http://www.nba.com/magic/news/Patrsquos_Summer_Blog_Insta-113006-66.html July 1, 2004 I just got home from Vegas Monday night and I think by now I’m just about fully recovered. The funny thing is that we didn’t even go out hard. Saturday night we went to a show and were in bed by midnight. Sunday we hung out at the Belagio pool most of the day until I had two meetings from 3:00 until about 7:00 and that night we went to a little reception the NBPA had and then to a bar for a few cocktails. On Monday we had our general meeting which was from 9:00 until 4:00 and were back in Aspen by 9:00 that night. I think even if you don’t go hard in Vegas, you still come home exhausted from everyone else who is in bender mode and trying to destroy themselves out there. Even though the trade was inevitable, it still hasn’t hit me that we are finished with one era, if you will, and about to embark upon another. As much as I wish T-Mac would have stayed and have been a part of our rebuilt team, it was impossible for the organization to take that chance. I know he said that he was upset that no one reached out to him and tried to persuade him to stay when he made it known that he wanted to leave, but the way our team handled that situation speaks volumes about the type of team we wish to become. We want to be the type of team where the group without exception is more important than any individual member. We want to be the type of team where no one has to ask whether or not your on board for the process which we’re about to undertake. Either you are fully committed to the Magic or you need to find another place to play. I know what you’re thinking. It’s a players’ league and, more precisely, a superstars’ league. And for the most part, that is the way it is. Star’s like T-Mac drive the marketability of a team. They are the source of the enormous revenue generated by NBA licensed apparel. And as a result, stars generally are handled with kid gloves by the management side of an organization. But when that relationship begins to erode the culture of a team and the train, so to speak, begins to come off the track, a change must be made. That is what happened in this situation. That’s not an insult to Tracy but the way he thought he should have been dealt with is diametrically opposed to the vision that John Weisbrod has for this team. End of story and beginning of era number two. I like the guys we have on our team now. Coach Davis wants to be a running team and I think that the moves we have made reflect that shift. We’ve added depth both guard spots and down low. It’s going to be a pleasure to play with a guy like Dwight Howard who is so young but also so hungry to improve and be the best player he can be. Jameer Nelson is coming in with a chip on his shoulder and that is going to flame the fires already burning in him to be a successful NBA point guard. Why on earth would so many teams pass on this guys who has drive, experience and a sick game? All the better for us. And with Steve, Cuttino and Kelvin, we have more than enough scoring and experience to overcome the loss of T-Mac who was such a vital part of our team. Don’t worry Magic fans. Things are looking bright and I ‘m just glad that I’ll be around to be able to share in what I believe will be success sooner rather than later.
I don't think it says anything we already know or suspect. McGrady was being selfish, he quit on the team, etc. No doubt there's truth to it, but like I always feel, there's 3 sides to every story. The risk with Barkley was the same- did anyone but me hate some aspect of the trade at the time? I mean, Barkley was a bigger enemy at the time than Malone. Remember all his trash-talking during 1994 and 1995? "No one on their team wants to shoot the ball." "I'm going to throw a party for 19,000 of my closest friends." And remember him pushing Hakeem flagrantly at the end of game 7 in 1994? I didn't there could be anybody Houston hated more than Barkley. Yet, the trade was made and Barkley helped us accomplish our first goal of knocking out Seattle. That we couldn't win the championship was more a testament to Utah's play than ours (the bearhug notwithstanding). I think it's the same with McGrady, only not as bad. Let's put a moratorium on digging up the past with McGrady. New team, new situation, maturing player, playing with one of the best team players in sports (Yao). Let's look forward and not the opposite.
No doubt, much of TM's bad rep is well deserved, but what everyone outside of Houston fails to mention is that SF also has a bad rep. Just ask Vancouver. Sounds like Garrity is just sucking up to Weisbrod.
Yeah, but for some reason all of the guys that come out of Notre Dame are well-spoken. Troy Murphy, Laimbeer, Ryan Humphrey. No idea why.
July 1, 2004 Coach Davis wants to be a running team and I think that the moves we have made reflect that shift. I like Steve but ehhh. . .
Seriously, this was a good trade for both teams. Orlando becomes an instant contender in the East, especially given their division includes Miami, Charlotte, and Atlanta. Houston improves with the addition of McGrady and T-mac and in the advent that Brent Barry becomes our new PG, who in their right mind would say this is not a better line-up than last year for the Rockets?
Miami isn't a slouch, though, especially with Dwyane "Black Jesus" Wade. If they pick up a decent big man, the battle between the Heat and Magic should be a good one.
As long as Steve is not running the break, he could be right. I really believe the trade will help Steve and Tmac...they both needed a good dose of reality...and being traded does that. I am happy for both teams...they both got better.... AND...we got Tmac. DD
