xiki - trades not involving free agents can be consumated at any time now. They do not have to wait until July, when free agents and other players can be signed. Thus, you'll see draft day deals and the like.
Always interesting to see how badly the Magic want back its own: first rumors of Shaq, now Maggs going back to Orlando... Anyway, me and a friend were talking about trade ideas, and I thought the Clips would be interested in acquiring TMac. I don't know if the numbers match up, but what about a 3way with the Clips and Magic. It's unlikely as hell, but the main pieces are: Steve goes to LAC, TMac comes here, and EB goes to ORL. LAC gets a star in Stevie to run with QRich and Maggette. That'd put some butts in the seats. ORL gets some low post presence (Shaq-lite) so it can dream of years of glory it should have had with Shaq. HOU ends up with TMac/Yao.
if we can possibly keep mobley and use him as a 1, it would be so awesome. anyway, back to reality I'm going to laugh when all this talk is said and done and the trade finally goes down.
overall the east is still pretty weak outside of Det, NJ, and Ind. and Shaq going to Orlando would make this thread and 20 others useless.
Francis is a BYC player until July 1, so unless Orlando has an overwhelming desire to burn $5.5M in cap space for no reason, a Francis trade wouldn't happen until after his BYC status expires.
Ok this is getting damn interesting. Shaq is requested to be traded and this could affect of getting TMAC? What if Shaq is traded to a team and TMAC want to follow? I have no doubt TMAC would not want to play with Shaq because Shaq is getting old and injury prompt and TMAC know that playing with Yao, he will passes back. Damn this Year no doubt got the biggest name on the trading block. TMAC KOBE SHAQ IVERSON oh and Stevie
I would take this deal. Marion is a good player but not a tier 1 superstar. #7 is a crapshoot (as we know). Maggette is a very good player on the rise- a future allstar. The #1 & 2 pick would allow Orlando to take the established college defensive stopper (Okafor) as well as the HS star Howard who supposdely is greater risk but has the higher ceiling. The Magic could also trade either pick for a veteran and a pick next year to a terrible team (neither Okafor nor Howard would immediately turn a loser to mid-lotto status).
If Tmac really wants to come to houston it will be a done deal. If Orlando gets a better deal from another team, tmac can refuse to sign after his contact is up next season. From alot of interviews that i've read, it seems Tmacs priority is to get into a Rockets uniform.
Why do people keep bringing up the Clippers into these McGrady trade talks. Sure the Clippers have assets the Magic would want but then look at it from McGrady's perspective. Is he going to want to sign with the Clippers? I dont think so. That really is another lateral move for him. He might as well just stay in Orlando. If people want to bring up Indiana, Phoenix or Houston fine, but enough with the Clippers. It takes two to tango and McGrady just isnt going to want to resign there when his contract is up so thus with no gaurantee the Clippers wont deal for him.
IMO, the Clips are the one team that would take McGrady whether or not he wants to play for them. They would dare McGrady to take less money to play with another team.
The Clippers have 1 huge asset - they play in LA. Yes, he's one of the worst owners in the league but this could be his time to shine. As a player, he might relish the opportunity to lead an upcoming franchise to replace the sagging Lakers as the team in LA. If McGrady is looking for a challenge - this could be it. And the rewards could be huge.
aelliott - a Francis trade cannot occur, but that doesn't mean any trade can't occur. It's no done deal by any means that it's McGrady to Houston.
He could play 1 season with them, but then he would be a free agent at the end of the season. Why would the clippers want to lose all their players to keep tmac for 1 season. Doesnt make any sense.
Why would we have to offer so much for T-Mac? If he wants to be traded, then the only team screwed here would be Orlando. They're the ones scrambling not to lose out. Why would anyone offer anything amazes me... What it comes down to is where T-Mac wants to go. If he likes Houston, then I can't imagine why Indiana would mortage their team to see him leave a year later. Ditto to Phoenix. If I were the Rockets, I would offer something along the lines of Cato, Mo T, and Mobley. Then wait. It's not up to Orlando; it's up to T-Mac. However, I imagine that his trade demands is to force Orlando to trade the #1 pick for Vet help, i.e. Diesel.
Mark Stein just said on sportscenter that Orlando wants Amare Stoudomire, while they ask steve,cat, and a "big man" from houston. He also said that Indiana might be a player in the Shaq sweepstakes.
