Orlando Magic finalize trade

[RHBullsFan]

Any thoughts on the trade of Tracy McGrady to the Rockets? Even though I think the Magic improved themselves asa team, it makes me sick to see that they had a 1st ballot Hall of Famer and couldn't surround him with any talent.

[Velcro]

he's no 1st ballot HOF'er just yet.... but he is on pace.

If you look what happened in this trade, basically 3 starters for 3 starters...  the Magic probably got the better of the deal... 2 excellent guards to help develop their young group of forwards/centers.

TMac is a great player, but when he is alone, it was proven last year that that means very little.  

SG Francis

PG Mobley

SF Hill (if he can get healthy)

PF Gooden

C Cato

are a solid 4 players and the Magic have alot of decent role players that will benefit from 2 good guards, rather than a one man show.

Back when the Magic had Darryl armstrong and TMac, things worked much better because there were options... but Lue/Tmac is just not the same threat.

Houston made out well getting TMac to go with Ming... but, dare i say it... alot of the success of the Rockets last year came from Mobley and Cato cleaning up francis and ming misses.

I think Cato might be the one that swings the deal in favor of the Magic.

[GarySJ]

"1st ballot Hall of Famer" is a bit much.

As for not surrounding McGrady with talent, hindsight is 20/20. Pairing him with Grant Hill was a great move when they made it, they just could have not foreseen Hill's extensive injury problems. They had so much cap money committed to Hill that their hands were tied in stocking the rest of the roster after he fell out of the picture. I don't think it's fair to beat up the Magic management for that one.

As for the McGrady deal... getting Steve Francis and the other players from Houston wasn't a bad deal, since the alternative was to let him walk as a free agent after this season.

And I liked the deal for Jameer Nelson. He could be another Tim Hardaway. A foundation of Francis, Nelson, and Emeka Okafor would have been pretty exciting, but they went with the high schooler, implying a rebuilding project of a longer term.

The Magic's biggest mistake was firing Doc Rivers. He really got a lot out of the teams he led.

[Velcro]

I agree there.. losing Doc is Boston's gain.

[RHBullsFan]

Maybe the Magic can lure the Zen Master and the Diesel to Orlando.

[Velcro]

i don't see that one happening in a million years

[Apis Bull]

i don't see that one happening in a million years

So, your telling me there's a chance?

[Velcro]

Great movie  

[bulls96go]

So, your telling me there's a chance?

optimist!

[smazza]

mcgrady and yao can form an unbelieveable tandem

rivers has to deal with idiot ainge