Can someone please explain exactly what Steve has done? Not what he's rumored to have done or anything like that. The 26 interview was fine. There was nothing wrong with that. Then I see that his agent said the following: It has been rumored that Orlando is turned off by Steve not being excited to play there. It's also been rumored that they would rather take a look at offers like those from the Pacers and the Suns. I understand being upset that the deal hasn't gone through yet, but it's still early in the process. It might still happen. Until we get definite word that the deal will or won't go down and what the actual snag was or wasn't isn't it premature to pounce on Steve? I may well be missing some comments made by either Steve or his agent. Please let me know if I am.
I'll explain it in very simple terms... When a deal is announced that involves a star player, his job is to keep his mouth shut. He doesn't have to accept the trade willingly, but he does NOT go to the media and have his agents go to the media and b**** and complain about it. He also does not allow them to say he would be "scarred" by the experience or that Orlando and Houston should come up with another team to accommodate Francis. What he DOES do is go to them privately, express his concern and work it out behind closed doors where it is appropriate. By blurting it out to the media, he not only places the deal in jeopardy, but also his tenure with the Rockets AND his reputation around the league. He comes off looking like the jerk whether he is or not. McGrady told the Magic that he would leave after next season because his contract was up. They demanded an answer and he gave them one and reasons to back up his case. He then said some stupid crap about playing with O'Neal in Dallas. Shortly thereafter, CLEARLY someone told him to shut the hell up and he has been completely silent since then. THAT is how it should be done. Handle your business in private. Don't try to do it in the media. It is BAD business practice.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/23/s...00&en=a9cd1fb0b80b669c&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE Mavs Pursue O'Neal; McGrady Deal Hits a Snag By CHRIS BROUSSARD Published: June 23, 2004 It was widely believed that McGrady would be headed to Houston this morning in a trade for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. But that deal hit a snag yesterday. Though he is under contract for several years and has no veto power over trades, Francis made it clear that he did not want to play in Orlando, causing the Magic to reconsider the trade. Several league executives and player agents were baffled by Orlando's hesitation because Francis would have no choice but to play for the Magic. "John Weisbrod is setting a bad precedent by caving in to this guy," one agent said, referring to Orlando's general manager and speaking on condition of anonymity. Looking elsewhere, the Magic entered into serious discussions with Phoenix yesterday, and the Suns are offering Shawn Marion, the up-and-coming Joe Johnson and this year's first-round pick (seventh over all), for McGrady. That would give Orlando an All-Star small forward in Marion, a potential All-Star shooting guard in Johnson and the first and seventh picks in tomorrow's draft. Indiana, which is willing to trade anyone on its roster besides Jermaine O'Neal, has been trying to engage Orlando in talks for McGrady, but the Magic has not been moved by any of its offers. In the end, several league executives believe the trade with Houston, which would also send Tyronn Lue, Juwan Howard, Reece Gaines and possibly Andrew DeClerq to the Rockets, will eventually be made because McGrady is saying Houston is the only team he will stay with long term. McGrady, who is able to opt out of his contract after next season, has great leverage because he can threaten to leave any team that trades for him after just one year. If the trade happens, it is believed the Magic might turn around and trade Francis.
The Rockets were nice enough to let him know they're doing it. The could have not said anything. I think if anything the media killed this trade if it's not gonna happen...with these interviews and comments that get back to the teams. I'm really ticked a Matt Jackson who spoke very badly of our players to the orlando magic beat writer. Matt doesn't know what he's talking about...we are giving up quality to get quality.
Look at this ploy by this writer...trying to taint the fans of Orlando to create pressure to not do this trade. The media has power. when orlando newspaper did a poll to see whether they didn't want Shaq several years ago and the fans vote they'd like him out, I'm sure it contributed a little bit to him bolting to the Lakers. And now this with Francis. Francis and Mobley are quality players.
Thanks, you are starting to move me toward your way of thinking. The only thing I'm still hesitant about is what Francis or his angent said to the media. The quotes I've seen aren't that bad. It seems like the trouble comes from what others have said about what these guys have said behind closed doors. I'm not trying to be obstinate about this or anything, I'm just trying to understand. My understanding has changed somewhat since last night, but I'm still unclear about exactly what it was that he or his agent said to the media that was so wrong.
FB, Hes not so much what they said, word for word, it was their intentions behind the words. Their intention is for Steve not to play in Orlando, thus essentially, sabotaging this deal. Based on the 1st amendment, they have this right obvious. But based on pure professionalism, they have no right to pick and choose his team since he is under contract.
Codell, Thanks for bearing with me on this, I know it may seem as if I'm being stubborn. You may well be correct. It's just with rumors about Steve and folks being quick to jump on him based on rumors, only to later have him behave contradictory to those rumors I just wanted to get the facts of what was on the record. What you, Jeff, and a few others have said makes sense. But I guess I put on my filter when I heard people talking about 'whiney crybaby' and stuff like that, because nothing I had seen in the media indicated any whining or crying or temper tantrums or any of that other stuff. Jeff mentioned handling disappointment in private and not in public. I agree with that, and it seemed like most of the damage was coming, not from what Steve or his manager said, but from what others were saying about the process. So it didn't seem like they were going to the media so much. But I agree that Steve has no choice of where he plays, that Steve shouldn't go to the media and deal with this stuff in public, that it tarnishes his image, and the respect that I might still have for him, etc.
As codell said, it's not the words. Whatever they said, it was enough to plant the seed of doubt. There is no way they didn't know this would happen. Besides, you should know that whenever carefully calculated things like this are said through the press, things ten times worse are being said out of the public spotlight. Just because Francis et al. were trying to be tactful in the media (what non-r****ded agent wouldn't?) doesn't mean they didn't call up Orlando and say "Steve will never play for you. He thinks your team sucks and will continue to suck. Plus he hates the city and the fans." They did release statements along the lines of "Steve does not want to play for Orlando, the Rockets and Magic may need to get another team involved to make the trade work". Why would they need to get another team involved? Only because Francis wouldn't play for Orlando. And they didn't help things by saying "If Orlando got Shaq, then[/i Steve will play for them". WTF is that?!? Just floating the idea that Francis would be unhappy or want a third team involved apparently has been enough to cause Orlando to reconsider, and other teams smell blood and are now attempting to move in and screw the Rockets. The agents definitely knew this would happen.
What Francis should have done is just accepted the trade. Then when he is in Orlando he should THEN weigh his options....AFTER the trade! But buy holding this deal up it hurts him, us and perhaps Orlando. Everyone takes it in the arse! By opening his big yapper Francis has DEVALUED himself! He cant come back here as everyone will hate him. No one will trade good value for him. It is Lose-Lose for Francis and for the Rockets. What is unfortunate is that Francis has not surrounded himself with good people, good agents that know how to massage a deal like this. They are just spouting off which is devaluing everyone!
No. As had been discussed ad nauseam, McGrady gave the Magic warning that, although he would play out his contract, he planned to execute the opt-out clause that the Magic put into his contract. This gives the Magic the options of: a. keeping him around and hoping that they can rebuild enough to change his mind, thereby risking losing him for nothing. b. trying to trade him now to recoup something. Steve is saying he doesn't want to play for them, they need to trade him, etc. The difference is that he has no say. If Steve wanted to do the same thing as McGrady, he could tell the Magic "Look, I just wanted to let you know, I am not going to resign here after my contract is up." That would be equivalent.
FB, Deuce made a good point. Francis is devalueing (is that a word? lol) himself here. His image is already somewhat shaky and this is only going to make it worse, whether the deal goes down or not. Its frustrating for me personally, because like you, Ive always defended Steve and most of his actions. That being said, I dont think he is crying or whining or anything like that. The way his agents and he have communicated their feelings have been as professional and forthcoming as they can be. But again, with me, its about the hidden motive. And that motive is, to not go to Orlando, and thus, sabotage the trade.
