Why would he do that? Is his contract coming up for renewal? not that Im aware of....h elikes being here....I think some will overestimate how attached he is to playing with Francis....if he has a chance to win big with Yao and TM...Im thinking he will...whether SF is here or not.
Ladies and gentlemen, I think we're in the driver's seat. T-Mac wants to play with Yao. Or with Jermaine, if you call him a center (Jermaine would rather be known as a PF, but in the East, he can be considered either). But Yao is the one true center of the three teams. Steve is marketable. Marion is probably a better overall talent. But fans don't pay to see him. Fans don't watch Sports Center for his highlight dunks. Orlando can't afford a steep dropoff at the gate. Now it's just a matter of, How to make the salaries match? You could even see Atlanta get involved, as desperate as they are to get the #1; maybe taking Grant Hill's contract as well, in a 3-way involving Houston and Orlando. Anything is possible. I will say this: Carroll Dawson, you'd better not **** this up.
You know, this deal had to have been brewing over the past couple of weeks. I mean, the Magic knew it was more a probablility than a possibility with McGrady. The meeting with DaVoss was really just a last ditch effort, not a negotiation. I assume they've been putting together scenarious for at least the past week and should be ready to pull the trigger quickly.
Absolutely Jeff! I think the writing was on the wall for sometime now. McGrady really never gave the Magic a chance to "improve their team". How could they? They havent drafted yet and they havent even hit FA yet. There just wasnt a timetable there. There is no doubt that they are sifting through trade offers. What is exciting is that T-Mac will probably be delt before or around the draft. We might find out really soon where he is going, hopefully to Houston!
Will Francis and the TE work out? We should just low ball the magic since Mcgradys first choice should (pray) be to play with Mr.Ming. No way the pacers do a deal and then watch Tmac leave after a year. Then we can ship mobley for a decent pg. Maybe a alvin williams or a snow.
This just posted on the Tampa Tribune site: Magic, McGrady Exploring Options By BILL FAY Tribune correspondent ORLANDO - The Tracy McGrady era in Orlando could be over as early as today, pending the outcome of a meeting between the Magic All-Star and team management Friday night. Magic owner Rich DeVos and team president Bob Vander Weide flew to Orlando on Friday to meet with McGrady, who has said publicly he wants to be traded unless the team plans to rebuild quickly after a disastrous 21-61 season. McGrady can opt out of his seven-year, $93 million contract at the end of next season. If he does, the Magic could lose him without getting compensation, a situation similar to what happened in 1996 when they lost Shaquille O'Neal. "We are not accustomed to losing, so we're going to explore all our options,'' Vander Weide said. "We want to talk to Tracy and hear what he thinks is best for him, but we've got to do what is best for our organization.'' McGrady went on record after the season was over that he is not interested in being part of a gradual rebuilding process, telling reporters: ``I can't go through another season like this. I've been rebuilding for four years. I don't want to do that anymore.'' General Manager John Weisbrod then challenged McGrady to give the team a definitive answer on whether he plans to stay or go after next season. Though all indications since then point to him leaving, DeVos said he wanted to hear that from McGrady and set up the meeting Friday night. "I want to know how he feels, what he's willing to take on and what he's not willing to take on,'' DeVos said. "It's not a matter of trying to make him a scapegoat or blaming someone, I just want to know where his heart is. "If Tracy is going to be on the team we put together, he's going to have to work on the team as we put it together. He's not going to be a controller, he's going to be a player.'' The buzz around the league is that he's going to be a player somewhere else next season. Sources say as many as eight teams have made substantial offers for McGrady, a fact that Weisbrod didn't dispute. "There are teams offering three guys and their first- round pick,'' Weisbrod said. "Three established players and a lottery pick is certainly a respectable offer for a team that has a lot of holes to fill.'' That remark could refer to either Phoenix or the Los Angeles Clippers, both lottery teams that are interested in McGrady. Phoenix reportedly is offering All-Star Shawn Marion, backup guard Casey Jacobsen and their No. 1 pick, seventh overall, in next week's draft. The Clippers could offer starters Corey Maggette, Marko Jaric and the No. 2 pick in the draft. The most public suitor has been Indiana, whose general manager, Donnie Walsh, has said the only player on his roster he won't trade is center Jermaine O'Neal. The Pacers reportedly are offering a package of All-Star Ron Artest, forward Al Harrington and possibly point guard Jamaal Tinsley for McGrady. Weisbrod said the team won't give away McGrady just to say they made a deal. "That won't happen,'' he said. "There are enough things out there that I know we will be better than OK. I don't think us doing a bad deal is an option.'' http://sports.tbo.com/sports/MGB9FVC4NVD.html So, now it is Marion, Jacobsen and the #7???
The East is no longer weak. Shaq wants to be traded. Hmmmm, Shaq and McGrady in Orlando? Things are getting interesting!!!
Exactly! Marion, Jacobson and #7. I mentioned before that the Suns dont want to give up on Joe Johnson. Jacobson is total filler here. So it really is #7 and Marion. Is that better than Francis, Mobley and Cato? I dont think so.
