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

Bizarre. Why an hour? Wisebutt has made a legion of enemies, no matter how this goes down.

 

Done deal meaning...I put up a thread dedicated to just this story. Sorry.

 

Now it's gone.

 

This may deserve it's own thread but I have only posted a few times so, here it is...

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2646789

June 25, 2004, 12:18AM

Alexander likes Rockets' chances
Owner believes McGrady trade will take place
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, showing the frustration of a "very difficult" week, said Thursday night he still expects the Rockets to land Tracy McGrady in the blockbuster trade currently on hold.

Alexander believes the Rockets have made the Orlando Magic the best offer to land the NBA's top scorer of the past two seasons.

"We think we have a trade that will benefit the team," Alexander said. "We also think it is a good trade for Orlando. They are terrific players we're trading. We'd like to get it done."

The Rockets had agreed Monday to send guards Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley and center/forward Kelvin Cato to the Magic for McGrady, forward Juwan Howard and guards Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines.

Asked if he knew of any roadblock to completing the deal, Alexander said: "No. I think we're going to get it done. But who knows? It's not up to me."

Alexander said the Rockets' offer is especially strong because of the playoff showings of Francis and Mobley this past season.

"It's vital that when you get to the playoffs you have players that can step up," Alexander said. "Our players that we're trading have shown they can step up in the playoffs. The other players (mentioned in trade speculation with the Magic) have not done that."

The trade was originally held up for the completion of the Charlotte Bobcats' expansion draft Tuesday because the Magic did not protect Gaines. When Gaines went unclaimed, there was speculation Francis' initial reluctance to play for the Magic prevented Orlando officials from completing the deal. But Magic general manager John Weisbrod said Wednesday that was not a factor.


sweeeeeet

 

Ya. I hope that wasn't a mistake.... Its not like it could have been a typo... There was a whole freaking graphic

 

Oh, it was there. We didn't all have a hallucination. Uh, not in this case, anyway.

 

This isn't a good sign. Les says he feels good about the deal, CD said they are waiting to resume talks til after the draft, but yet it seems that a deal is already in place.

I have a bad feeling.

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...504,1,5188967.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines

T-Mac trade to Houston step closer
By Tim Povtak
Sentinel Staff Writer

June 25, 2004

The trade of Tracy McGrady to the Houston Rockets moved a step closer early Friday morning to becoming reality after Magic general manager John Weisbrod spoke with Rockets guard Steve Francis.

Weisbrod and Francis - the Rockets star who will come in the trade for McGrady - spoke by phone after the NBA Draft concluded Thursday night.

Jeff Fried, Francis agent, said Friday morning that his client has dropped any objections to coming to Orlando.

"Steve was very impressed with the way John has a vision for the team,'' Fried said. "It was a necessary step. I think John really connected with him.''

Weisbrod stopped short of saying any deal was imminent. The proposed trade of McGrady includes Tyronn Lue, Juwan Howard and Reece Gaines in exchange for Francis Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato.

"I couldn't say we're closer to anything but this was a good first step,'' Weisbrod said. "I do like the determination, conviction I hear from Steve.''

Weisbrod also said he will continue talking to other teams interested in McGrady, and that he does not expect any conclusion to the McGrady situation this weekend.

"We could still go in another direction with this, but I do like what I heard tonight,'' Weisbrod said. "We meshed.''

 

why would you have a bad feeling? The quote below from an espn article("Rockets want to do deal with Orlando") should make everyone realize that one way or another we will get T-Mac.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1828991

Relax. Patients is a virtue.

 

"Patience" is a virtue.

"Patients" is a doctor's living.

 

Doh!

Thank you for catching that. I Haven't slept much lately. Grammer was never a strength of mine.

 

Straight jackets! Get your straaaaaiiiiiiight jaaaaaaaackets! Don't be the guy without one when you decide to bite your own hand off waiting for Wiseassbrod to get off his power trip!

 

Does Fran know something that we don't? Look at his comments for the Rockets' draft.


http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2646858

Houston C
- Needs: Power forward, scoring small forward and point guard.
- Selections:


AtlantaB - Needs: Scoring and NBA talent at every position except point guard. - Selections:

No./Name Pos./Ht School/Country
55. Luis Flores G/6-2 Manhattan
- Comment: Tough shoes for Spanoulis to fill, coming in to replace the "Franchise." But with McGrady on board, the point guard doesn't have to do nearly as much.

 

Well...hmm...I hope he is on board!!! Watching those video clips of Tmac amazed me...maaan..but we traded Luis Flores. We got another point guard though.

 

Interesting, I knew we swapped Flores for Spanoulis, but appearantly the media is waiting to launch...

"The news we've ALL been waiting for."

 

Fran uploaded the article at 1:13 am. Something is going down. I can feel it. Actually, I'm really tired, so maybe I'm not so sure.

 

Actually, if you look at what he said for ORL, he said "if" the trade happens

 

Party pooper.

 

Dear Mom and Dad,

I no longer fear Hell because I've been through the Tracy McGrady Crisis. Our nature hikes have become grim death marches. Our arts and crafts center is, in actuality, a Dickensian work house.'' In the cabin, Bart makes it through the days on the belief that T-mac is coming

"T-Mac is coming, T-Mac is coming, and he's going to bring us food and water and clothing and save us"

yes... Save us! Save us... NOW!

 

How does this effect or affect?

http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/home/article/0,1651,TCP_996_2989679,00.html

High schooler drafted No. 1 by Magic asks McGrady to stay
By MIKE BRANOM Associated Press Writer
June 24, 2004

ORLANDO, Fla.- Dwight Howard believes he's what Tracy McGrady needs.

McGrady has told the Orlando Magic he wants a trade to a contender, preferably one with a quality big man. But Howard, the Atlanta prep sensation selected first in the NBA draft, wants the disgruntled superstar to know that help is on the way.

"Tracy, I hope that you stay and play with me a couple of years," the 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward said Thursday night from New York. "I think we'll be a really good combo."

In a draft without a clear No. 1, it was anyone's guess whether Orlando would choose Howard or Emeka Okafor, the power forward/center from Connecticut.

But the Magic went with the promise of 18-year-old Howard, winner of a number of awards declaring him the high school player of the year. He became the third high schooler taken first in the NBA draft since 2001.

It may take time for Howard to grow from high school phenom to NBA superstar _ as McGrady did _ but the Magic are willing to wait.

"When you have the first pick, your responsibility is to pick the best player," Magic general manager John Weisbrod said. "Our guys had a lot of conviction that he was the best player."

Orlando then traded a future first-round pick to Denver for the draft rights to St. Joseph's point guard Jameer Nelson. The Nuggets selected the 6-foot Nelson, The Associated Press' player of the year, with the 20th pick.

In the second round, the Magic selected Anderson Varejao, a forward from Brazil, at No. 30. Orlando drafted Memphis guard Antonio Burks with the 36th pick, but sent him to his hometown Memphis Grizzlies for cash considerations.

The draft marks the official opening of rebuilding efforts for the woeful Magic, losers of an NBA-worst 61 games last season, their first sub-.500 record in 12 years.

The next step is deciding what to do with McGrady. The two-time scoring champion nearly was dealt to the Houston Rockets earlier this week, according to reports, but the Magic backed off Tuesday to concentrate on the draft.

This was the first time the Magic drafted first since 1993, when they selected Chris Webber then traded him to Golden State for Penny Hardaway and three first-round picks. Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal, drafted first in 1992, combined to make Orlando a powerhouse during the mid-90s.

Howard averaged 25 points, 18 rebounds, eight blocks and 3.5 assists last year in leading Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy to the Class A Georgia state championship.

His athleticism is off the charts _ he jumped 12 feet, 6 inches during his workout in Orlando _ and doctors say he could grow another 2 inches. But it is the maturity he has at such a young age that impressed Magic general manager John Weisbrod.

The Magic may have finally decided on Howard because of warnings on Okafor's back. Okafor missed two games of the Big East tournament after suffering a stress fracture of the fifth lumbar vertebrae.

Orlando is still paying the price for Grant Hill's bad ankle, and would be leery of committing to another injury risk.

"It did factor in to some degree," Weisbrod said. "But, really, it was the strength of Dwight as a candidate more than any issues with Emeka."

Orlando's scouting staff had Nelson rated fifth overall among the draft pool, bringing unexpected joy to the Magic when he began to slip.

"He's such a high-character kid, such a winner, such a leader," Weisbrod said. "The reason our group had him No. 5 is because our group is in agreement, that of everyone in the draft, this is the most NBA-ready kid."

Nelson, 22, averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 assists and 2.9 steals for the Hawks.