The guy who wrote that article above, Brian Schmitz (sp) is about to talk about Steve's visit to Orlando on ESPNews.
Just said that Francis is at their offices meeting with Weisbrod and coaches. The team wants players that want to be there. The guy re-iterated that Weisbrod asked Francis to come down AND that he solicited permission from the Rockets to allow him to come to Orlando.
But Jeff, I thought this was all Francis and Weisbrod had nothing to do with him coming to Orlando? As the Church Lady from SNL would say...Interesting???
This has been the wildest trade ever in Houston sports history, I can't remember any other trade this bizarre and so nerve racking to fans. Come on Rockets, a championship is on the line
http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2529598 Francis, Magic meet ... but still no trade Print story AIM story Email story JOEL ANDERSON / Associated Press Posted: 8 minutes ago HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Rockets guard Steve Francis met with Orlando Magic officials on Tuesday, possibly paving the way for a multiplayer trade that would include NBA scoring leader Tracy McGrady. Francis' agent, Jeff Fried, said if all went well during the meeting with Magic general manager John Weisbrod and other team officials, a deal could be announced as early as Wednesday. "I think that would be a fair statement, yes," Fried told The Associated Press. "We'll continue to go over the positive aspects of such a move with the Magic." Magic officials didn't return calls seeking comment. The proposed trade would reportedly have the Rockets sending Francis, Cuttino Mobley, Kelvin Cato to Orlando for McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines. If a deal isn't completed before Wednesday, both teams will have to wait until after a two-week player movement moratorium ends. Weisbrod has said he's considering offers from at least three other teams and is in no hurry to make a move. When reports of a prospective deal came out last week, Francis balked at leaving Houston for rebuilding Orlando. But Fried said a talk between Francis and Weisbrod after Thursday's draft helped alleviate some of the All-Star guard's concerns about joining the Magic. Fried said Weisbrod convinced Francis that the Magic could improve quickly with the additions of No. 1 draft pick Dwight Howard, a 6-foot-11 high school star from Atlanta, and point guard Jameer Nelson, the 5-11 point guard from St. Joseph's who won virtually every college player of the year award last season. Francis was also impressed that the Magic wanted to make him the centerpiece of the rebuilding franchise. "I think that he certainly believes in what John is trying to build," Fried said. The Magic "could well have gotten almost any player in the league for Tracy McGrady. Steve felt pretty pleased with their reasons for talking to him and what his role might be in the rebuilding process." McGrady, tired of carrying a mediocre franchise, has said he wants out of Orlando and vowed to exercise the opt-out clause that goes into effect at the end of next season. But the Magic will almost certainly trade McGrady, the NBA's two-time scoring champion, because they don't want him to leave without the team receiving compensation - like Shaquille O'Neal did eight years ago. Francis, a three-time All-Star, averaged 16.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists last season to join Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson and Grant Hill as the only players in league history to average at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists in each of their first five years. Francis, Mobley and 7-5 center Yao Ming led the Rockets to the playoffs last season for the first time in five years. Houston lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. But Francis, who flourished in an up-tempo offense for the past four years, was put on the summer trading block after posting the worst numbers of his career in new coach Jeff Van Gundy's slower-paced offensive scheme.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing." How MacBeth hasn't posted this 14 pages in is beyond me.
So Stevies Agent basicly admited the trade will go down on Wednesday!! god let be true!.i'll go to church for a whole year!!
One thing about Gaines is that he flourished under a coach (pitino) that lets players know exactly what they should be doing all the time. JVG's structure and demanding nature will be similar I think and much different than Doc Rivers. I think we'll see a lot better player if he's coming here. Plus he hit some big shots in college so I'm suprised by the 'deer in the headlights' comment.
