T-Mac: Magic need more than No. 1 <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Success of any kind hasn't come too often for the Orlando Magic of late, so like many fans, star guard Tracy McGrady was delighted to see the franchise win Wednesday's NBA Draft Lottery. Tracy McGrady puts on the moves against former Magic star Shaquille O'Neal. If McGrady isn't happy with next season's roster it is likely that he will move to one of the more dominating Western Conference teams. AP image. But McGrady is also a realist and often brutally honest. On Thursday, he tempered the euphoria of the Magic securing the top overall pick by predicting that Orlando likely won't get a significant boost next season from either Emeka Okafor or Dwight Howard. Okafor, the shot-swatting power forward from the University of Connecticut, and Howard, the Atlanta teen star, are the players considered by most to be locks for the top two picks in the June 24th NBA Draft. </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He said he's "90 percent sure what he's going to do," adding that there are two teams -- the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs -- that he would like to play for if he decides to leave Orlando. He stressed that the deciding factor will be the Magic's ability to significantly upgrade the roster this summer via trades, free agency and the draft. </div> MAGIC STILL LOSE FOR WINNING <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">May 28, 2004 -- HEY, you wanna mute the merriment down there in Orlando for a second? I've got an announcement to make: As peachy positive as it is for the city, its fans and the NBA's decaying franchise to have lucked into a third lottery transfusion of rare young blood, Tracy McGrady's floor plan does not include the Magic past next season, if not sooner. According to a McGrady loyalist, the prospects of playing alongside UConn's Emeka Okafor (whose skill level hovers somewhere between Hakeem and Adonal Foyle) or any other eligible draftee fails to provide any incentive whatsoever to stay. "It means nothing," minces my man. Nor does the thought of trading the prime piece of property (VP Pat Williams advocates a speedy deal before the pick can walk away without compensation) for an established player. Nor does the fuzzy chance of Grant Hill's repeatedly reconstructed ankle allowing him to return to his former glory. "Tracy wants to play some place (other than Athens, of course) where he can compete for a championship every year," the source underscores. </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Having already endured a dreadful 21-61 season, McGrady told FLORIDA TODAY that he has no desire to go through a long-term rebuilding process or witness the growing pains of a kid making the leap from the preps to the pros. McGrady can opt out of his contract following next season, and says that he will have an answer as to his future in Orlando for the Magic brass by July. </div> From the first article: Man wasn't that him a few years ago, McGrady is gotta be one of the most selfish people ever. They made some very good points towards the McGrady situation yesterday on "Pardon The Interruption". They said McGrady has to be a really selfish individual to make these kind of comments. He then said that I don't think I can wait for Okafor to develop which then forced Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser to bring up facts about his stay in Toronto when the Raptors organization was forced to wait on him to develop. He then repayed them by leaving the country while saying "What about me?"
T-Mac: Magic need more than No. 1 <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Success of any kind hasn't come too often for the Orlando Magic of late, so like many fans, star guard Tracy McGrady was delighted to see the franchise win Wednesday's NBA Draft Lottery. Tracy McGrady puts on the moves against former Magic star Shaquille O'Neal. If McGrady isn't happy with next season's roster it is likely that he will move to one of the more dominating Western Conference teams. AP image. But McGrady is also a realist and often brutally honest. On Thursday, he tempered the euphoria of the Magic securing the top overall pick by predicting that Orlando likely won't get a significant boost next season from either Emeka Okafor or Dwight Howard. Okafor, the shot-swatting power forward from the University of Connecticut, and Howard, the Atlanta teen star, are the players considered by most to be locks for the top two picks in the June 24th NBA Draft. </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He said he's "90 percent sure what he's going to do," adding that there are two teams -- the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs -- that he would like to play for if he decides to leave Orlando. He stressed that the deciding factor will be the Magic's ability to significantly upgrade the roster this summer via trades, free agency and the draft. </div> MAGIC STILL LOSE FOR WINNING <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">May 28, 2004 -- HEY, you wanna mute the merriment down there in Orlando for a second? I've got an announcement to make: As peachy positive as it is for the city, its fans and the NBA's decaying franchise to have lucked into a third lottery transfusion of rare young blood, Tracy McGrady's floor plan does not include the Magic past next season, if not sooner. According to a McGrady loyalist, the prospects of playing alongside UConn's Emeka Okafor (whose skill level hovers somewhere between Hakeem and Adonal Foyle) or any other eligible draftee fails to provide any incentive whatsoever to stay. "It means nothing," minces my man. Nor does the thought of trading the prime piece of property (VP Pat Williams advocates a speedy deal before the pick can walk away without compensation) for an established player. Nor does the fuzzy chance of Grant Hill's repeatedly reconstructed ankle allowing him to return to his former glory. "Tracy wants to play some place (other than Athens, of course) where he can compete for a championship every year," the source underscores. </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Having already endured a dreadful 21-61 season, McGrady told FLORIDA TODAY that he has no desire to go through a long-term rebuilding process or witness the growing pains of a kid making the leap from the preps to the pros. McGrady can opt out of his contract following next season, and says that he will have an answer as to his future in Orlando for the Magic brass by July. </div> From the first article: Man wasn't that him a few years ago, McGrady is gotta be one of the most selfish people ever. They made some very good points towards the McGrady situation yesterday on "Pardon The Interruption". They said McGrady has to be a really selfish individual to make these kind of comments. He then said that I don't think I can wait for Okafor to develop which then forced Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser to bring up facts about his stay in Toronto when the Raptors organization was forced to wait on him to develop. He then repayed them by leaving the country while saying "What about me?" Selfishness is not a good thing.
T-Mac needs to shutup! They have the number 1 overall pick, and they can get Okafur with that. Okafur is 6'9 and will play Power Forward in the NBA, but he can anchor a defense. Just look at his body , its Chiseled. Okafur will average 8 points 9 rebounds and 3 blocks in his first year. That will give Orlando a major boost. And Okafur's work ethic is infectious, he is eventually going to become a top five PF. The Magic can also sign a decent PG with the MLE. Such as Carlos Arroyo, he isnt flashy but can get the job done . He is a "poor man's" Tony Parker. The Magic also has some tradeable assets. Drew Gooden, Juwan Howard , Reece Gaines , Deshawn Stevenson. If I am the Magic I trade Drew Gooden and Deshawn Stevenson for a 7-10 pick and snatch Andre Iguodala. This guy is going to be a big time player, mark my words. He has improved his shot by leaps and bounds. One of my freinds in Chicago told me that he attended the open workout session and saw Andre lighting it up. And in private workouts Iguodala impressed John Paxson by his shooting. If the Magic gets Andre Iguodala, Emeka Okafur . Carlos Arroyo, Etan Thomas, they will have a chance to win 40-45 games next year. That should keep T-Mac in Orlando. He needs to stay and maybe can grow with the team John Wiesbord builds. So far I am pretty sure that Wiesbord will draft Okafur, and sign Carlos Arroyo and maybe Etan Thomas. I just hope he makes a run for Andre Iguodala
I read in an article , that after T-Mac says his options he breaks down and says he really wants to stay and really there is nothing he wants but to win here "at home" . I think T-Mac is just doing all this because is the only way Orlando management work their ass off , they will make a good trade regarding PF , C...and PG either including draft (getting or giving those 2 second round picks.)
Word is that Andre Iguodala got killed by Luke Jackson of Oregon. Here's what Luke said about it: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Givony: The rumors trickling down say that you recently dominated Andre Igoudala at a gym in Chicago. Can you give us the scoop about what really happened there? Did you really tear him up the way people are saying you did? Jackson: I mean?I?m not going to say that. I?m just really excited about this draft because there is a lot of talk about me moving up, and that makes me excited. But I?m not going to say anything bad about Andre?s game. </div> http://www.draftcity.com/articles/0023.htm
Orlando's problem with this draft is that they really don't need another PF, because they already have Drew Gooden and Juwan Howard. Adding Okafor won't really make them stronger, because they will still be weak at the center spot. All three are too small to play C, and DeClerq is not getting it done either. There are a couple of real C's available in this draft, but none of them is good enough to take with the first pick. So they should either trade their pick for a legitimate center, or trade Gooden/Howard for a center and draft Okafor. Problem is.. T-Mac doesn't want to rebuild, he wants to win 40-50 games next season and get to the playoffs.
Ok all you Lakers dreamers need to wake up. There will not be a team consisting GP, Kobe, Tmac, Malone and Shaq after they win the championship this year. Let me break it down for ya'll: GP will most likely leave if they win a championship this year. Why would he stay? He only wants the ring and he's playing unhappy already in Lakers. Malone is the same as GP. He's gone after a ring. Now regarding Shaq and Kobe: Jerry Buss (owner of Lakers) have said before that Kobe is his boy and will pretty much do anything to keep him in Lakers even if that means losing Shaq (that can't get alone with Kobe and is a big salary capper anyways) and Phil Jackson (who wants to take a break from coaching anyways and doesn't have a good relationship with Buss). My prediction of the Lakers' starting 5 next year: D-Fish, Kobe, George, (a new PF here, don't know who) and a new center here too besides Shaq. Also, Phil Jackson will take a break from coaching after he wins this year's ring. Regardless of what happens, Tmac will not be a Laker alongside Kobe. If Kobe can't share roles with Shaq, do you really expect him to work well with Tmac? Wake up. Tmac most likely won't stay in Orlando. He wants to win asap and staying in Orlando waiting for players to develop is just not gonna happen. Unless Magic trades their #1 pick for other role players that can contribute and win immediately, I'd start looking at buying the #1 Spurs or #1 Rockets jersey.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SupraJames:</div><div class="quote_post">Phil Jackson (who wants to take a break from coaching anyways and doesn't have a good relationship with Buss). </div> I agree with most of your post, but where did you get this? Phil Jackson is dating Jerry Buss' daughter Jeanny, and I can't imagine he has a bad relationship with his father in law, but correct me if I'm wrong.
Payton said that if they win the title, he'd actually like to stay in LA and keep the big 4 players. Malone will likely stay in LA, but the status of kobe is still unknown. If kobe resigns w/ LA, the lakers will have the same starting lineup at the 1,2,4, and 5. But if something freakish happens and the lakers dont win the title this year, then look for GP to leave.
Lakers will stay exactly they way they are now, except for: Look for Fox to retire... GP might get a better contract
magicfrankie, I read in an article from Sports Illustrated somewhere that yes Phil is pimping Jerry Buss' daughter but Jerry himself doesn't exactly like Phil. Like UrbanLegend said, it can happen! That must be pretty weird... Phil is dating a girl that has a dad almost his own age.. Oh well, I heard she's hot too! The Lakers won't have the same starting 4 next year even if they get the ring this year. Actually Malone and GP are the players that will most likely stay surprisingly. I guarantee you 99% that Kobe, Shaq and Phil Jackson will not all be in the Lakers team next year.
Man, I bet you that if TMAC gpes to the Spurs they will win the next 4 championships. But, if Kobe goes to the Clippers like the rumor is he will make that team alot better. You got to remember the Clippers would have Elton Brand, Kobe, Chris Wilcox, Corey Maggette, Quentin Richardson, Marko Jaric, Keyon Dooling, and of course Chris Kaman
I would hate to see T-Mac leave Orlando. he went from a nobody to one of the best players in the NBA and arguably the best player in the east. Orlando would fall apart if T-MAC left. They need offseason help just so they can keep T-MAC in O-TOWN until they know they can win wthout him, which they know that they can't!
You know what im tired of you guys talking about this stupid stuff. If Lakers take T-Mac it will be...Lakers having an 82-0 Record not cool they have Shaquille O'Neal Kobe Bryant Gary Payton Tracy MacGrady Karl Malone that startin line up alone can be the all star team by itself. but who are the lakers going to trade for t-mac? that line up could change but i dont think tmac is heading to lakers. after the lakers might possibly win another championship this year i think t-mac is clearly stated to either going to Phoenix or Houston. t-mac going to the lakers is totally wrong to the nba. t-mac heading for the spurs would be an okay match up but then other teams would be tired of getting whooped by them. t-mac for suns well they might get to the playoffs with a good record. t-mac on rockets well the rockets will lose francis and mobley and possibly jj and mo but the chances are the rockets might actually get past round one of the playoffs
assuming tmac is going to be traded to LA, i dont think orlando would settle for anything less than kobe bryant, so i doubt you'll see that starting lineup. but aside from that, lakers will not trade kobe, so therefore tmac to the lakers next season is not gonna happen.
Well you cant be sure abou Tony Kornhieser , remember he always jokes about T-Mac saying its good to be in the 2nd round . But the truth is it was a hypothetical statement and Tracy said "being in the 2nd round would be a great feeling." As for Michael Wilbon he subtley attacks T-Mac just because T-Mac dissed Doc Rivers, one of Wilbon's best freind. Tracy also dissed Wilbon once in a press confrence at MCI center and thats why Wilbon is saying these things about him
