<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">A new era for the Orlando Magic began this morning as the team said goodbye to Tracy McGrady and hello to its future: Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. The three were introduced to the media during a news conference at the RDV Sportsplex in Maitland. Acquired in the trade that sent McGrady, Tyronn Lue, Juwan Howard and Reece Gaines to the Houston Rockets, the three players vowed to help turn around the Magic. Francis said that he can't replace the popular McGrady, but he would do his best to help Orlando win. "You have somebody who is going to come in and lay it down," Francis said. </div> Full Story
This is a new start for the Magic all right, I look forward to watching this team next season, they new dynamic trio of Mobley/Howard/Francis should be enough to make it to the playoffs in the East. If Grant Hill comes back I see a problem occuring if he wants to play point guard, but I don't see that happening. Oh well, Good luck Orlando Magic 2004-05!!
Greatest move that orlando did getting rid of TMac and making a team with all role players. Orlando came out on top with this trade. I gotta give you guys this orland is going to be a team to be reckoned with. THis team is going to be sick next season. how is the lineup going to be Francis Mobley Gooden howard Cato thats a sick little combo no matter how you switch them around they are going to be sick Howard, Jameer and Hill if he can come back health will be a solid bench player that can get you 15-20 pts a night. This team looks really solid and young if they gel together inthe preseason and the beginning of the season they team will no doubt be in the playoffs since they are in the east. While Houston will be struggling in a tougher conference. Watch out Miami Orlando is trying to take back Florida from ya'll. This team is slow becoming on of my favorite teams with all the talent Francis Mobley and Cato are this team will run with the rest of them.
Cato and Mobley don't look too happy I think once the season starts they'll have something to smile about though. There's nowhere to go but up from here... Well, actually we could slide to the 30th now, but ya know what I mean, lol. Nice threads gentlemen
If Grant Hill does come back. He would probably play SF like he did before. But would he start? Or would he come off the bench for Drew Gooden.
What do you have to say to the fans of Tracy McGrady? Francis: ?Like I said at the beginning, this is going to be hard to replace a guy. Actually, we?re not really here to replace him. We?re here to fill voids in the Magic know they have lacked in the last couple of seasons. You?re going to get a gutsy effort every single night from all three of us. There?s no trying to be too cute or trying to be too cool type of basketball from us. People call me the franchise throughout my career, but when you have players who are willing to dive on the floor, who are willing to challenge a 6-8 or 6-9 guy when he tries to punch your center, you try to punch. So that means you have somebody that?s going to come in and lay it down. Not only myself, I can also say both these guys are willing to do the exact same thing.? I love it francis is taking a shot t-mac there .I love francis passion and heart.I hope we move mobley for a bigger better sg.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DirtySouth:</div><div class="quote_post">What do you have to say to the fans of Tracy McGrady? Francis: ?Like I said at the beginning, this is going to be hard to replace a guy. Actually, we?re not really here to replace him. We?re here to fill voids in the Magic know they have lacked in the last couple of seasons. You?re going to get a gutsy effort every single night from all three of us. There?s no trying to be too cute or trying to be too cool type of basketball from us. People call me the franchise throughout my career, but when you have players who are willing to dive on the floor, who are willing to challenge a 6-8 or 6-9 guy when he tries to punch your center, you try to punch. So that means you have somebody that?s going to come in and lay it down. Not only myself, I can also say both these guys are willing to do the exact same thing.? </div> I can honestly say that's a more smart and well thought statement then this.. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"As far as keeping me ... if they had done some things, I'd be here. I don't want to leave," said McGrady, traces of bitterness seeping into his voice. "I'd be crazy to leave home. This is where my family is. "What would you do if you were a GM and your star -- a great guy who's never been in trouble -- came to you and said he wanted out? Not call him? Not talk to him? "Why not call him and wish him 'Happy Birthday'? Why not ask him about offseason acquisitions? Why not tell him how Grant Hill is doing, if he'll be ready? They obviously decided to move on."</div> I honestly can say that I really don't like Tracy any more.. Some of the comments I've been hearing him say are really making me lose much respect for him.. From "It feels good to be in the second round" to him in reality saying "I want to be in Orlando, but They didn't try hard enough to keep me here, after i told them I wanted to go in a different direction." I'll wish him luck in Houston, but don't expect me cheering for you anymore.. Stevie is going to bring something that we lost when DA left. Flat out what he was talking about in that quote. Steve will bring all of that everynight. I couldn't imagine Cuttino Mobley staying in a Orlando uniform very long, but I can tell Orlando want's Francis as the face of this Franchise this year, This is their guy, And the fans are really looking like they are warming up to him.. I also think Francis is happy to be here.. <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"></font></font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ZeroToOne50182:</div><div class="quote_post">I can honestly say that's a more smart and well thought statement then this.. I honestly can say that I really don't like Tracy any more.. Some of the comments I've been hearing him say are really making me lose much respect for him.. From "It feels good to be in the second round" to him in reality saying "I want to be in Orlando, but They didn't try hard enough to keep me here, after i told them I wanted to go in a different direction." I'll wish him luck in Houston, but don't expect me cheering for you anymore.. Stevie is going to bring something that we lost when DA left. Flat out what he was talking about in that quote. Steve will bring all of that everynight. I couldn't imagine Cuttino Mobley staying in a Orlando uniform very long, but I can tell Orlando want's Francis as the face of this Franchise this year, This is their guy, And the fans are really looking like they are warming up to him.. I also think Francis is happy to be here.. <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"></font></font></div> I can't give up on t-mac just like that even though he has said some dumb things I just can't throw all the years of him being my fav player away.I have watched every single magic game over the last 2 years and just have so many memories of him.But I have also lost much respect for him over the last week or so, I always had a feeling that he was lazy and didn't give it his all and now I know most of it is true from the comments weisbrod and johnny davis said.I'll wait till this upcoming year, before I stop being a fan.If he has the same attitude he had in orlando while playing for houston, I will never cheer for him again.I've always liked francis I just haven't seen many of his games and now that I will see all of his games I'm sure he will be my fav player soon.I just love that he lays it all on the line night in and night out. We won't never have to worry about The Franchise being lazy or floating through games.
So what do you guys think will be the Magic's 04-05 starting lineup? My guess is it will be: C - Kelvin Cato PF - Drew Gooden SF - Pat Garrity or Grant Hill SG - Cattino Mobley PG - Steve Francis 6th man - Dwight Howard
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Adrenaline:</div><div class="quote_post">I really dont think Cato is happy about this, look at his face.</div> I think mobley looks more mad than cato.
Yeah...i think mobley wanted to say a rocket and not be traded. He had a bond with the rockets i believe.
Everyone keeps talking about Francis, Mobley, D. Howard, Gooden, etc. Not that they don't merit attention. But Jameer Nelson is going to be a solid player right away. He led St Joes, and yada yada... But his 4 years of collegiate experience should help him have an impact sooner, rather than later. Not too mention he can shoot, and effectively run an offense. He also can drive and finish. He is strong enough to finish(much like Baron Davis in terms of having the strength to finish plays inside)
I think starting lineup will be PG-Steve Francis SG-Cuttino Mobley SF-Dwight Howard PF-Gooden C-Cato or PG-Nelson SG-Francis SF-Dwight PF-Gooden C-Cato That's what the lineups should be, but Declerq and Garrity will probably start over Dwight and Cato.
