[Milwaukee JS]Francis gives Orlando edge in McGrady deal

Any article that comes out trying to grade this trade during this season has to be consiedered incomplete and unreliable. This is a long term deal.

First, let's see where they end the season.

Second, anyone that thinks Orlando wouldn't have improved when keeping T-Mac and finally adding a healthy Grant Hill and Hedo Turkoglu is nuts.

Give it some time, people. The title isn't coming this year. It's ok. We are set to be contenders for years to come. I like that CD didn't give away our 1st round pick for next year. WIth any luck, they'll do something constructive with it and get us the power foward we need. It will be a player most likely the same age as Yao or just a bit younger. The Rockets aren't "rebuilding". The are building a contender. There is a huge difference.

 

A healthy Grant Hill helps that team immensely. After seeing his play this year and assuming he stays healthy for the rest of this year.

Does Grant command a near Max salary again?

I wonder if anyone would be willing to risk that kind of money on a player with his checkered injury history.

 

Put Francis, Cato and Mobley on a team that McGrady had last year and they still would have sucked. Give them a healthy Hill and guys like Turkoglu and the rookie, Howard, and they are going to do well to a degree.

But, that is still a team built for the regular season. Get them into the post season where scoring will drop and defense becomes key (they are last in the league in almost every defensive category) and they are 1 and done.

 

You're correct about Hill's impact. He's the type of player who makes those around him better...much better.

But Hill is not the kind of man to take Orlando's mega-bucks for multiple years while rehabing the ankle and then run off to another team as a Free Agent. IMHO, Hill has way too much class for that. Hill will stay in ORL for any reasonable amount.

 

They got 3 starters in the trade who've played together, so one would expect a quicker start. ... so a look at last 13 games:
Houston 9-4
Orlando 5-8

Also, as mentioned:
Added Grant Hill, Turkoglu, top Rookie.

And remember, they're in the East.


In summary, not a good analysis and far too soon to tell. Ultimately, only a Championship will determine who fared better.

 

I agree with most of this except for the 1 and done part. In the East they might have a chance to advance.

Hill is a really huge factor in the Majic's success, an 20pt/ game outside player who shoots 50%+, that is tremendous. He is also a calming influence on Steve, to control the pace of the game, slows the ball down on a few ocasions when it is needed. His help with handling the ball keeps Steve's TO down quite a bit.

We do have to give Steve some props. He is doing well. He is better suited with their wide open, care free game. He still can't shoot outside and still TO a lot but he is also doing the things he does best.
I picked the Majic to miss the play-offs before the season started. Looks like I will have to pay to the tip jar at the end.

 

May be the author of this article should have watched the Magic-Bulls game last night on NBA TV

Mobely was jacking up bad shots all over the court, as usual.

Francis was lazy and inaggressive for the most part, and committing stupid turnovers here and there, as usual.

The only guy that was playing as hard as he could was again Grant Hill.

Orlando aren't that much better record-wise than the Rockets entering 2005 (ORL 15-13; HOU 15-15) AND if you listen to all the so-called 'experts' on TV and read the papers, you know that our team has been in "turmoil" and just heading off to the wrong direction, and when you hear about Orlando, there is nothing but praise and it makes you think thaat they are on top of the East or something; reality is they are in the JV league, and are only two games better in the loss column.

Sometimes when you look at the numbers, reality is much different than perception.

I wish Orlando well, I want them to do better than any other Eastern Conf team, but IMHO only a fool who is hatin' on the trade we made, and hatin' on the future potential of this team, would give the Magic an 'edge' over the Rockets.

I guarantee you, GUARANTEE U, that long-term we will have the last laugh...

--Tiger

 

Good trade for both teams, everyone happy.

Now, who will laugh longest and loudest about this deal? I mean really, and I was, am, expect to always be a Stevie fanman.

 

Grant Hill aside (and assuming he will not wear down after 82 games), the Magic IMO have a very small chance of advancing out of Round 1.

Beyond what Jeff mentioned that they play absolutely no D they are also a very poor road team. This is important because of the new conference alignments. From NBA.com:

"The three regular season divisional winners in each conference will earn a playoff berth and one of the conference's top three playoff seeds based on regular season record. The remaining five playoff berths for each conference will be based on regular season records with no regard to divisional alignment."

Given that the Magic will not likely overtake the Heat, in order to have home court in the playoffs, the Magic have to have a better overall record than DET, WAS, and IND or they are the 5th seed and don't have home court in Rd 1. Having a worse record than any one of those teams makes them the 5th seed. If they are the 5th seed, they could have a 1st matchup with DET or IND...both of whom play D.

 

I only got to watch Orlando a couple of times. If you've seen them more than you have a better view than I. I would not make an assessment based on 1 game though.

I do agree with you about our team. While I gave Orlando some props, I never had any doubt that the Rockets are much better. There is no doubt that the trade for TMac is a plus for us. Anyone watching TMac for a little while would know he is a top 5 player in the league easy.

I would make the trade for TMac again and again.

 

The Magic lost to the Bulls by 15 last night and were down by 20+ most of the game...

 

Before last night's game against the Bulls, Orlando has lost 6 of their last 8 games. They got whacked by the Bulls last night. Same old Franchise and Cat, plenty of TOs and ISO plays, HA HA HA.

 

Orlando has hit a wall FAST. Meanwhile, the Rockets started off horribly, re-shaped their roster, and are sitting in the 8th spot in the West. Both squad should make the postseason, but anyone grading these trades right now are missing the point. The Rockets play in a tougher conference and have made moves to improve the roster. great moves in our opinion, and are still in playoff position. That alone negates Orlando's quick start, especially with Orlando imploding right now.

 

well the trade did suck. it's another season rebuilding... if t-mac was serious about playing with yao he could've signed with the rox next season anyway then the rox wouldn't have to go through another rebuilding phase and the core of the team would've added another season in the playoffs

imagine this if t-mac was patient:

steve/sura
cat/jj
tracy/boki (no need for wesley)
cato/mot
yao

 

I think you're forgetting that Steve is playing on a maximum contract. Potentionally 3 max contract players on the same team, along with MoT's? Doubt it.

 

If Orlando can't get anything for Mobley when his contract is up, consider them royally screwed. Meanwhile the Rockets regain Mobley with the MLE.

 

Don't be short-sighted -- there are ways to work around those things. Check out what our starting five would've looked like:

C Yao
PG Steve
SG Cat
SF Tracey
PF Colin Pine

That lineup just screams, "ENTERTAINMENT!"

 

Obviously you are uninformed.

The Orlando Magic was not going to stand idle and watch tmac go for nothing like Shaq did. Please ask questions first next time.

 

Yes T-Mac could've been traded to another team but they wouldn't have been able to force him to sign an extension. So he still could have bid his time until then.

Anyway whatever please stop replying to my posts. First on my ignore list. Later.