The guys looks like a dork. He just needs to accept the trade, and then trade whiny Francis to Zimbabwe so we can all go on w/ our lives.
Which ever team gets McGrady in a trade will be able to offer him MORE $$ than any other team on a contract extension - correct? Hence he will have a financial interest to NOT walk away from whatever team he is traded to now. This gives a team like Phoenix MORE leverage - and allows them to trade for him even if at the moment he says he won't resign with them. Phoenix may take the attidude - "we don't believe you". Phoenix may expect that they will win games, and be able to offer TMAC more money than any other team to re-sign him. If I were them - I would feel comfortable taking that gamble. I would think that if I was winning, and offered the best $$, TMAC would change his mind and re-sign with us. The only teams who really need to worry about the chance of TMAC leaving are teams who don't expect to win next year. If Phoenix expects to win - I expect they will take the gamble they can re-sign TMAC - and trade for him now. If Phoenix makes a decent offer, coupling that with the Francis "not in Orlando" PR problem - I think Phoenix will get TMAC. Hope I am wrong.
Rhester makes a really good point, and that's a big reason I said no. Also, I really don't think T-Mac can really control where he goes. If so, I just hope he keeps thinking Houston. I love Steve and hate to see him go, but he's pissing me off now. I want this trade to be done because we can't get anything close to as good as this and he's going to be gone regardless.
the money isn't the issue....he holds all the cards here. if he just wanted the money, there's no one right now who could give him more than Orlando. but he doesn't want to stay, because he's tired of rebuilding. so if he perceives that going to phoenix is going to be another rebuilding effort, then i don't think the money will sway hiim...because he can go to a team like the rockets and get the money and the chance to win sooner rather than later.
The money isn't an issue for TMAC now - but Phoenix (or any team that got him in trade) - could reasonably assume money WOULD be an issue when it is time to resign. If Phoenix (or whatever team trades for him) can offer him MORE $$ than any other team, is it realistic to expect that TMAC would pass on more $$, and leave a team that is winning (assume phoenix wins) - to sign with another team that will pay him less? TMAC may say he isn't interested in playing for Phoenix now - but Phoenix probably believes that if they trade for him they can change his mind and get him to resign.
but if he tells them straight up now that he won't resign there...then they don't do the deal...and he ends up going to a team he'd rather play for. his only risk is that the magic do nothing and then he spends one more year in orlando to leave them high and dry with nothing. phoenix may believe that...but it's irrelevant. they're not going to risk all of their good young players for one year of mcgrady and a CHANCE at resigning him.
