http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/8995446.htm Houston looks to Orlando, not draft, for biggest offseason prize JOEL ANDERSON Associated Press HOUSTON - The Houston Rockets' biggest offseason acquisition almost certainly won't come from the NBA draft. With a rumored blockbuster trade involving two-time NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady still in the works, Houston won't spend much time fretting over the 55th overall pick in the draft Thursday night. "We're not pinning our hopes on the 55th pick," Rockets personnel director Dennis Lindsey said. "That player can't impact our roster or our rotation. Our needs are probably best met through free agency or trades this offseason." Indeed. Rockets officials have been working feverishly behind the scenes to revamp the roster around 7-foot-5 center Yao Ming despite coming off their first playoff appearance in five years. Houston was reportedly the leading candidate to acquire McGrady from Orlando, with officials from other teams saying the Rockets were offering a package including three-time All-Star guard Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, Kelvin Cato for McGrady, Juwan Howard and Tyronn Lue. The deal hit a snag Tuesday, however, when Francis' agents reportedly tried to prevent him from being traded to Orlando by seeking a third team to join the deal. Francis has said that he wants to play for a playoff contender. Orlando, which finished 21-61 last season, doesn't fall into that category. But during a news conference Wednesday, Magic general manager John Weisbrod said Francis wasn't totally averse to coming to Orlando. "His emotion about the situation is his emotion about leaving Houston, it's not about coming here," Weisbrod said. "He doesn't have any aversion about coming to Orlando. From what I understand, he has an aversion to leaving Houston. "It was unfortunate the kid was put in this position because he is asked all these questions that there was some deal immediately pending and he was in it. That wasn't fair to him (because) that certainly wasn't the case." Rockets officials have yet to comment publicly on the proposed deal. Repeated messages left with Francis' agents, Jeff Fried and Nate Peake of Washington, D.C., weren't immediately returned. The unexpected delay has given other teams, particularly Phoenix and Indiana, time to enter the McGrady sweepstakes. Weisbrod indicated the deal with Houston wasn't nearly as complete as reported earlier in the week. "We're still weighing all of our options," Weisbrod said. "I would say there are at least seven teams that are still under consideration." Regardless, Lindsey likely won't find anyone Thursday night who will be able to play with Francis or McGrady anytime soon. The Rockets have only a second rounder, the 55th out of 60 picks, and really don't expect much from whomever they select at that spot. Lindsey said the team mostly hopes to find someone who will spend time developing overseas, like last year's pick - forward Malick Badiane of Senegal. "We're really looking for the best developmental situation or a guy that's willing to go to Europe," Lindsey said. "In general, we don't feel as good about our board as we did last year." Either way, Houston's offseason haul won't be judged on its draft. The Rockets' real first choice still plays for Orlando. First word from ANYONE at the Rockets. Interesting.
I just hope this deal lands. I'm getting tired of this wait and all this crap DA, Ford, Katz, and Stein are bringing up.
Don't know if this article belongs right next to yours Jeff, but I thought it also had some interesting comments on the Orlando view of things. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...c24062404jun24,1,5990367.story?coll=orl-magic Magic sort trade offers for T-Mac Ray Allen, Caron Butler could land in Orlando By Tim Povtak | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted June 24, 2004 The much-anticipated trade of superstar Tracy McGrady to the Houston Rockets could bring both Seattle all-star guard Ray Allen and Miami Heat small forward Caron Butler, in one of several, multiteam scenarios still being considered by the Orlando Magic. General Manager John Weisbrod -- on the eve today's NBA draft -- refused to talk about any trade specifics involving McGrady, but NBA sources confirmed the interest of both Seattle and Miami in being part of a deal. Weisbrod did say Wednesday afternoon that as many as seven teams still are in serious bidding for McGrady, and that he was in no hurry to make a choice, turning his focus instead on making the No. 1 pick in the draft today. "We're still weighing a lot of options with Tracy. He still could be here this season, or he could be traded," Weisbrod said at the RDV Sportsplex. "If we do trade him, I don't think there's any chance of it happening before the draft." Weisbrod discounted earlier reports that the deal with the Houston Rockets -- bringing Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato in return -- was all but finished. He also discounted a report that Francis' unhappiness about coming to Orlando could sidetrack that deal. Francis, also an all-star, likely would be traded elsewhere. The Magic have talked with Seattle about a Francis-for-Allen trade, also with lesser players involved from both sides. The Magic, at the same time, have talked to the Miami Heat about a trade that would send Mobley and forward Drew Gooden in exchange for Butler, their promising, second-year forward. Gooden has played especially well against the Heat in his career, averaging 22.7 points and eight rebounds per game against them last season. Although both the Rockets and Pacers have been linked strongly to McGrady and the Magic, other teams have been making serious efforts to land him. The Magic are waiting for the Phoenix Suns to sweeten their offer of Shawn Marion and the No. 7 pick in today's draft. The Magic also want either Joe Johnson or Amare Stoudemire in a package. The Heat, who tried desperately to land McGrady when he was a free agent in 2000, also have talked with the Magic about a deal involving either Eddie Jones or Brian Grant, along with Butler for McGrady. They would love to put McGrady together with Lamar Odom, giving them two incredibly versatile swingmen, much like the Magic once anticipated doing with McGrady and Grant Hill. "Because of the magnitude of a deal and of him as a player, there's this big rush to conclude where he's going," Weisbrod said. "But the assumption out there that it's done, or that Houston is the team, is just not the case. We're still weighing our options." While the rest of the league waits for the trade of McGrady and who the Magic will selected No. 1, Weisbrod sounded content to keep waiting on better offers. McGrady can't opt out of his contract with the Magic until after next season. There is the slim chance he could play for the Magic this season. "There are plenty of deals out there for Tracy. If we wanted to do a deal today, we could," Weisbrod said. "But we're certainly not going to rush anything. We're going about it as methodically as we can. There is no time pressure." Among the lesser deals the Magic also are exploring is the return of popular point guard Darrell Armstrong, who played last season in New Orleans. His absence last season contributed to their collapse. He would fit well in a lineup that included Allen, Butler and center/forward Emeka Okafor, the possible No. 1 pick in the draft. Allen led the Sonics last season, averaging 23 points in 56 games. Although he is older (28) than Francis (27), he is considered more coachable. Butler averaged 9.2 points in helping the Heat into the second round of the playoffs. Armstrong, who was vacationing in Orlando this week, said he was unaware of the trade talks involving him, but he said they wouldn't surprise him. "If it happened, that would be great," he said. "Maybe we could get it back together again." In anticipation of getting Francis from Houston, the Magic also have talked to the Washington Wizards about a deal involving point guard Gilbert Arenas and former No. 1 pick Kwame Brown. Francis played his college basketball at the University of Maryland and he would give the Wizards a much-needed public relations boost. "There are so many variables with this," Weisbrod said. "There are a lot of deals still under consideration."
Sounds like the vast majority of the deals involve moving Francis once the T-Mac deal is done as opposed to sifting through OTHER offers for T-Mac. It wouldn't surprise me if that was a big part of the hold up - to see what the best SECOND (or third) deal they can make after the McGrady deal. No way the Magic does a deal with Miami for Jones, Grant and Butler. Taking on those giant contracts? Plus, McGrady isn't going to play in Miami. Of course, there could be a brother fight if Miami tried to get involved. Van Gundy vs. Van Gundy tonight on SMACKDOWN!!!
In regard to Wiesbrod's comments about these seven teams that are in the running for Mcgrady I bet half of those are teams trying to get involved in a Houston/Orlando deal. Perhaps the 3rd team we have been hearing alot about that would take on Francis. Otherwise I think Wiesbrod is bluffing.
John Weisbrod is so pathetic. He is lying his ass off. Some of his quotes are amazing. He is making a mockery of Francis and CD with this quote. Basically saying: CD is like the mean step father to this emotinally unstable kid (Francis). Its like he is being intergated about a lie that CD made up. Maybe CD did make it up. Just to convince the world he can pull off the blockbuster like when rudy was incharge
I dont know if this is tampering or not just have CD get a "friend" to suggest Tmac should sit out for what ever team that he gets traded to except for houston. That should surely scare away this so called 7 other teams. If Tmac is indeed traded to Phoenix making it to the playoffs would be rather easy with Amare and their $14 of caproom thus convincing him to stay.
I'm pretty sure Weisbrod was referring to the information of the trade being leaked before it actually had been completed
I got the feeling that he was insinuating that the Rockets were lying. At one point there was talk that CD had informed Francis and his agent that it was basically a gone deal and then the Orlando GM came out with a comment along the lines of "I heard some reports saying it was a done deal but it was far from a done deal". This guy is just dragging this crap ON AND ON. The 3 biggest suitors outside of the Rockets were the Pacers, Clippers and Suns and ALL have dropped out so what are you waiting for? That "attractive" offer of Eddie Jones, Brian Grant and Caron Butler? McGrady is even SAYING he wants to come to Houston, everyone is waiting for the deal to be done, free agent players, agents and other teams, and this guy is just dragging this along with a stupid little smirk on his face. And "Outside the Lines" actually wonders why Orlando is "cursed"?
