http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2642186 Deal for McGrady hits a snag for Rockets By CHRIS BROUSSARD Copyright 2004 New York Times News Service On a day when the Charlotte Bobcats fleshed out their inaugural roster through the expansion draft, the buzz around the NBA continued to revolve around Tracy McGrady and Shaquille O'Neal , the two superstars who have asked their teams for trades. It was widely believed that McGrady would be headed to Houston on Wednesday morning in a trade for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. But that deal hit a snag on Tuesday. Though he is under contract for several years and has no veto power over trades, Francis made it clear that he does not want to play in Orlando, causing the Magic to reconsider the trade. Several league executives and player agents were baffled by Orlando's hesitation since Francis would have no choice but to play for the Magic. "John Weisbrod is setting a bad precedent by caving in to this guy," one agent said, referring to Orlando's general manager and speaking on condition of anonymity. Looking elsewhere, the Magic entered into serious discussions with Phoenix on Tuesday, and the Suns are offering Shawn Marion, the up-and-coming Joe Johnson and this year's first-round pick (seventh overall), for McGrady. That would give Orlando an all-star small forward in Marion, a potential All-Star shooting guard in Johnson and the first and seventh picks in tomorrow's draft. Indiana, which is willing to trade anyone on its roster besides Jermaine O'Neal, has been trying to engage Orlando in talks for McGrady, but the Magic has not been moved by any of its offers. In the end, several league executives believe the trade with Houston, which would also send Tyronn Lue, Juwan Howard, Reece Gaines and possibly Andrew DeClerq to the Rockets, will eventually be made because McGrady is saying Houston is the only team he will stay with long-term. McGrady, who is able to opt out of his contract after next season, has great leverage because he can threaten to leave any team that trades for him after just one year. If the trade happens, it is believed the Magic might turn around and trade Francis. More than 20 of the league's 30 teams have called the Los Angeles Lakers, inquiring about O'Neal, according to an Eastern Conference executive. Though Mitch Kupchak, the Lakers' general manager, has recently suggested that he wants to keep O'Neal, the club is entertaining several possible trades, most notably with the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks are one of the more realistic landing spots for O'Neal, who will make $27.7 million next season, because they have the high-salaried stars necessary to make such a deal, and their owner, Mark Cuban, is a big spender. According to the Eastern Conference executive, Dallas is offering Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash for O'Neal. The New Jersey Nets, who would be willing to part with Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles, are among the clubs pursuing O'Neal. The Nets' initial thoughts were that they would stay out of the bidding for him because they did not think they had realistic chances of obtaining O'Neal. But the club's new ownership group, headed by Bruce Ratner, is willing to spend big for O'Neal, who would turn the team into a major box-office draw and enable it to recoup some of the losses that have piled up in recent years. "Ratner would give up the bank to get Shaquille or Kobe, but has been thwarted by the pessimism of his basketball people," a person close to ownership said. The pessimism is based in reality. The Nets are not willing to include Jason Kidd or Richard Jefferson in a trade, according to one club official, and a package headlined by Martin, Kittles and Nenad Krstic, their 7-foot forward from Croatia, is not likely to bring O'Neal to the Meadowlands. A couple of factors potentially working in the Nets' favor are that O'Neal was born and raised in Newark, N.J., and that the Nets might be willing to give O'Neal the contract extension he wants (two years, $60 million) because his presence would be a boon when the team moves to Brooklyn, according to a member of ownership. Still, their chances appear slim.
I don't see this as caving in. McGrady can leave them high and dry a year from now. Better to get something-- and they are getting good value for him. Three starters from the #4 ranked team in the East (the Rockets)...
1) According to Bird, Indiana did not offer anyone but O'Neal (no Artest). 2) How can Dallas trade Nash when he is a FA??
I know. But Nash is a FA, who would have to want to go to LA and would have to basically negotiate with them. It wouldnt be Dallas or LA's decision to trade around Nash, it would be Nash's.
He's talking about caving in to Francis... basically saying that this is a really good deal, and this player has no choice but to go there... yet they're hesitant. Other teams are going to see this and they're going to get LESS than what they're offering now, because now Orlando will become desperate.
That Phoenix deal is BS, they'd never offer that much, it's basically Marion, Johnson, Harris or Gordon or Livingston, for McGrady. Way, way too much for a player that doesn't want to sign a long term contract with you...
Attention Steve Francis: You are not as good as you think you are and by doing this you are ruining your career and reputation.
That would be nice! It would be nice to know what the heck is going on. It would be nice to know exactly how close we are in this deal. How "locked in" it is.
This is what I think is going on. Tmac: Ok, Orlando. I want to play for Houston. period. Orlando: Ok, we'll try to get something done, but just do us a favor. Do not publicly state that you'll only go to Houston. We'll lose all bargaining power. We'll try to get a bidding war going but we'll trade you to Houston for the most we can get. TMac: Ok. sounds fair. I'll just tell the press "I cant reveal all my tricks". Orlando: leak trade proposals from all over creation. Francis: No. I'm a whiny little dribble maniac. I will not play in Orlando. I know I have no power but I'm a little primadonna. TMac: ok dudes, what's going on. Pull the trigger. Orlando: we will, we will. But first, let us use this to our advantage. We will claim we're getting cold feet and try to get Houston to include more, like Boki Nachbar. TMac: I guess so, but this is getting old. Get the deal done by the morning, and don't forget, I'm only playing at Houston. Damn, I'm going to go play in my baseball league. =============
From the Orlando Boards: You know I actually clicked on this link thinking there was something to it being it was the Times until I saw who it was penned by. I would take this article with a huge grain of salt. Broussard is more often wrong than right even more so than Vesey. Although a blind squirrel can find an acorn every now and then. I still think this trade will happen ;more than likely tommorow evening after the Magic have found another home for Francis.
Apparently Orlando is worried since Francis has threatened not to re-sign with them when his contract is up in 6 years. I'm afraid if Steve costs the Rockets the chance to get McGrady, he will be the most villified man in the city. I still think it will happen, but Francis is not making friends here.
sorry clutch, but I have never replied to myself and I'm going crazy now. TMac to Orlando: this is ridiculous. if you don't pull the trigger by the morning and quit screwing with my future employers, I'm going to open my mouth and say Houston or no deal at all. Then you'll be nutted.
really, what is so bad about orlando for francis? he gets to play with 2 guys he is familiar with. The team will be much improved, and he could easily dominate in the east and make the playoffs every year. man, can the guy handle any situation with a modicum of class? This is just a stupid move on his part. Now, he has alienated himself from the fans in orlando. If the trade is killed, he's alienated the fans in houston. Basically just screwing himself.
