Orlando Sentinel: Magic want Francis, Mobley and Cato

Just to correct you here, the Rockets wouldn't make this deal unless they had an exetnsion immediately agreed upon. Meaning, the Rockets will talk with T-Mac's agent (with permission from Orlando) and T-Mac would sign an extesnion as soon as he gets here.

IMO, I think we should keep Mobley out of this trade and deal him in another trade. You guys forget that we have the 6.9M TE and the 4.5M MLE to improve this team. With those 2 we can get 4 good players. If we keep Mobley, that's even more trade bait. But if we keep Mobley, the other teams' offers would be much better.

Mobley/Cato/Francis doesn't work straight up for T-Mac. You'd have to throw in Howard and a bit. Let's say we take Lue as well to make him our backup PG. That gives us:

Yao/NO ONE
MoT/Howard/Weatherspoon
T-Mac/Boki/AG
JJ/T-Mac/Pike
NO ONE/Lue

Basically, we'd have a two needs:

- Good backup C. Someone who can be very energetic for 15 minutes a night, block shots and rebound.
- A good PG who can play around 30-35 minutes for us.

I think I would make these deals to get rid of our problems:

- MoT to Boston for Yogi Stewart and Chris Mihm. I know those 2 players are barely decent, so you may think we should get a pick or something in return. However, MoT is overpaid, while these guys are on the last years of their contracts. The difference in talent is matched up with the difference in money. Mihm's per minute stats are Duncan-like, which is perfect off the bench.

- Eric Snow to Houston for portion of the TE.

- Sign Antonio McDyess to a relatively risk-free contract. Meaning two years, half the MLE, team option in the second year.

This gives us:

Yao/Mihm/Stewart
McDyess/Howard/Spoon
T-Mac/Boki/AG
JJ/T-Mac/Pike
Snow/Lue (BTW, both T-Mac and JJ have spent time at PG in the past)

That is th eabsolute best case scenario, and would make us contenders in stantly. BTW, these players potentially come off the cap after one season: Mihm, STewart, Boki, JJ, Lue, and McDyess. I believe Spoon will be in his final season as well, meaning that, if he plays well next season and he's in his final year, he's very tradeable.

 

Wow, the similarities are striking indeed!

...aaaand on a side note, I reeeeaaally hope we don't sign Fisher. That guy is such a cheating little piece of garbage. He flops more than a fish fresh out of water.

 

The only way I could possibly see JVG driving T-mac elsewhere after a season with him, is if he tries to make him into a stand still jumpshooter, and nothing more. And I seriously doubt a man of JVG's intelligence would kill the skills of such a top 5 complete talent, in such an ignorant way. Other than that, T-mac will not have a problem playing D and passing. He'll do those with ease.

 

I wonder rather trade Steve to a team under the cap for high draft picks and make a run for Kobe.

 

Depends on whether or not McGrady can really play with a big man. If he can then this is no brainer. SF should dominate in the east as he has with the Rockets against the east over time. Cat would probably do the same. I would be surprised to see the Magic hold on to both Francis and Mobley. They have Gaines and Bogans growing in the wings. Cato would be better in the east on most nights as well but no great loss for us. If they would add Gaines to the deal then that is like getting a lower first round , tall, athletic swing guy for us. If we can't find someone better than Cato with the TE then we aren't even trying.

I vote, do it!

 

do it in a heartbeat. remember Jerry West gave up EJ, NVE and Vlade (something like that, can't remember) for KB? people say West was stupid, but fact is, 1 superstar > 100 role players...

 

The rockets wont get another chance like this in a long long long time...
its either another year with out much improvement or t-mac...
CD has to do this... may not get another shot, if we dont then we will be regretting this for years to come.

 

cant study because of this

 

You guys keep saying JVG won't be able to do this and that...

It's quite simple really. If JVG can't get it to work, then somebody else can.

I'd rather have T-Mac and Yao on a team than have JVG as coach. Besides, I didn't want more than 2 years of JVG anyway. At some point, the team will become too JVG-like, and I personally don't think he's a coach capable of winning an NBA championship unless the odds are overwhelming.

Make no mistake about it. Keeping T-Mac is more important than keeping JVG.

 

We are missing the most important point here. Mcgrady puts butts in the seat. Get Mcgrady, and the Toyota Center will be full, almost everynight. You think the owner of the Rockets doesn't know this? In the end, having to give up a third player named Mobley or Cato is not going to make a difference, to him.

 

yeah, I agree, friend. One can't think like that, if the opportunity to get a player like Mcgrady comes along, you have to go for it. Who the coach is at the time, is irrelevant, all focus and determination should be directed toward acquiring Mcgrady. And what happens after that, well, that can be handled then. Just get him here. Then sort whatever else needs sorting out.

 

T-Mac does not put butts in the seats




http://www.***********.com/attendance.shtml

 

Essential to remember -- in a multiple player deal for one player, the team which receives the one -- wins (even with cap fodder making it two, but essentially is justy for the one stud).

Also keep in mind -- this is reported to be what they are asking for, not what Larry Legend or The Suns -- or even the Rox -- have said they'll say 'YES" to.

 

Home Home Home Road Road Road
Team Dates Att. Avg. Dates Att. Avg.
9.HOUSTON 41 640,794 15,629 41 728,612 17,771 1,369,406



20.ORLANDO 41 589,194 14,371 41 688,551 16,794 1,277,745

 

I agree

IF we gonna trade Steve . . .we should get a SUPERSTAR back

Rocket River

 

you guys complained because SF didn't get the ball enough to Yao...and now you are willing to let the biggest ball hog in all of the land put on the Rox threads...I just don't get it. He might look good on NBA LIVE 2004, but he ain't worht the asking price. First we saw Chauncey Billups chew up the Lakers. Billups is a cut below SF. SF, Cat and Cato play better defense than TMac. Instead of having 2 quick handed guards and a center patrolling the lanes I get a guy who is inept at playing defense.....TOOO STEEEP! offense wins games...defense wins championships!

 

Yes, Yes, Yes

IMO --- anything but Yao

All the other pieces are replaceable. T-Mac, Yao and some solid role players that fit the mold could win it all

 

Can we 'sticky' this reply? Thanks thacabbage for bringing some sanity here!

Role players can be added VERY EASILY via MLE and draft picks OVER THE YEARS. Top 5 NBA players almost NEVER can be added. I think it is quite simple on what you do here. Remember, this is not just for this upcoming season. This is building LONG TERM! Think a few YEARS down the road. What can a few years of MLE/draft pick additions do to this team when you have a core of McGrady and Yao? And dont you think players will want to come here for the MLE monies when you have a foundation of Yao and McGrady? You bet!

 

spacepimp, Mcgrady missed quite a few games last year. The season was over before it ever really began because of their terrible start and the firing of their coach. The fans knew that. They also realized their team was a lame duck team playing for more lottery balls; they weren't going to come out and be a part of that.

 

Provided T-mac signs an extension...