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

...please dont let it be the boy.

 

Question, has Les or CD ever let us down on a trade?? To be more clear, have they ever had a trade that everyone was talking about and didnt go though? I AM REALLY ASKING NOT JUST BEING A SMARTASS.

 

Yes, the Damon Stoudamire trade.

 

Looks like Alexander is really presistant in getting Tmac. Info from eSPN.com

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

HOUSTON -- Houston Rockets owner Les Alexander's focus Thursday night was on a potential blockbuster trade with the Orlando Magic more than anything else.





"This week has been very difficult," Alexander said. "We think the trade would be very beneficial to both our team and Orlando."



The Rockets and Magic are still discussing a trade that would send Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato to Orlando for the Magic's Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard, Reece Gaines and Tyronn Lue.



The trade was nearly completed earlier in the week, but the Magic balked at the last minute. Orlando officials said Houston was still in it, but postponed the deal to consider other offers.



Alexander could not predict whether Orlando would go ahead and make the trade.



"I think we're going to get it done," he said. "But who knows? It's not up to me. It's out of my control.



"They're terrific players we're trading. It would be great for both sides."


One major hurdle to the deal -- Francis' opposition to heading to Orlando -- may be dissipating.


ESPN's Jim Gray reports that Francis and Magic general manager John Weisbrod talked early Friday morning and the Rockets guard came away feeling much better about the deal.


The discussion was arranged by Francis' agent, Jeff Fried.


"It was a productive conversation," Weisbrod said, adding that he loves Francis' personality and competitiveness, and that Francis' feelings towards the Magic organization were very positive.


"I couldn't say we're really closer to anything, but this was a good first step," Weisbrod added to The Associated Press.


On Wednesday, Francis had expressed his displeasure with the prospect of being dealt to Orlando.


"Steve's preference is to not go to Orlando," Fried said at the time. "Steve's tasted the playoffs. [The Rockets] got a series under their belts. He was looking forward to going further with the same Rockets team but with another year of experience together. This is certainly not his preference. He loves Houston."


Also on Wednesday, Weisbrod hadn't seemed so sure about the Rockets deal, saying Orlando was still in the process of fielding trade offers for McGrady and hasn't ruled out the All-Star's return to the team next season.


"I know because of the magnitude of the deal and the magnitude of him as a player it is a big rush to people to try and conclude where he is going to be, but all those options are still open," Weisbrod said. "He could still be here, and obviously he could be traded. I would say there are at least seven teams that are still under consideration. ...


"I don't really read the papers or follow the media, but I've just heard because of all the GMs that are calling in that it has been reported or the assumption is out there that it is done, or Houston is the team. That is certainly not the case. We are still weighing all of our options."


McGrady is still insisting he'll only sign a long-term contract extension with the Rockets. Because McGrady can opt out of his contract at the end of this season, teams are insisting that he waive his opt-out clause or sign an extension before trading for him.

 

Ignore Fran; he sure as hell doesn't know more than Les does. Pay attention to Les, and pay attention to Weisbrod. The Weisbrod comments (about meshing, and how other directions are backups) are the most important overnight development. If Francis and Weisbrod mesh, Larry the Vulture goes away.

 

I think it is a done deal. However, due to Stevie's BYC & the signing moratorium from 7/1 to 7/13; the trade probably won't be announced until 7/14.

On a more positive note, doesn't this off season beat the crap out of last year, when the most interesting thing to talk about was teiddling tired thumbs.

 

More good news...

Just reported on ESPNRadio's The Herd morning show by an Orlando media guy (I forget his name):

Jameer Nelson wanting McGrady to stay will have no effect on McGrady's decision.

He believes McGrady leaving is a "done deal", that he will not play for Orlando next year, and that Houston is the most likely location with the deal getting done either "later today or sometime this weekend."

Looks like all signs are pointing to this deal getting done being just a matter of time...

 

I wasn't tired, but I did get dizzy from all the twiddling.

 

I don't think this board can survive going 19 days before the trade is made official.

The stress would be too much.



Raven

 

I'll believe there is a deal done, when there is a pres conference. We have been here before this week, thinking that the deal was all but wrapped up. I don't want to get too excited again to only b let down.

 

I have a feeling somone will die over this whole thing

 

really, i thought Tracy would jump all over Howards and Nelson's offer.

 

If this were Monopoly...


I still don't get why we would trade three orange properties in Mobley and Francis and Cato for one blue one in "Boardwalk" McGrady. I mean, we're essentially GIVING Weisbrod a playoff contender from day one. (This IS the East of course!) IMHO, we're still giving up too much. If I were CD, I'd start backing away from the deal right now and try to deal with other teams straight up, player for player. It's pretty clear, from this whole McGrady sweepstakes ordeal which players are clearly tradeable.

Between, Marion, Artest, Harrington, Allen, there's some good marquee names up for trading. Even Weisbrod himself was impressed by Francis' loyalty to this team. Oh well. I guess JVG had a say in this that we'll never actually hear.

sadSAGE

 

Well, last year there was the whole "We're getting a new coach" ordeal, along with the new uniforms and logo.

Combined, those two things made that off-season pretty big.

 

We are breaking up a team that can make the playoffs. Now we will have a team that is a championship contender every year.

 

But if you think you own what could turn out to be Park Place - I've found it much easier to break the others and win the game with those 2 than the Oranges.

 

Sure, there ARE some marquee names up for trade... for Tracy McGrady. Not for "ordinary" players. For instance, why would Phoenix want Francis when they just got rid of his doppelganger last season?

 

I think if the trade is called off, everyone in the league will assume that bridges have been burned, and we'll be seeing offers more along the lines of Howard Eisley and a 3rd rounder for Steve Francis.

By the way,

great answer.

 

I guess the presumption we all have is that Yao "Park Place" Ming and Tracy "Boardwalk" McGrady will get the job done. It's just very puzzling to me (no pun intended) b/c for years, we, like most teams have been trying to find three of the same colored properties. (Unless of course your the Pistons and own all the railroads in Wallace, Wallace, Rip, and Billups + the water and utility dude Prince.) Maybe all this time we were deluded into thinking that Mobes and Cat were properties of the same color. Maybe Mobes was like Indiana Ave. while Francis was Baltic Avenue whom we MISTOOK for a blue property that would have formed a monopoly with Yao.

So close but yet so far.

theSAGE