Orlando Sentinel: Magic want Francis, Mobley and Cato

a deal would most likely not be done unless an exetension is signed or the opt out clause is removed.

 

It is really a steep price to pay, for Indy and PHO too.

If it did happen:

1. We would have to sign best PG available (Barry, NVE, Fisher).

2. We would have re-sign Eddie. MoT and Eddie could hold off the PF position for another year.

3. Make them throw in DeClerq to backup Yao.

Barry or Fisher/Wilks
J. Jackson/Pike
T-Mac/Nachbar
Griffin/MoT
Yao/DeClerq

 

Orlando is asking for way too much. I definitely don't want to lose Cat and I'd hate to lose Cato. I think Steve and the trade exception is fair.

 

so your willing to say, Hey no McGrady because I want to keep of all people, Cato? Hey it's TRACY MCGRADY, Lets take a poll...

 

if we look in the right places, we'll be able to find a legit point guard. who thought much of chauncey billups before this year?

with a system built around yao and mcgrady, all you really need is a PG that looks to find the open man, hit an open jumper or two and play aggressively. someone who'll play his butt off for you... earl watson, charlie ward, antonio daniels, damon jones, tyronn lue, jeff mcginnis kinda come to mind. if mike wilks developed a shot, he'd be an option i'd be willing to try.

i'd be more concerned with our 4.. i really hope we can find a quick, bruising, blue-collar PF. i fell IN LOVE with ben wallace this playoffs. ok.. i'm getting carried away.

 

after we aquire McGrady and possibly Gooden, we could possibly look at McDyess with the extra cap room thats free from dumping Cato...or maybe Dampier (price may be too high)?

 

Well I'm not a CBA expert but I don't think you can just remove an opt-out clause. And if that is true then signing T-Mac to an extension into 2008 or something wouldn't negate the fact that he still has that opt-out next season. It's just a risk that any team that trades for T-Mac will have to take. Unless of course you can in fact drop an opt-out clause in which case ignore all of the above.

 

Cato? are we talking about Cato?

 

im also not sure if an opt clause can be removeed, i read some other post in other thread that suggested it.

 

I'm having trouble telling if you're serious or not here. You not only want to take that psychological trash heap back, you plan to start him?

 

i'd be fine with Tmac + gooden or howard ...hell even Hill would be okay i guess. i just don't think that dealin 3 for 1 helps us out that much.

if PHO's and IND's proposals are true..well those are some nice deals that orlando probly couldn't pass up

 

Francis
Mobley
whoever the hell there small forward is
Okafor/Howard
Declerque

they would have to upgrade at the 3 and 5 but thats a pretty solid lineup

 

is Dampier asking for the MAX?

 

No way, but he'll be at least looking for the 8 million per over the next two years that he would be leaving on the table. My guess is that it'll be somewhere between Kenny Thomas' 7 year $50 million deal and Brad Miller's 7 year $68 million deal. That's the going rate for competant big men in the NBA.

 

Watch out for trades like this. This deal would seriously deplete our depth.

1. Cuttino was 5th in the NBA in minutes played last year
2. Yao still needs Cato to spell him when he's tired or in foul trouble.
3. We are left with no point guard.
4. I'm not confident enough in Boki to make him our starting SF, and move JJ over to the 2.

This trade would turn us into a poor man's 03-04 Lakers. We'd have a bunch of has beens and scrubs surrounding Yao and TMac. The only thing that this trade really does is get us on national TV more.

Personally, I think that we should use the Detroit Pistons model, and just keep adding pieces until you have the deepest 8-9 man rotation in the NBA with chemistry.

 

I am still convinced that Orlando will go after Shaq with a bunch of #1's, Hill, and other salary. They probably realize that it is the only way to retain TMAC.

 

I said I'd hate to lose Cato, but if he had to go to make the deal, then I guess he'd have to go... A big man like Cato is a luxury nowadays, he'd be real good in the East... Cuttino tough I would not give up. We need his defense, his shooting, and his hustle. Especially if he comes off the bench as a sixth man.

 

Francis and Cato for McGrady would be good. But including Mobley in the mix? You gotta give me more than McGrady. That's an insane trade. Throw in this year's draft pick or something...

 

I thought I read someone a few weeks ago who posted that Francis won't be tradable until August because of his Base Year Salary or something...

Are we going to have to wait that long or could something happen sooner?

 

I wouldn't include Cuttino in the deal, just steve.

I don't want Gooden or any of their garbage like Howard or DeClerq