Orlando Sentinel: Magic want Francis, Mobley and Cato

Well put Hillboy. Over the last half decade you've never really had a sense that this organization has had any direction whatsoever. That is, untill coach was hired.

 

Actually I think that alot of us would prefer Mcgrady's talents over Bryant's. Bryant is bad for chemistry, TMac wants to play with Yao and said that he is sick of being the only option, whereas Bryant is the opposite. Kobe-Freaking-Bryant he may be, but that's not a good thing these days. This is also the same guy that was often shooting around 30% in the finals, personally I wouldn't mind keeping Stevie's 40% if that's the case. Yes, it's also true that TMac has been known to have issues with back injuries, so does Bryant with his shoulder, and yes that can be a serious injury. Ask Derek Anderson if you don't think so, let's see how it impacted his career. I just don't see it, TMac is the less selfish player and honestly, I think that the guy is much better defensively, I saw Kobe pouting as he was getting burned all finals long, no thank you to that suggestion.

 

Did you miss what I quoted? I was simply replying to the idea that he has all the chips. Wrong. The Magic do.

 

How about:

Francis + Mobley + Boki + Cato + Trade Exception

for

McGrady + Hill + #1 (Okafor) + an orthopaedic surgeon + a chiropractor?

 

If TMAC says "I will not sign the extension and will not play here after next year. I will not be a Clipper - period!" What that means is that the Clippers say no to any deal with TMAC. So, in essence, TMAC holds a few cards himself.

Also, note this - Cat's contract situation is becoming murky. I'll let you know more when I hear it.

 

Hmm. He's got a player option next year. I guess since he's been playing below market for the past couple of years, he'd be willing to become a free agent if he has a good season next year. Just adds another wrinkle to the whole situation.

 

have not posted in one tmac thread until now. The more i think about it, the less i want him. Sure the fan appeal is there, but no way in freakin hell do i want to give mobely, cato and Francis. Cato + Francis or Francis+TE or what i really unrealistically want, No Francis trade in the TMAC deal. T-Mac as a rocket, as much as it looks enticing, does not compensate 3 legitimate starters, one allstar, another a borderline allstar, and a good solid servicable 7 Foot Center. I say push to get a rasheed or brand. I would rather have wallace though, as much as that seems impossible after his involvement in the finals.

Francis
Mobley
Nachbar/FA
R.Wallace
Yao

 

I think the asking price is too high. I'd give up Steve and Taylor straight up for T-Mac. If they don't take it, who gives a ****... move on and sign Brand, Rasheed Wallace or whoever else. Detroit has proved that team basketball can beat 2 super stars any day. Plus its hard for me to let SF3 go... remember the days of Maloney, Price, Rodrick Rhodes etc... The PG position can not be ignored! Plus by giving up SF3, Cat and Cato, we are giving up about 40 points a game, 15 rebounds a game and 10 assists a game. In return we get a guy who nearly quit on his team last year and has to jack up a million shots per night to get his 30 ppg??? I thought YAO was going to be the focus of the team???

 

Since you're a senior member let me explain it to you. T-Mac says he doesn't want to play for Orlando and will opt out next year unless he is traded (this should be confirmed tomorrow). 1 chip for T-Mac. Now Orlando needs to trade him or risk losing him like they did Shaq. Orlando has already said they will not lose him like Shaq. T-Mac also gets to make a list of teams he wants to play for because if he doesn't like the team he is being traded to he can still opt out after next year. If Orlando trades him to Clipper land or the Jazz or anywhere he doesn't like he would just opt out. The deal would never happen because the Jazz are not stupid enough to trade half their team for a player who will opt out in 1 year. 1 more chip for T-Mac. So Orlando's only chip is that they get to pick between the teams making offers that T-Mac likes. 1 Chip Orlando.

So T-Mac holds more chips. Orlando can only pick the best deal from the teams McGrady wants to play for.

 

PS. Can someone explain what this"trade exception" is?

 

Here's what the ROx should do:

Trade STeve (turnover prone) Francis and any other players for McGrady.

Trade the single-minded player Mo Taylor to free up more money to get players. Use the trade exceptions to upgrade.

I am sure with McGrady and Yao, they're going to attract a lot of good players in here no question about it.

Rox should pick up Troy Hudson from the Wolves to play PG. Try to pick up Rasheed Wallace or Nick Van Excel. Do something!!!

McGrady had got to be here. So what if Cato is gone. He ain't a good offensive player. Can't shoot from outside. Team didn't guard him at all and use that man to double Yao.

 

Could the protection of Mike Wilks in the expansion draft be an indicator of how serious the Rockets are in these talks? I thought it odd when I read it, but maybe they really believe this trade goes through and they expect Wilks to be getting the majority of the backup minutes this next season. Or maybe it is just indicative of how intent they are in trading Steve before the next season starts. Just thought I'd throw that out there...

As to my position in all this, I don't see TMac as being that much better than Francis. They are the same type of player, one that does not and will not fit with team that is Yao-centered. Last season we all questioned how well Francis might adjust to an offense that filtered through Yao. Well, he didn't necessarily play better, but he did make an effort, more or less. I don't see McGrady doing even that. He will demand the ball, shoot too much and generally create discord and rifts throughout the team, destroying what little chemistry might already exist with as big a change as this would create. I don't like it, and don't think that it ultimately pushes us any further to a championship conclusion than just keeping Francis.

 

Contract coming due - Cat's publicist will have to earn his keep next year!

 

Cat is buddies with Rasheed Wallace, who is going to be a free agent. If we manage to keep Cat on the team (perhaps send Jim Jackson in his place?), maybe he could convince Sheed to sign with us, maybe sending Detroit Boki +TE in a S&T.

some FA PG (Barry, Ward, NVE, whoever) or maybe get Lue in the T-Mac trade
Cat
T-Mac
Sheed
Yao

That looks like a championship caliber team to me.

 

How do the Magic have all the chips when McGrady can threaten to leave any team he goes (including the Magic) for nothing next year?

 

They might both demand the ball. The differences are these:

(1) Francis is the PG, TMac is SG/SF. PGs, not SGs or SFs, are supposed to set up their teammates.

(2) TMac's scoring ability is much higher than Francis. Francis' problem is not so much as shooting too much, but missing too much. With TMac, Yao doesn't have to be the #1 option all the time. Francis is not talented enough to lead the team to a championship. That's why we need Yao to be the leader. TMac, on the other hand, can takeover the team. Yao can feel comfortable being the second fiddle.

(3) TMac is a better defender than Francis. He can play JVG-type defense. As someone has already mentioned, if JVG can't use a player like TMac, then fire him.

 

Do you watch basketball? Seriously!

1)Playmakers set up their teammates!

2)What the heck does #2 mean. Yao doesn't have to take on the scoring burden? When has he ever done that in a Rockets uniform? We need YAO TO BE THE LEADER BUT HE CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE BEING THE SECOND FIDDLE. I don't even understand what that means! Just a bunch of contradictions.

3)Ask TMac's teammates what kind of defense he plays. He doesn't even try. Last year his team went public with their dissatisfaction. He probably can play defense, he just doesn't!


For all of you TMac fans, why did his team end up with the worst record in the league? If he is so good, why did they lose so many games. (IMO) If you put Kobe in Orlando, they make it to the second round of the playoffs. If you put SF and Cuttino in Orlando, they make the playoffs. This is a bad trade if we have to give up 3/5 of our starters.

 

To think of someone who played a key role in putting two championship teams together as a clown... I just don't know where you get that from. Pretty bold talk, if your going to put that out there, maybe it's time you stop telling us what their doing wrong and start telling us what they need to do to make it right. Because right now your giving me nothing. You hate the players that CD has acquired and now you don't want to give them up. I don't understand that. Do you want another year to ridicule the same group of players you ridiculed all year last year? You had nothing to say but bad things about the players and the GM and now you don't want to give them up. Am I wrong here, If I am tell me, because since you think getting Mcgrady is fantasy, and just a fantasy for people who are wishing for a magic bullet to save the franchise, then tell us what is it you would have the Rockets do, what can they do to make you happy?

 

Unless T Mac says he only wants to play for Houston then the other deals won't happen if T Mac will not sign an extension.

 

If somehow Tmac can tell Pacers, Suns, and Clippers "back off", and then force Orlando to trade him for SF+filler, and then persude 'Sheed to force a sign and trade for anyone except Yao and Tmac. Man, I am dreaming...