Tracy McGrady is on the block!

[F-Dog]

Orlando Sentinel

The Orlando Magic have given star Tracy McGrady an ultimatum, demanding that he either commit this summer to staying with the franchise or face the possibility of being traded.

Magic General Manager John Weisbrod said Wednesday that the club "will push" McGrady to make a decision before the start of next season --- and there is no room for him to be wishy-washy.

"I have no intention of starting the season with an 'I don't know (from McGrady)," Weisbrod said.

IMO McGrady will be changing teams if the Magic don't get Okafor.


I think the Portland Trail Blazers have put themselves in the best position to acquire McGrady through trade--they have a ton of contracts that expire in 2005, and with Paul Allen bankrolling them, they can afford to take on Grant Hill's contract to get McGrady.

 

[Espo]

Bring the Mac-Daddy to the valley. Why not trade our first round pick and marion for T-Mac? I think this is the perfect situation for T-Mac seeing as he doesnt want to be a leader and on this team he doesnt have to be. Bottom line is this team is Amare's and that's why i don't want to see Kobe come in. The last thing we need is Kobe complaining that it is his team and not Amare's. T-Mac is the man to bring in here and he can become even better along side Amare.

 

[George O'Brien]

Bring the Mac-Daddy to the valley. Why not trade our first round pick and marion for T-Mac? I think this is the perfect situation for T-Mac seeing as he doesnt want to be a leader and on this team he doesnt have to be. Bottom line is this team is Amare's and that's why i don't want to see Kobe come in. The last thing we need is Kobe complaining that it is his team and not Amare's. T-Mac is the man to bring in here and he can become even better along side Amare.

I'd be more interested if I was convinced that his back problems will not recur.

 

[Espo]

I'd be more interested if I was convinced that his back problems will not recur.

I agree that his back problems are troublesome but if i had to choose between Kobe and T-Mac i would take the chance with T-Mac. Plus we still don't know what is going to happen in Kobe's trial. I think you have to take a chance on T-Mac and hope that his back will hold up.

 

[George O'Brien]

I agree that his back problems are troublesome but if i had to choose between Kobe and T-Mac i would take the chance with T-Mac. Plus we still don't know what is going to happen in Kobe's trial. I think you have to take a chance on T-Mac and hope that his back will hold up.

These are not directly comparable. Except for his shoulder, Kobe has been generally healthy. Signing Kobe does not require getting rid of a core player whose contributions are totally different than the player he would replace.

Plus Kobe is a better player. Doing a deal for T-Mac is not outrageous, but it does not make the team an immediate playoff team the way Kobe would.

 

[Chaplin]

These are not directly comparable. Except for his shoulder, Kobe has been generally healthy. Signing Kobe does not require getting rid of a core player whose contributions are totally different than the player he would replace.

Plus Kobe is a better player. Doing a deal for T-Mac is not outrageous, but it does not make the team an immediate playoff team the way Kobe would.

As much as I support bringing Kobe to Phoenix, I have to disagree that Kobe is that much better than Tracy McGrady. I think both are phenomenal talents--and in reality, there is very little seperating the two of them talent-wise.

 

[George O'Brien]

As much as I support bringing Kobe to Phoenix, I have to disagree that Kobe is that much better than Tracy McGrady. I think both are phenomenal talents--and in reality, there is very little seperating the two of them talent-wise.

I haven't seen T-Mac as often as Kobe, but I've had the impression that Kobe is a better defender. Offensively, I would say they are pretty close.

 

[Assface]

Since I've lived in Orlando for the last 13 years I've become a Magic fan (I'm only a casual basketball fan anyway) so I'm going to have to request that the Suns go after Kobe. If the Magic lose T-Mac I'll probably give up on basketball altogether since I'm not excited about the Sonics at all.

 

[Chaplin]

Either one or both is just fine with me!

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

As much as I support bringing Kobe to Phoenix, I have to disagree that Kobe is that much better than Tracy McGrady. I think both are phenomenal talents--and in reality, there is very little seperating the two of them talent-wise.

Talent wise there isn't a lot separtating him. George is right, Kobe is a better defender, but TMAC has the extra height.

However, I would take Kobe in a heartbeat. He has the personality to win every night. He never gets down on himself, or gives up on a game. He simply has the heart of the champion, where TMAC does not, at least not yet.

TMAC even said it himself in an interview. He said something along how he wanted Kobe's competiveness, but wasn't sure if it was in him.

 

[Chaplin]

Talent wise there isn't a lot separtating him. George is right, Kobe is a better defender, but TMAC has the extra height.

However, I would take Kobe in a heartbeat. He has the personality to win every night. He never gets down on himself, or gives up on a game. He simply has the heart of the champion, where TMAC does not, at least not yet.

TMAC even said it himself in an interview. He said something along how he wanted Kobe's competiveness, but wasn't sure if it was in him.

Of course, Kobe Bryant has never in his entire career (perhaps his entire life) endured losing teams like Tracy McGrady has. If you swap the two, I'm not sure Orlando wouldn't still have the worst record in the league.

 

[elindholm]

Plus we still don't know what is going to happen in Kobe's trial. I think you have to take a chance on T-Mac and hope that his back will hold up.

These really aren't comparable. If Bryant's trial goes poorly (however unlikely that is) and he is convicted, his contract gets voided. His team is no longer under the obligation to pay him or to count his salary in their cap figures.

If McGrady gets hurt, insurance might pick up his salary, but the team would still be financially strapped from a cap standpoint.

I won't argue who is a better player, but I agree with thegrahamcrackr: If the Suns have a choice between one or the other, Bryant is the easy winner.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Plus we still don't know what is going to happen in Kobe's trial. I think you have to take a chance on T-Mac and hope that his back will hold up.

These really aren't comparable. If Bryant's trial goes poorly (however unlikely that is) and he is convicted, his contract gets voided. His team is no longer under the obligation to pay him or to count his salary in their cap figures.

If McGrady gets hurt, insurance might pick up his salary, but the team would still be financially strapped from a cap standpoint.

I won't argue who is a better player, but I agree with thegrahamcrackr: If the Suns have a choice between one or the other, Bryant is the easy winner.

The contract thing is a great point, but even ignoring that issue, I would still pick Kobe over TMAC.

 

[Chaplin]

Another thing (and I'm either way on the Kobe or TMac debate)...

IF we were to get Tracy McGrady, it would mean probably losing Marion and at least someone like Barbosa along with him, if not more (Joe Johnson). With signing Kobe as a free agent, we don't lose anybody. (Except maybe White to make signing room for Bryant)

 

[Chaplin]

The contract thing is a great point, but even ignoring that issue, I would still pick Kobe over TMAC.

I hope you guys don't think I would prefer TMac over Kobe. But if Kobe signs with someone else, Tracy McGrady wouldn't be a bad consolation prize. Even if we lost Marion getting him.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I hope you guys don't think I would prefer TMac over Kobe. But if Kobe signs with someone else, Tracy McGrady wouldn't be a bad consolation prize. Even if we lost Marion getting him.

I assumed that was the case, and I agree for sure.

However, the asking price does worry me a bit. We don't want to strip mine our team in order to get TMAC. An Amare/McGrady team would be amazing, but we wwould be in significant trouble if it cost us both JJ and Marion. Anyone else who thinks otherwise is being foolish. The only reason the lakers were sucessful with Kobe/Shaq and no backup was because the little help they had were vets. Young players most likely wouldn't respond nearly as well as a core of older players.

And I wouldn't really want a core of old players backing up those two anyways.


The fact that the suns are under the cap could actually hamper the team if they chose to negotiate with the Magic. Since the suns could offer pretty much anything in return, they wouldn't be able to pawn off a bad salary on Orlando. I cant think of a team under the cap that got rid of a bad deal in a trade.

I mean if we were giving up a pick, JJ, and a prospect, I would at least want them to take Eisley or White off our hands.

 

[George O'Brien]

The fact that the suns are under the cap could actually hamper the team if they chose to negotiate with the Magic. Since the suns could offer pretty much anything in return, they wouldn't be able to pawn off a bad salary on Orlando. I cant think of a team under the cap that got rid of a bad deal in a trade.

I mean if we were giving up a pick, JJ, and a prospect, I would at least want them to take Eisley or White off our hands.

You are making an interesting point, but I'm not sure I entirely follow it.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I haven't seen T-Mac as often as Kobe, but I've had the impression that Kobe is a better defender. Offensively, I would say they are pretty close.

Kobe is a better defender--by alot, and he is a better clutch shooter.

Put it this way. If Kobe played for the Magic this year, they would have a much better record. JMO

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

You are making an interesting point, but I'm not sure I entirely follow it.

A few honey browns can have that effect.

The thought process I was having is something like this:

Since the suns are under the cap, they could instantly become a target team for the magic to deal with. The magic could demand certain prospects, without having to match up salaries. Thererfor, they could demand taking a couple good, young, cheap players, without having to take an expensive player to make the deal work.

On the other hand, if you look at say, the Grizzlies (who also have a lot of young talent), the magic would have a harder time getting a deal made. They could take a couple of ther young prospects, but would be forced into taking a large contract in order for the trade to work under the CBA.

So in essence, the Grizz may be able to clear an unfavorable deal to get McGrady, whiel the suns would just give up prospects.


The suns are different than most teams under the cap. They have a LOT of young talent the magic could want. The only team under the cap that is comparable would be the Nuggets, however they have a far fewer amount of prospects. I am sure the Magic would at least contact the suns if they really planned on dealing McGrady (Assuming we dont have Kobe). I just think we would be able to get a better deal if we were over the cap, since we could force either Eisley or White on them to make the deal work.


I kind of thought about teh NY trade when I came up with this. The suns didn't want Howard Eisley, but had to take him in order to make the numbers work. If the Knicks had been under the cap, we could have refused taking Eisley in the deal, and possibly came away with the rest of the talent.

Oh well, lets see if my drunken logic still works in the morning

 

[cly2tw]

If I were the Magics, I'd not even touch Marion. Provided that the Suns get one of the first two lottery picks, I'd trade McGrady for that pick + Clev. pick + JJ + Barbosa (or Vujanic) and maybe + White. I'd never want Marion getting a max contract on my team, why should I trade for such a contract if I have the option not to?

 

[Ryanwb]

I hope you guys don't think I would prefer TMac over Kobe. But if Kobe signs with someone else, Tracy McGrady wouldn't be a bad consolation prize. Even if we lost Marion getting him.

If it cost marion to get McGrady, that would be a good thing!

 

[George O'Brien]

If it cost marion to get McGrady, that would be a good thing!

Depending on whether T-Mac signed an extension and is healthy and what else is included in the deal. No way I'd give up both Marion and JJ for anyone not named Garnett or Duncan.

 

[fordronken]

Here is my question: if we get offered a T-Mac trade before the Kobe stuff goes down, would we reject it because we thought we might have a chance with Kobe? Probably not. Even though I would much prefer Kobe, him actually signing here is quite a long shot. Also, if we used Marion to get T-Mac, we would still have a decent amount of cap space to fill out the rosters with some solid veterans and be in a position to start winning now.

 

[elindholm]

Here is my question: if we get offered a T-Mac trade before the Kobe stuff goes down, would we reject it because we thought we might have a chance with Kobe? Probably not.

I agree, but mainly because I think that any trade for McGrady would involve moving a lot of salary back to the Magic, even if the other team involved (e.g. Phoenix) would have cap room to work with.

Orlando has to get some pretty significant talent back in return if they're going to deal McGrady now. The Suns won't part with Stoudemire and probably would be reluctant to send Johnson away. So for the Magic, it would be either Marion, or no deal with the Suns.

In other words, if the Suns were to make a trade for McGrady, they'd still have most or all of their cap room.

Hypothetically, would this board accept a trade of McGrady and Juwan Howard for Marion and Johnson? Howard would make McDyess superfluous, which will be a consideration for some.

 

[hcsilla]

Hypothetically, would this board accept a trade of McGrady and Juwan Howard for Marion and Johnson?

That seems to be a fair deal.

I would reluctantly do it. McGrady's back, Howard's contract, Johnson's upside: isn't that a bit too much for the significant upgrade from Marion to T-Mac?