.

 

Why does that make what I said is not correct? McGrady told the Magic he would pursue the free agency, because he's refusing to play for the magic.

You are correct in saying that Francis doesn't have the free agent option, but he's still said he doesn't want to play for Orlando unless they will be a good team. It's the same thing. Francis agent also said that STeve doesn't have anything against Orlando and understands it's a business decision.

But the two players are both saying they would prefer not to play for under-talented Orlando Magic. One said he would opt for free agency after the year, forcing a trade, and the other supposedly asked for a third team to be included so that he wouldn't have to play for Orlando either.

Either way it's difficult to debate about since at this stage of the game it's all guess work, rumor, and supposition.

 

FB,

You aren't seeing the difference.

McGrady will be a FA. He has EVERY right to say that he doesn't want to play for Orlando.

Francis is under contract. He has NO right to say that he doesn't want to play for Orlando.

 

McGrady didn't know that by saying he would become a free agent that Orlando would trade him? Of course he knew, and he wants a trade. He didn't state that he wouldn't play, and he didn't have to. He knew what he did would get him traded. McGrady is also saying plenty about which team he wants to play for and what teams he doesn't.

I agree that Francis has no say in what happens, ultimately. That doesn't mean that he can't state his preferences. The only on air comment we had from Steve was that interview, in which he was very professional.

If Steve comes out tomorrow and starts saying that he'll quit if he has to play for Orlando or something like that then he deserves all the flak from the situation, but saying that he doesn't want to play for the team with the worst record in the league last year, doesn't make anyone a bad guy.

 

more speculation http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/magic/2004-06-22-mcgrady-snag_x.htm

 

I understand that. I think Francis doesn't have a right to decide where he plays. I agree with that. It's not up to Francis. But that doesn't mean Francis can't express an opinion about playing for the worst team in the NBA.

 

McGrady was asked by management what he will do when he opts out of his contract. McGrady has said he won't re-sign with the Magic when he opts out. Francis is claiming he won't play for them. There is a huge difference. T-Mac is complelety ready to honor his contract and play this season out then leave, as it is his right to. Francis is posturing to be a headache for the team if they hold on to him. But hey, that is how Francis got here, so I am not surprised if that is how he leaves. (Vancouver fans must feel vindicated.)

Anyway, the Magic could just be using Francis' petulance (and the Rockets?) to keep fishing for a better offer.

 

Ugh... this is starting to sound like Damon Stoudamire all over again.

Even back then, we were saying the same thing about how "Nobody would ever trust Grunwald, if he somehow remained the GM after all this fiasco, etc.".... but in the end, he's still there, and we never got Stoudamire.

Now... same thing, yet with an even BIGGER part of our team at stake in this.

Also... I expect to hear Vescey, at some point on draft night (if they interview him), say "My sources tell me that this deal is dead..." just like he did back in 1996 when we were trying to get Barkley (which we eventally did, later that summer).

Ugh... I'd be more indifferent on this trade if it hadn't gotten so far along. Now, its almost like trade or bust.