"We didn't ask him to come to town," Weisbrod said. "But if he wants to, we're certainly happy to sit down and talk to him." That quote from Weisbrod sounded kinda strange....I just don't think Steve is the type of person that by his own would make an arrangement for himself to go down there unless Weisbrod ask him to. I believe Weisbrod said that on purpose to help build Steve's reputation back up...making it sounded like Steve really wants to play for them and is willing to go down there to check them out, therefore the public believe that Weisbrod had made the right choice.
Maybe not. Les sounded pretty unsure to me in his comments over the weekend. And Feigen's article about Wisbrod leads me to believe the Rockets are unhappy period. To me, if CD knows this trade is going to happen he'd be conveying a different vibe, like I don't know -euphoria? If CD doesn't trust/like Weisbrod no big deal. But if he has doubts about T-Mac's true intentions then you bet I'm worried.
I disagree, I don't think Houston dropping out of the T-Mac sweepstakes does Weisbrod any favor. In fact, I think it lowers T-Mac trade value if that is possible. Say Houston drops out and tells Weisbrod to screw himself. With Houston out of the mix then Phoenix, Indiana, nor Dallas have any reason to up the anty in the trade game. First off, I don't think Dallas has anything outside of Dirk that would really beat the Rockets offer. Walker doesn't fit on that team & Finley is old. The only thing I could see is if they packaged Howard/Daniels S&T/and filler, but personally I think they are holding out for Shaq & won't do anything to jeopardize that. As far as Phoenix and Indiana go. If they wanted T-Mac that bad they would have uped the anty already & added that extra player that Weisbrod probably wants. In Phoenix's case it would have to be something like Marion/Johnson/Barbosa/Voskhul or Jacobsen, but they won't gut their team just for T-Mac. The same for Indiana. I don't think that they will trade Harrington/Bender/Artest and or Tinsley for T-Mac. I think Bird will end up trading Harrington before he waits for Weisbrod to make up his mind. So if anything, whoever decides to wait the longest will get T-Mac at a discount rate. If he's waiting for something better I don't think its going to happen. The Rockets just have to wait it out & keep talking. However, I do think that if it goes past Wed then Les and Carroll will think twice about the whole deal, but I don't think they'll blink. This is an ole fashion staring contest, but I doubt that Weisbrod can keep from blinking due to the numerous blows to the head he recieved as a puckhead.
I wonder if he's interested in waiting to see if they can get Kobe later in the year. I know, I know - the Lakers are saying no sign-n-trade. But as the year drags on, if they can't find a good price for Shaq, I wonder if they'd cave in.
I doubt it. I think Shaq will be gone for sure unless Rudy T can do some damage control. I also don't think Kobe would agree to go to Orlando even as much as he wants to be the man. The Lakers have already handed that team to Kobe, and I don't see any turning back now.
I agree with Kayman... Some of the comments coming out of the Magic camp are rather suspicious. Its possible that Wiseacre is just covering his butt, trying to keep the deal together, however unWIESly. Statements like, "we didn't ask Steve to come, but we'll be glad to meet with him," "we have all the time in the world," "we want this done soon," "the deal is nowhere near getting finished," "we're listening to other teams offers," "if we get Steve, we may ship him somewhere else," "we want Steve to play here," etc. Some of that is clearly trying to regain the confidence and support of Magic fans. He's playing the tough guy. He's checking out all his options, etc. And, its clearly worked. This may actually have been a trial balloon to use the internet and chat rooms, the media, and everyone talking about it as a means to get the Magic fanbase to accept something that is tough for them to accept ... The scoring champion is leaving their team, and has them by the balls, while he is doing it, by only agreeing to sign an extension with one team, the Houston Rockets. This has to really piss off that organization, as well as the fans. I wouldn't be surprised, if some of the delays are due to trying to shake TMac from his position, and even to get back at him in various ways ... just because they are frustrated. But, the Rockets may be somewhat responsible for this themselves. There is a reason that trades are usually not discussed with players in advance, unless it was by their request (as in TMac's case). Even though it seems like a classy move to discuss it with the player, it hands power to them. Remember when we were negotiating with Toronto to trade Dream for Christie/Willis/#5/#12 picks and possibly TMac in that deal? Well, Houston talked to Dream about it right before it came out, and Dream did the same thing that Francis is doing. He threatened to retire rather than go through with the trade. We gave Dream the power to destroy the deal when we did that. Would Dream have retired? No way. But, the threat of it is bad PR, and killed the deal. If we'd have informed Dream after the deal went through, Dream would have gotten over it, and after looking at all that money on the table, decide he had to make the best of it. Would he have been pissed, with bad feelings, like Thomas? Yes. And, of course, that was the reason we felt we should talk to him in advance, because he was an icon. Of course, some of the reason may have been to check out fans reactions, too. But, the Rocket's brass told Fried about the trade before it was done, even though it was 90%. This gave Francis and Fried the power to screw up the trade, and they have seemingly used that power to its fullest. Many of the reactions of Wisenheimer are those of someone who has lost their power in a deal, and bluffing. He's used the media to try to intimidate Francis, who is quite possibly the one who has held everything up to this point. At times, they praise Francis in the media, other times they act like they don't care, or are negotiating with others. And Francis makes statements, like I want to go down and check out the Magic, and see how they are going to use me as the cornerpiece to their franchise, or whatever he said. Thats the statement of someone trying to control the deal to his benefit. The Rocket's management and Francis are the ones responsible for this getting out to the press, not unWISE. He hasn't handled it well, either, but I'm not sure he's the only one at fault on this deal. I'm pretty sure this deal is going through, but I have a feeling that we aren't the only ones who have sweated out this deal. I hope Doc Rocket or someone with an inside connection can give us the inside scoop on what really happened behind the scenes, once this is all over.
I feel terrible for Steve. He's the one being strung out by his would-be new GM. Weisbrod uses him to leak the word that the trade is going down, then pulls back, leaving Steve effectively without a team. Then Weisbrod brags to the media that he "charmed" Steve. Then he lures Steve out to Orlando, claiming he has to look into his eyes and see if he's got the right stuff. Then he tells the media the trip is all Steve's idea, and maybe if Weisbrod feels like it, he'll meet with Steve. No GM has the right to treat a player this way. Doc, have you heard anything about how Steve feels about this on-again, off-again drama?
I agree Will. This Weisass (sorry R2k I had to use it) is really not being fair to SF. I really can't stand this guy. I have never really known anything about him. But, him being the worst team in the NBA's GM and acting like he is god is really starting to piss me off.
well, you guys could be right ... perhaps Stevie has done everything right, and is just getting screwed by everyone. That would have to be pretty frustrating ... JVG promising you that you aren't being traded when you hear rumors, getting informed by your agent at the last minute that you are on your way to playing for the worst team in the league, after you have bled Rocket red, getting yanked around, told one thing one minute, lied to by Wisebrod, and the next minute its off ... feeling like you've connected to him on the phone, and the deal is done, then in public stated he states its not even close, and negotiating with others, or sending him packing. Maybe he was told the deal would be announced today, and they just want to do it their way when they wanted, to let him know who's in power. If Francis hasn't stalled the deal, or pulled any temper tantrums, then he's possibly been put through a pretty raw deal. I'd like to know which it is ... we just don't know the facts, and the disinformation by Weisbrod is making things pretty tough to surmise.
Let me get this straight, the deal is: the 29th pick from a year ago and an undrafted rookie for the NBA scoring champ and Dallas would not do it?
I don't think he was ever afraid of Steve's comments. I think he saw it as a bargaining chip to be played. "Steve might not come here. Throw in a draft pick to sweeten the deal." I think that's why he's dragging out the negotiations, to try to extract another pick from CD. Aside from T-Mac, we're trying to reload through free agency, they're trying to rebuild through the draft. They can afford to wait, we really can't. We need our roster set with T-Mac on it, so we can attract free agents.
I'm wondering if this is a game of chicken. Does Wisebrod just hate the houston trade, but know that as long as t-mac feels its a viable option, he has to act like he is entertaining it. If we back down, McGrady will probably open up his options for other teams and thus give Wiseass a better trade. What's worse is I think Bird gave him the idea. "Mess with houstons mind and make them pull out, then the floor is open for option..."
The Rocket's manager can withdraw this deal, and appologized to Steve. Let this stupid weisbord (MBA from Harvard?????) lose his job right way. he may never get a job again. I like T-mac and steve very much. And then we can try to drop Taylor and Cato to somewhere, get some free room silently, and sign T-mac as free agent next year, if he really like to play with Yao.
Sherlock - First off I like your posts and comments. But I dissagree with your conclusion that Fried and Francis screwed up the deal. If upon hearing of the trade, Francis jumped up said he loved Orlando, he was moving his Mom there anyway, and skipped down the hall singing "it's a small world after all"... Do you think this trade would be done. My guess is that Wisenwhatever would still be standing in front ot the cameras preening himself - no matter what? I think the Rockets treated their players with honesty and dignity. No matter how it turns out, I am hard pressed to complain about that.
good points, Pat ... who knows ... I agree, that I respect the Rocket's management, as well as Steve, and until we have the facts, we should give them the benefit of the doubt. Something stinks in this whole deal, and it may be all Wiseguy ... but, I'd love to find out from Doc or whomever what really happened behind the scenes. If I understood right, Doc already said that Francis and JVG hated each other, (don't have time to search through all the pages to find the exact quote), even though in public they say the opposite. We're all frustrated ... but, hopefully tomorrow, we'll be excited by an announcement, and not care about figuring any of this stuff out. Just glad we've got TMac, however it happens. If we hang on patiently, I believe we'll be successful, no matter what antics other's play.
Is it possible the deal is done and NBA-Rox-Magic are just trying to get some free run in the press to work fans into a frenzy and sell tix for next year? If that was NOT the intention it certainly is the result - I can't recall a summer with so much NBA buzz. I can't think of any other explanation if the deal does go through.
Steve Francis would have a whole 'nother story to tell about that one... The Magic haven't come out and lied about any negotiations. The deal isn't getting done because it's never been as close as Jim Gray said it was. I mean, come on - Jim Gray of all people. It'll get done in due time and there are other things going on besides the straight-up deal, you know. The Magic are making contingency plans to trade Cato and Mobley, after all, and want everything to fall into place at once.
I truly believe that Wisebrod would have pulled all this crap regardless of what Francis said. The comments didn't help, but Wisebrod's method of "holding out for more" is a proven method. T-Mac probably kept his mouth shut because he knew where he was going and wasn't worried about it.
