Orlando Sentinel: Magic want Francis, Mobley and Cato

Number 1: I have read a lot of people in this post say that the Indiana deal is better. Realize... that's what Orlando is ASKING for, not what Indiana is OFFERING. Those are 2 very different things. Wasn't it posted on this board about 2 weeks ago that J. O'Neal and R. Artest are the only 2 untouchables on that roster??

Number 2: We lose a 2 in Mobley, we gain a 2 in McGrady (or JJ moves over). We NEED someone new at 4 and I don't think the Magic would mind throwing in J. Howard who would be an upgrade. Sure, the guy isn't a top 5 PF, but he's a class act and has become fairly consistant at this point in his career. Sure he's Mo Taylor plus a few points (D and boards a little weak) but I think the combo of Taylor/Howard is an upgrade from last year. If the Magic throw in Gaines/Lue I think it becomes even more of a no-brainer because this somewhat shores up the PG spot at least for now...

Number 3: Kelvin Cato is replaceable via the MLE. I know he's tough and he blocked 17 shots in that one preseason game, but dude is not a once in a decade player. He's a backup center that played 4 and a liability on offense. You could arguably say we could sign someone who is an improvement over him. You just CAN NOT convince me that 25 minutes, 6.1 points, and 6.8 rebounds is irreplaceable.

Number 4: At the risk of sounding redundant... this is freaking T-Mac!! We should hand the Magic our roster with Yao Ming's name crossed out and say take what you want. I think with Yao's passing ablility, his working with an NBA coach this offseason, and with T-Mac's perimiter game we could be onto something really special if we put these two together. He's a great outside shooter and creator. Just think about all those nights when nobody could get it going so Steve tried to do it all and drew iron all night. T-Mac makes those shots.

In closing... yes I'm worried about the PG position if this deal goes down. On the other hand, if you have a chance to get a player like Tracy McGrady, you have to do it. This kid is 25 and he's already led the league in scoring. TWICE!

 

Ok - so we add the TE at 7. mill and we get Hill and his 14 mil. I'm still SO down! So we don't pick up Kurt Thomas this year, big deal. If Hill retires immediately we are SO golden for 05 with Yao's money.



Even better if we tank 04 Yeah, that's just to rile you dudes up. You guys are so easy.

 

Again, I would rather do a straight up trade, but would throw in Cato...I also think that TMac would have to be 100% healthy for this to happen...

 

Trading for McGrady does not look so promising right now. Rockets have probably the 3rd or 4th best offer on the table...

 

Ahhh, I can just see the headlines now: From the folks who brought you 4 years of bad trades and lottery picks and the EDDIE GRIFFIN DEBACLE (I don't know nuthin about no 3 first round draft picks, Miss Scarlett!) comes their most spectacular F UP yet: Take My Starting Backcourt PLEASE!!! (With Special Guest Star Grant "Will I ever walk/play again doctor?" Hill as the gimpy but cagey old veteran)

You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll kiss (fill in the blank) bucks goodbye. Coming soon to a taxpayer supported arena near you. Get in line now!

 

While Eddie might be ok if we can get him DIRT cheap, why not try badine? At least he won't cause a ton of off-court distractions. He sounds like a real blue-collar PF too.

 

I said a month ago that Orlando was going to ask for Francis Cuttino and Cato and in return send McGrady and Howard. It's clearly the deal they would ask for, but at this point, I would rather downsize the deal and ask for the 1st overall instead of Tracy. I doubt Orlando will deal the 1st pick considering the magnitude of the offers on the table.

 

How do you know that ANYONE has an offer on the table yet? As I posted above, those deals are what the Magic are ASKING for. This is a negotiation process. The Magic will initially try to get the most they can and both sides will eventually come to an agreement. The article posted by Clutch doesn't even say the Rockets have an offer on the table... again, this is what the Magic are asking for. I promise you, the Pacers aren't moving 4 of their starting five (including one of the 3 best 1-on-1 defenders in the league) just to add T-Mac and Howard. Like I said, it was posted on this board less than a month ago that Artest was untouchable. Please, everyone, read the posted article again. I'm sure that the Magic are using their hometown newspaper as a negotiating ploy to see if they can get better offers from other teams that so far have not stepped up to the plate.

 

That's exactly what the Lakers thought and we all know how THAT little adventure turned out now do we?

 

ESPN Insider has some deals on the table for TMAC from about 5 teams according to NBA League Sources.

 

Right... you go ahead and take their word for it then. They're definately a trustworthy source. I will say one more thing about this subject... most of us will probably be wrong and the final deal made will be one none of us totally expect.

It's just so early in the process and talent isn't the only factor... money is almost more important since the Magic are rebuilding. Example: Cat is not the greatest player among those mentioned in the article. On the other hand - and I've said this before - he's probably the cheapest 20 ppg in the league, which makes him very attractive to a young team on the build. His game fits the eastern conference better than the west as well because he isn't really a catch-and-shoot kind of guy.

My point is, and always was, nobody needs to freak out about us getting or not getting T-Mac quite yet. It is SOOOOOOO early in the process.

 

Yea. 3 championships and 4 Finals appearances in a 5 year period.

 

League Sources who were all gathered together for the NBA Finals and talking up a storm are not believable sources?

Also according to ESPN...Word around the league is that the Suns are willing to part with Marion, Jacobsen, the rights to Milos Vujanic, and the No. 7 pick in the draft for McGrady.

 

I just read the article in the other McGrady post stating that Artest is tradeable. Apologies for my saying otherwise in my above posts. I still think the Magic would rather send T-Mac to the west and I also think they want a true superstar in return... something Indiana cannot offer without giving up J. O'Neal. Sure Steve only scored like 17 a game... but dude is a human highlight film, especially when he is the focus of the offense. He started the West Allstar game 2 years straight... that's gotta say something.

Again, apologies for my error in above posts.

 

Did anyone in that list start in the all-star game for the western conference last season?

(once again, not saying the Rockets can offer the most... just saying it's way to early to be saying they can't compete with other offers)

 

But, will he? He could be simply using the Rockets to get out of Orlando and then BAM! he's off to LA or someplace else after next year. Meanwhile the Rockets will have managed to"magically" transform themselves back into a lottery team.

 

OK, pariah has gone bye-bye. Bring back Eddie Griffin? They do that and it'll be time to become a Spurs fan.

 

Theoretically, any chance we can throw MoT in there instead of Cato?

Adding T-Mac, we definitely solve some offensive issues. Which makes me concerned about defense. Cato's a better defender than MoT.

 

I'd do that in a NY Minute if I were Phx...article claims sticking point is Johnson instead of Jacobson. Big sticking point.

 

You're joking right? They lost in the finals this year and have won 3 championships in the last 5. You think that by not making this trade we have a better chance at that kind of success. Just because Detroit put it all together and won the championsip this year, doesn't mean that their success can be duplicated. This team doesn't need to grow, it needs to change.

As for all of you who think that Detroit is a team of role players, let's take a closer look.

Ben Wallace - All-Star - top 2 defenders in the league and one of the best rebounders
Rasheed Wallace - All Star - On of the top PF in the league. Weak rebounder but excellent defender and has a good outside shot
Tayshaun Prince(sp?) - Pretty damn good draft pick IMHO. Good defender and great passer. Only 3 years in the league and is already shining on a great team.
Rip Hamilton - All Star - Traded Stackhouse to get him and Rip is much better. Can score in a number of ways and has no offensive weaknesses.
Chauncey Billups - One of the best offensive players coming out of college. Couldn't find a good fit until now, but is a hell of a scorer. He just needed the right opportunity.

Yeah, nevermind what I said. Screw the Orlando deal. We just need role players. Let's go out sign some all stars for our role players. Let's see. I'm sure we could get AK from Utah for next to nothing. I bet NO is done with Magliore. We might have to trade Taylor to get Phoenix to give up Stoudemire, but I'd do that deal.

So that gives us a pretty good group of role players, don't you think. You're right we should model ourselves after Detroit.