McGrady officially wants out

[Ruff Ryder]

Exactly what I was thinking. Who in their right mind would want to be a clipper for life? That's like saying "I want to be Mike Tyson's punching bag for life" or something.

[Alcoholic]

That's what I was thinking, but that's what he wants, maybe he thinks he can lead them in some years.

[Matt]

i admire Q-Rich for saying that....he may never (possibly) win much with the Clips but he's not a loser like T-Mac

who cares what T-Mac want Magic to do with the draft pick. If he wants to leave then do so....G Hill had a say in what the Pistons would do, and then he leaves. T-Mac will leave no matter what anyway

[fgrep15]

Q-rich shouldn't be talking, in the Clipper three he's the weak link, and why does everybody say that, if you actually looked at he roster situation it has been injuries.
They were 39-43 when Brand played 80 games and 8th in the West, but if you look at the glaring amount of injuries every year, their whole starting 5 + their important bench players all play 60 games the whole year, how can they win?

Shaq for Hill and almost the whole Magic roster is the trade that works also (Gooden, Howard, Gaines, Stevenson)

[Jackal]

We're all sending Shaq to Indiana, Orlando....but what if something weird happens which we don't expect.

Shaq's said he wants to play on a great team for his last years.

I don't think LA would be crazy enough but imagine Shaq landing up in Sacramento. Divac + Bobby Jackson + others. Oei, Sac + Shaq =

Won't happen though just saying how ironic it could be.

Shaq to Detroit...ehehehe, nah.

[Matt]

if Shaq ends up in Sac he'll also have Brad Miller, and Vlade Divac the flopper

[Jackal]

I was thinking more like Divac, Miller + Jackson to LA for Shaq.

Ugh, disgusting. This way Shaq doesnt have to do with Miller & Divac.

Or Sac could even send away Webber. Miller plays well when he's in the starting line-up. Miller & Shaq seemed to be getting along ok in the all star game. See the crossover Shaq pulled on him.

Guys, I'm not being serious here, I'm just saying trying to say everything is possible. We've been making trade deals with Orlando and Indiana, imagine something weird like this happens.

Pfff, who expected Malone + Payton to sign with LA last season? I didn't, not untill I read it atleast. Zo was supposed to join Dallas, instead he joins New Jersey, plays a few games and is declared finished. What a sigh of relief Cuban must have let out.

[hmm]

.

[Stevan]

You mean Charles Oakley made Shaq swing like a drunken fool? But how? Did he spike his Gatorade?

I agree with Psycho Jackal, it's still early and something unexpected could happen, totally outside the square... here's my bold prediction: Shaq will play for one of the 30 Nba teams next season!

Either that or he'll retire to concentrate on his Rap career

[Jackal]

Rockets lead McGrady suitors

With the Tracy McGrady trading season officially under way, several league sources said the Rockets have emerged as the front-runner to land the NBA scoring champion and that a deal could be done by Wednesday.

Though players involved could change in a variety of ways before a deal is completed, any Rockets trade for McGrady, due $14.4 million next season, would have to include the Rockets' three-time All-Star and former co-rookie of the year Steve Francis.

Francis is considered a "base year" player until July 1, complicating deals involving him. But the teams could work around the difficulties of trading players in their "base year" by including other teams, or by reaching an agreement on a deal to be announced in July, a possibility that seemed to fit with Orlando Magic general manager John Weisbrod's plans.

"I expect to know (by Thursday)," Weisbrod said. "I can't say that I would expect that to be public information. I have every intention of knowing where that's going when we make these (draft) decisions."

McGrady's meeting with Magic owner and Amway founder Rich DeVos on Friday produced the expected results. McGrady told the Magic he still plans to opt out of his contract after next season, but he would like a large supply of household cleaning products.

Because Weisbrod had vowed to deal McGrady rather than go into next season with an "I don't know," Friday's meeting started the clock on McGrady's departure.

"From just the GMs who send unsolicited faxes and leave unsolicited messages, there are enough things out there that will be better than OK in a trade," Weisbrod said. "So I don't think us doing a bad deal is an option. We're not going to do a bad deal."

The Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns also have been considered top contenders to land McGrady. Dallas could work its way into the talks.

League sources said even with McGrady, a two-time scoring champion and twice an All-NBA first-team pick, holding an option to terminate his contract after the season, as many as 10 teams have made significant offers.

Source.

[Andrew]

On paper, McGrady and Yao would be an awesome duo. But if JVG's focus is getting Yao more touches, replacing Francis with T-Mac is not the way to go.

[Ruff Ryder]

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando Magic general manager John Weisbrod said Saturday the Magic are still in contract discussions with Tracy McGrady, even though the star player has reportedly told the team he wants out.

"I certainly will not confirm that T-Mac is going to be traded," Weisbrod said. "I'm going to continue to say on T-Mac what I have said for the last month, which is that Arn (Tellem, McGrady's agent) and I are in discussions."

League sources told the Orlando Sentinel on Saturday that McGrady expects to be traded soon, despite the club's refusal to confirm a deal is imminent. They also say that it was the Magic who have wanted McGrady to leave the franchise, not that he wanted out. A deal could be struck within days, but not announced until after the NBA Draft on Thursday night.

Reached at his home in south Orlando, McGrady told the Sentinel he could not talk about the situation "until it's official ... after the draft. I can't let my tricks out of the bag. I don't have any comment."

McGrady can opt out of his seven-year, $93 million contract after next season, and has said he will unless Orlando improves dramatically from the 21-61 record this past season. But the Magic have vowed to trade him, rather than letting the four-time All Star leave without any compensation -- like Shaquille O'Neal did eight years ago.

O'Neal has told the Lakers he wants to be traded. He is under contract for another two years, but can opt out after next season.

O'Neal stills lives in the Orlando area in the offseason, fueling speculation the Lakers may try to trade him to the Magic.

"I would expect that I'm going to hear from (Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak) on that, since I think when people talk about Shaq moving I think they know in his mind and his heart that this would be the obvious place he'd want to go," Weisbrod said. "But, when you look at the financial piece of that, it's almost an impossibility."

O'Neal is owed $27.7 million next year and $30.6 million the following year, making Orlando's chances of acquiring him "pretty close to mathematically impossible," Weisbrod said.

"We'd be fielding a roster with seven guys on it," Weisbrod said.

The Magic also brought high school player Dwight Howard in for a workout and interview at their practice facility Saturday. Orlando has the top pick in next week's draft, and is thought to be deciding between Howard and Connecticut's Emeka Okafor -- who worked out for the team Saturday.

"I think were going to have a very difficult decision on our hands," Weisbrod said. "Now that we've gotten a handle on these two guys, it would take something very, very special to trade the pick."

Added Howard: "We're both at the top of our games. As far as picking him or me, if they pick him, I am happy for him. He'll be No. 1 and that's great. I'm just happy to be in this draft. There are a million boys who play basketball who wish they were in my position now -- a fortunate position."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1824945

I think a Shaq for McGrady deal would be interesting. It all depends on Kobe's decision though. T-Mac should just go for a new, maybe 2 or 3 year contract and see if they can make the playoffs. They will get top pick and get a young player with alot of potential in this years draft. To me, their pick is a no-brainer-Okafor. Look at Orlando's defense. It was the worst in the league next to the Mavs, but when you can score 100+ a game then it doesn't really matter. Okafor will bring some defensive stability.

[Amphatoast]

how about this 3 team trade..
LA gives:
Shaq (29 million)

Orlando gives:
T-Mac (14.5 million)
G. Hill (14.5 million)
J. Howard (5.4 million)
D. Gooden (3.2 million)
#1 draft pick

Indiana gives:
R. Artest (5.8 million)
A. Harrington (6.3 million)
J. Bender (6.4 million)
A. Croshere (8.3 million)

LA recieves:
R. Artest
A. Harrington
G. Hill
#1 draft pick

Orlando recieves:
Shaq
A. Croshere
J. Bender

Indiana Recieves:
T-Mac
D. Gooden
J. Howard

[_marsal]

Orlando gives:
G. Hill (14.5 million)

Indiana gives:
J. Bender (6.4 million)

that's preety nice trade there...but i don't think that indiana would trade all of their PF's and SF's...i think that bender would stay in indiana, as for grant hill staying in orlando...there are just to many players involved in this trade...but i like it though

[hmm]

.

[Matt]

i heard about this possible deal

T-Mac for S Marion, Joe Johnson, J Voskuhl and 1st rnd pick (7OVR)

i'd take that if i were Magic

[hmm]

.

[Ruff Ryder]

I heard T-Mac for Amare and Marion, but the suns really detested that offer.

[Jackal]

Stoudemire shouldn't be traded...big men aren't that easy to come by these days.

Marion & Johsnon for McGrady I would still consider, as soon as Amarè's name is mentioned, I'm out of there.

[Ruff Ryder]

Yeah, thats what the Suns did. That is a bad deal IMO for phoenix.

[Jackal]

It isn't only bad for Phoenix, what does McGrady get out of it? Doesn't he want to leave Orlando to start winning? Suns - Stoudemire + Marion = a bit better team then Orlando. (Ok, a better team but not a title contender!!)

[Amphatoast]

It isn't only bad for Phoenix, what does McGrady get out of it? Doesn't he want to leave Orlando to start winning? Suns - Stoudemire + Marion = a bit better team then Orlando. (Ok, a better team but not a title contender!!)

actually if you think about where the suns are its going to be the magics all over again seeing the kings, spurs, mavericks, t-wolves, etc. even more

[Colin]

The Suns put that to rest a while ago, they are willing to trade Marion or Johnson, but not both. They are more willing to trade Marion.

[Jackal]

I wouldn't mind trading Marion either, with the departure of Marbury...Marion just proved himself to be a good role player. Not a super-star.

[Micchy_boy]

well i want to ask something, can some pls tell me about this.

t-mac contract will be until WHEN?but can opt of next year, right?
if right dont you think teams wanting them like houston and indiana are gambling coz t-mac may leave them next year after they trade some of their good players. correct me if i'm wrong okey??

lets say tmac was traded to houton for francis,mobley and cato plus nachbar. also orlando gave lue and howard to houston. then houston lost and t-mac get tired of losing again and opt his lasy year contract and dont want to sign and trade. then this will leave houston nothing in return? am i right or not. so are houston or other teams taking chances in taking t-mac and hope tmac stay with them???