Done Deal

SkinFan 0-16 or 16-0 · Tue Jun 29, 2004 11:49 pm

The T-Mac for Stevie Franchise deal is done. So much for the Wizadrs getting involved.

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 11:58 pm

it would have been nice

HOUSTON -- Tracy McGrady is leaving his hometown team for Houston in a blockbuster trade that sends Steve Francis to the Orlando Magic and gives the Rockets one of the NBA's most intriguing duos.

The deal, which had been in the works for nearly two weeks, also sent forward Juwan Howard and guards Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines to the Rockets. The Magic will acquire guard Cuttino Mobley and forward Kelvin Cato.

"I just knew it was going to take time," McGrady told ESPN Tuesday night. "I'm happy and it's time to move on."

The trade was finalized after Francis' meeting with Magic general manager John Weisbrod and other team officials in Orlando on Tuesday.

McGrady, a two-time NBA scoring champion, now joins 7-foot-5 Yao Ming to form a combination that potentially could be as dominant as the Los Angeles Lakers' three-time title twosome of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1831594

Steve Spurrier III · Post by **Steve Spurrier III** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 10:23 am

Please. Trading Kwame and Arenas for Francis would have been terrible.

Not only are you trading two quality players for one, you are also getting smaller and older. Francis is exactly the type of player we don't need...

Kentucky Fried Hog · Post by **Kentucky Fried Hog** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 12:33 pm

Kwame Brown a quality player? How long have I been asleep?

Steve Spurrier III · Post by **Steve Spurrier III** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 12:49 pm

Well, if you watched all the Wizard games last season, you probably fell asleep sometime around Christmas.

My God, he's 22 years old. And despite the fact it is taking him a long time to adjust, he finally became a double-digit scorer for us last year, and showed the potential to become something bigger (I point to the three game stretch in February when he averaged 26 points, 12 rebounds and 1.7 blocks).

But if that isn't enough, let's just look at our past:

Kwame Brown (Age 22): 10.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, .7 blocks per game
Rasheed Wallace (Age 21): 10.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, .83 blocks per game
Ben Wallace (Age 24): 6.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.6 blocks per game

Is it really so much to ask that we develop a big man?

Kentucky Fried Hog · Post by **Kentucky Fried Hog** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:11 pm

If the Wizards' management has the patience, then by all means, give Kwame the time to develop. After all, they did invest a #1 overall pick on him. But when it comes to these High School to NBA guys, I worry that by the time they've honed their skills, their contract is up or they're asking to be traded, ie Tracy McGrady.

Steve Spurrier III · Post by **Steve Spurrier III** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 2:36 pm

That's definetly a problem, but that in and of itself isn't a reason to trade Kwame...