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

Lets hope so!

 

What? Do you just WANT a beat down?

 

ban him

 

oh my god...

I think we will love Tmac though. I hope.

 

Uh, Rule0001, I think you may have broken a rule, dude. Just maybe.

 

I'd like to congratulate FA7999 for starting the longest thread in ClutchCity/ClutchFans history. I’m sure T-Mac had nothing to do with it.

 

Getting pretty tired/annoyed at Orlando management.

Guys, let's not forget another possibility. If T-Mac is truly interested in playing in Houston, let's call Orlando's bluff on this and call off the trade. Let's keep SF3+Cat, and play a year with this squad. I dont' think any of us hated this team a week ago, and I think this team can still do some fun things.

And *NEXT* year, T-Mac walks from Orlando leaving them absolutely nothing but a whole lotta regret. And we still get our guy.

 

The misconception is that Francis took too many shots. That is completely false. I had absolutely no problem with the number of shots he took and I think he was incredibly unselfish. The problem is that he needed to dominate the ball for atleast 10 seconds to get off his shot. He simply can't score in any other way but off the dribble. For your second leading scorer and your point guard, that's a very bad combination. T-Mac will take a much higher volume of shots but off more efficient posessions. Not to mention the fact that he'll make alot more of his shots.

 

Did I miss something funny?

 

God, I wish the season started tomorrow. I feel like watching me some Rockets.

I haven't been checking the board nearly as frequently since early this week but I'm pretty sure I'll find out when this goes down. They'll probably write it in the sky here in Houston.

 

We would never be able to afford TMAC via free agency.. if we dont get him now, i dont think we can ever get him

 

You nailed it, that is exactly what the problem was. Also for those who think Tmac's numbers will diminish in a JVG system, remember that he now has to pick up the scoring of both Mobley and Francis which is about 30 pts per.

 

Just curious: how long can this thread actually get?

I say that if it tops 2,000, everyone donates to the tip jar and we mercifully close this thread.

 

It will fire up pretty intensely if we actually DO Get T-Mac. Although a new thread should be started for that in my opinion.

BTW, for good karma I am already pledging $10 if we get TMac.

 

Rocketeer, I just want to say what a great job you did of photochopping McGrady into a Rockets uniform. Spectacular!

(I hope you are the right Rocketeer).

 

Here, here
i still think that was a good luck charm
if we land T-Mac ima give all the credit to u
Rocketeer for President!

 

Yep, exactly. Steve shots were often not in the flow or were bad shots. It didn't matter to me if he took 20 shots a game- besides Yao, he was our best option. But it sucks when half of them are broken plays or bad shots.

 

BREAKING NEWS: Magic trade deal is a step closer

link Magic trade involving McGrady a step closer

Orlando's GM speaks with Houston's Steve Francis

By John Denton
FLORIDA TODAY

NEW YORK - All-star guard Steve Francis spoke with Orlando general manager John Weisbrod for more than 20 minutes Thursday night, bringing his imminent trade to the Magic for Tracy McGrady one step further.

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



And contrary to several reports, Francis apparently won¡¯t be traded out of Orlando when the Magic-Rockets deal becomes official likely either tonight or Saturday.

``It is our understanding that the Magic want Steve to be their starting point guard come opening night next season,¡¯¡¯ said Jeff Fried, Francis¡¯ agent.

Weisbrod stopped short of saying that the deal with the Rockets is close, stressing that the Magic are ``still looking at all of our options.¡¯¡¯

Weisbrod said earlier in the week that the Magic were talking trade with seven teams, the most serious of them being Houston, Phoenix, Indiana and Miami.

The trade with the Rockets would involve the Magic shipping McGrady, Juwan Howard and Tyronn Lue - Orlando¡¯s three most productive starters last season - to Houston for Francis, shooting guard Cuttino Mobley and center 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 and conviction I hear from Steve.¡¯¡¯

Determining Francis¡¯ state of mind was important to Weisbrod after the all-star guard initially balked at wanting to play in Orlando. Both Fried and Weisbrod said that Francis¡¯ initial reaction was more his frustration of having to leave Houston than it was about going to Orlando.

``In a weird sort of way I kind of liked it because it told me the guy was loyal to his team,¡¯¡¯ Weisbrod said. ``He¡¯s been in Houston for five seasons and he¡¯s battled with those guys and given his blood, sweat and tears. His reaction was better than getting some guy who just got on a flight and moved on to the next city without any emotion.¡¯¡¯

The deal might not be final, but McGrady¡¯s illustrious career in Orlando is almost a thing of the past. The 6-foot-8, 210-pound guard fulfilled the promise of the $93 million contract the Magic bestowed upon him four years ago when he was but a prospect.

He blossomed into the game¡¯s most lethal offensive weapon in Orlando, reaching four all-star games and winning two scoring championships. He averaged 32.1 points in 2002-03 and 28 points per game this past season, including a dazzling 62-point performance.

The impetus for McGrady¡¯s departure rests with whom you want to believe.

The Magic have made it known that McGrady has been restless for months and said that he told owner Rich DeVos last week that he no longer wanted to play in Orlando. McGrady has had few public comments on the matter, but he said that he felt as if he was being pushed out of Orlando.

One potential holdup in the deal could be McGrady¡¯s agreement with the Rockets that he will sign a new seven-year contract following next season. McGrady can opt out of his contract this time next summer and Houston wants some assurance from McGrady that it will be able to keep him for more than just one season.

``We¡¯ve had discussions (with McGrady¡¯s agent, Arn Tellem) about what kind of teams we¡¯d be talking to about a trade and what the prerequisites would be,¡¯¡¯ Weisbrod said. ``What we ended up with was this deal, and the prudent thing to do was to move forward. There¡¯s nothing for the (new contract) to be contingent on right now. We haven¡¯t discussed (a new contract).¡¯¡¯

What was discussed in the early hours of today was Francis¡¯ arrival in Orlando. The Magic shelved all trade talks Wednesday and Thursday while they focused on their first pick in the NBA Draft, a selection they used to nab phenom forward Dwight Howard.

But Weisbrod and Fried restarted conversations late Thursday and eventually Francis was put in contact with Weisbrod. The Magic¡¯s new general manager discussed his strategies for rebuilding a team that sunk to a dismal 21-61 record last season. And Francis apparently came away impressed enough to tell Weisbrod that he would welcome a trade.

``It¡¯s fair to say that he was very impressed with what John had to say,¡¯¡¯ Fried said. ``They have similar philosophies on winning and how a team should work.¡¯¡¯

Said Weisbrod: ``I felt like our personalities meshed.¡¯¡¯

The Magic entered the offseason with 10 players under contract, something that made Weisbrod¡¯s rebuilding plan all the more difficult. But after Thursday¡¯s work there is the potential that the Magic will have five new starters next season.

Francis and Mobley have long since been one of the league¡¯s most dynamic backcourts, while Cato had one of the finest seasons of his career at center this past year. Dwight Howard could move right into the starting lineup at power forward, while a healthy Grant Hill might return as the centerpiece small forward.

``I look at it as a positive first step and I look forward to speaking with them again,¡¯¡¯ Weisbrod said. ``We could still go in another direction with this, but I do like what I heard.¡¯¡¯










DONE?

 

This has been posted a couple of times already. In fact, it has its own thread.