Chad Ford, ESPN Insider, says the Rockets deal is "a terrible deal for the Magic." It is JHoward and McGrady for Francis, Cato and Mobley. He sees the Suns and Clippers as the teams most likely to get a deal done and where McGrady will be come next week. The Suns are offering Marion, Jacobsen and either Johnson or the #7. The Clippers are offering Maggette, the #2, and Chris Wilcox. And yes, he quotes a source as saying that McGrady would be interested in playing for the Clippers. Don't count your chickens before they've hatched, Rockets fans. I'm not posting the full story because it's copyrighted, for-pay material...but check it out for yourself... http://proxy.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&id=1825472&CMP=ILC-INHEAD
I still believe Tmac wants to play with a legit center. Amare and Brand are nice, but they aint no Ming.
JPM, Magic management has changed since the days of horrible deals; we'll see what actually happens. Again, don't think it's anywhere near a slam dunk...because it isn't.
you have to take Chad Ford with a grain of salt. He's one of the biggest jokes. It's no secret he has disliked Francis long before the season began.
The problem with Chad Ford is that he's an assclown. He gives little insight to any of his random predictions.
I think you're right that we shouldn't count our chickens. But I'd take Ford's warning about the Suns more seriously if he hadn't thrown in the Clippers. Like they say, it's better to shut up and let people suspect you're an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Chad Ford can kiss my ass. How is it a terrible deal? If Chad Ford thinks that Phoenix is the one that's offering Amare/Marion/Johnson instead of Orlando the one asking for them, he's dumber than I was lead on to believe. As for the Clips, what was the offer? Actually it doesn't matter. If McGrady goes there he'll just relive what he already went through, more mediocrity tacked on with losing seasons.
Has Chad Ford ever actually broken a story? I seriously don't understand why people pay to read his "insight".
Do we hold Francis & Mobley's value too high? Seems like the only people in the country that appreciates their value is US! Orlando forums, call them Houstons trash and I found it hard to find any positive posters about trading with Houston.
Chad Ford's utterly useless Insider commentary: Jun. 21 - The Rockets are rumored to be the leading suitors for McGrady, offering a combo of Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato for McGrady and Juwan Howard. That sounds like a fantasy trade that every other owner would veto. We know Magic GM John Weisbrod is a hockey guy, but even he should know this is a terrible deal for the Magic. The Suns, Clippers and Pacers all look like they could make offers that might make Weisbrod pull the trigger. Some of it will come down to T-Mac's preference. He wants to play in Houston, but the Rockets' offer isn't close to those of the other three teams. At the end of the day, we see either the Suns or Clippers landing him. Feel free to laugh out loud at Ford. It helps.
I dont see the Clippers getting McGrady. I dont think McGrady would play second fiddle to Kobe in LA and that team is not very promising to make a championship run. McGrady might as well stay in Orlando if that is the case. Getting back to a deal......but that doesnt mean the Clippers arent part of a 3 way trade with Houston and Orlando where let's say Francis goes to the Clippers and some Clippers players go to Orlando and of course T-Mac comes to Houston. That could happen.
I sense a bit of jealousy - like the Rockets might actually not be getting McGrady - yet you all think there's nothing to add here. Seriously, he has broken many deals in the past - remember the big Ewing trade, for one? - and there is something to be said for his information, whether or not you think he is biased against Francis. Truth be told, you guys are the only ones who think the Houston deal compares favorably to any of the others on the table. Take off the blinders, guys. Other teams can offer more. McGrady wants to play in Houston, but the Magic don't have to trade him now. Both sides have to work together, and if McGrady says he is willing to go to LA, Phoenix, or Indiana - and he's said he'd consider it for all three, at the very least - then the Rockets don't stand much chance.
The Phoenix offer sounds comparable to the Houston offer, to me. The Clippers offer sounds weaker. All he's doing though is offering his own talent evaluation -- something he's not qualified for -- and not even providing much of a rumor. He did what I just did, sized up each offer.
That's all you need to read. The sentence is half factual claim and half opinion. The factual claim is about what the person with the most influence in this situation wants. The opinion belongs to a sports writer with no influence. Guess which matters.
seriously...it sounds more like trade commentary than any sort of breaking news. he's entitled to have an opinion on the worth of the trade...but his opinion is ultimately worthless in whether or not this trade goes down.
I wonder if the Suns or the Clippers have a 24 year old 7'6 center with skills that enjoys passing the ball.
