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Magic blew it with T-Mac, must watch as star shines

Published May 2, 2005

 

HOUSTON -- Tracy McGrady was in no mood to smile, but he couldn't help himself. His new team had just lost to the Dallas Mavericks, when the subject of his old team came up.

 

It wasn't exactly a smile. It was more an I-told-you-so grin, without the I-told-you-so.

 

"You know what, I don't have to say anything," McGrady said. "Just look at where the Magic are now."

 

The more time passes, the more everybody else is saying it. What was Orlando smoking when it traded McGrady?

 

Sure, the Rockets are in the process of blowing a 2-0 series lead against Dallas in the NBA's Western Conference playoffs. McGrady had 36 points in Saturday night's loss -- but only two during a fourth-quarter fizzle by the Rockets.

 

That makes good ammo for the T-Gack crowd back in Orlando, which revels in McGrady's struggles. It's typical in a divorce, where you hope your "ex" ends up living in a trailer with six hound dogs and Penny Hardaway.

 

Sorry to inform you that McGrady has a 34,000-square-foot mansion. His Range Rover still has a Florida license plate, but he has happily moved on. And regardless of what happens against Dallas, T-Mac has gone west and established himself as the most dynamic and desirable player in the NBA.

 

"There are real good players in the league. There are great players in the league," said Houston General Manager Carroll Dawson. "But how many players can score 13 points in 35 seconds?"

 

And yes, he's even playing defense now.

 

So to summarize -- the Magic blew it.

 

"Ask them now if they would take him back," teammate Jon Barry said. "Just don't ask John Weisbrod."

 

Weisbrod traded a future Hall of Famer for three players and a headache-to-be-named-Doug-Christie later. It's easy to dissect what went wrong and play Monday Morning GM. But those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

 

The Magic apparently are doomed to lose a once-in-a-lifetime player every 10 years. We'll never truly know whether the Shaq Dynasty could have been saved. With T-Mac, there is no doubt.

 

"It could have been prevented," he said.

 

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like Auburndale. McGrady wanted to stay in Central Florida. If only the Magic had given him a reason to do so.

 

Let's be clear, T-Mac was not guiltless. His attitude deteriorated as the losses and Jeryl Sassers piled up. He admitted he slacked off during some games last year. That has been seized upon as the smoking gun, forever branding him as the lazy, self-centered source of the Magic's faults.

 

"I read things in the paper like that, and I marvel," Dawson said. "That's not the same guy we have here. He's low-key, very low-maintenance, a great teammate and unselfish."

 

That's what he was about 98.7 percent of the time in Orlando. The GMs who babysit Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Ron Artest and on and on would have loved to have had Weisbrod's problems.

 

McGrady's version of slacking was still worth 28 points, six rebounds and 5.5 assists a game. And if every NBA player who coasted in a game were banned, there would be no NBA.

 

None of which made it right not to give 149 percent. What made it understandable was working for an organization that was incapable of providing you with any help.

 

McGrady looked around last year and saw a 1-19 start. He noticed a fourth cast on Grant Hill's ankle. He knew five guys would guard him every possession. He winced as every other pass thrown to Andrew DeClercq was fumbled into the third row.

 

After three years of carrying the franchise, his spirit finally broke down. Unfortunately, that happened just as Weisbrod was taking over basketball operations.

 

Weisbrod has many managerial talents, but tact and indulging weakness are not two of them. His relationship with McGrady quickly passed the point of no return.

 

Ownership should have stepped in. Whatever McGrady's flaws, they could have been handled. And if it came down to a choice, good GM candidates come along every year.

 

"How many times does a guy like Tracy come around?" Dawson said.

 

The Rockets still are pinching themselves, afraid they'll awaken to find Steve Francis is still in uniform playing one-on-five. Steve-O's entertaining streetball style makes him a coaching nightmare, but Weisbrod was enamored by his fiery persona.

 

If only McGrady had taken a swing at Amare Stoudemire, he might still be in Orlando. Or he'd at least been spared hearing Weisbrod tell the world what a namby-pamby he was.

 

The irony is how much more tolerant Weisbrod has been of Francis' flaws. You didn't see McGrady skipping practices after the NBA All-Star Game, or kicking photographers and getting suspended at critical times.

 

Considering everyone knew McGrady wanted out, getting Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato wasn't a bad haul. It just never should have come to that in the first place. And no GM should try to justify a trade by bad-mouthing the player he dealt.

 

"That was just straight Bush League," Barry said. "Tracy never went after him. Then it became a verbal war."

 

If the point was to enhance McGrady's reputation as a malcontent, it worked to a large degree in Orlando. If that makes you feel better about the trade, feel free to embrace that image.

 

But McGrady was patient for three years as the players around him got worse, not better. The Magic should have shown a little more patience with him.

 

He is, after all, still just 25 years old. He won't win a title this year. The Rockets might not even make it out of the first round.

 

But everyone expects the next half-dozen or so years to be special. Meanwhile, Magic fans are hoping Dwight Howard arrives before the moving vans do.

 

"It's like night and day here. They're all about winning," McGrady said. "They know their roles, and we don't have people upstairs coming down and trying to control things."

 

That's as close as he came to really talking about the past. It was getting late Saturday night. He wanted to get home, and he was far more concerned about Dallas than Orlando.

 

McGrady said he missed the old town and its people. But when it came to his old franchise, he couldn't help smirking.

 

"I don't have to say anything," he repeated.

 

License plate aside, McGrady knows he's going places. Magic fans only will be able to look back and wonder why they couldn't go along for the ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a crock of s***. He wanted out and he made that abundantly clear. He wasnt going to resign unless they traded the first pick. Now he is saying it could have worked out? No it could not have. Tmac refused to allow the team to draft Howard (or even Okafor) and keep him around. Howard could end up the next Kevin Garnett and size is always better to have than anything else in the NBA. So the ultimate choice JW had to make was Tmac and a half ass overpaid vet they would acquire by trading the #1 pick or Howard, the future star, and a core of players to build around. They got something in return rather than just letting Tmac go. It was a tough choice but one that could end up working out.

 

And its the first year in Houston. Its not like theyve won three titles already. Here is what pisses me off. Your team just lost a 2-0 lead in a playoff series and youre talking about how great things are and how youre happy youre not in the old enviroment? Yeah Tmac..youve got your priorities straight.

 

btw I HATE John Barry. John Barry has never commited a foul in his life and he ALWAYS gets fouled.

I hate athletes who whine & complain when they don't like where they are until they get moved. But the owners are ultimately the ones to blame because they eventually cave in & pay them ridiculous amounts to stay, or trade them where they demand to go.

 

Separate issue, but when Zo runs out in the playoffs & scores 20 & 12 on the Nets, can't blame them for wondering "where was this guy when we needed him?" Zo complained & got what he wanted. TMac complained & got what he wanted.

I hate athletes who whine & complain when they don't like where they are until they get moved. But the owners are ultimately the ones to blame because they eventually cave in & pay them ridiculous amounts to stay, or trade them where they demand to go.

 

Separate issue, but when Zo runs out in the playoffs & scores 20 & 12 on the Nets, can't blame them for wondering "where was this guy when we needed him?" Zo complained & got what he wanted. TMac complained & got what he wanted.

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Exactly. I wrote an email to David Whitley because I was irked with his validation of Tmac. Tmac basically told the team, do as I say or else Im leaving. Thats exactly what is wrong with the NBA today. I love John Weisbrod because of this. Its risky..but he is going to stand up to players and demand success from his team.

?They kept contradicting themselves. Then they go and say that John Sissybrod, or whatever the f*** his name is, says T-Mac is not his kind of player. What kind of s*** is that? Then he was saying some s*** like he had cussed me out when we were out in L.A., which first of all never happened because he would never step to me like that. This whole thing is a joke.?

 

-Tracy McGrady

1st off....T "Choke" Mac will end up losing to Dallas after leading 2-0 in the series.

 

2nd off...Quote me on this...THE MAGIC WILL WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE ROCKETS WILL! Mark my words....

 

Dwight Howard will be a superstar, something Yao Ming never will be.

 

Once we get a coach we will become very good. Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Steve Francis, Grant Hill, Hedo Turkoglu = great nucleus

i wouldnt call hedo turkoglu a part of a 'great nucleus'

i wouldnt call hedo turkoglu a part of a 'great nucleus'

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Hedo as a 4th or 5th option is pretty awesome.

 

The Magic wont win anything with Francis, they need to trade him.

 

Howard is a bad ass, nd Nelson is gonna be a very good PG in the NBA for years to come.

 

When the Magic are ready to win Hill wont be with the Magic.

 

IMO the Magic nucleus is Howard and Nelson, they need to build around these guys.

The thing is, the Magic have to stop hoping Francis will replace Tmac. Francis is not never will he ever be the type of player that Garnett, Kobe, Tmac, etc are. He could be a great component of an offense though. He can hit shots off of picks and certain mid range jumpers really well. He can drive to the basket. He can be used to take advantage of certain situations. But the offense should run through him. He should not be the PG. IMO in a few years teh team will have a multifaceted offense that doesnt rely on one player. Francis is known as a headcase who will take the ball himself but I think that can be changed. I think that having played with Mobley for so long put him in a comfort zone. He also probably had trouble communicating on the court with Yao. But if we give him a year or two to mesh with Howard and Nelson, we could have a formidable core. If a coach can come in and take advantage of the pieces they have, this team is definitley capable of 45 wins next year with Howard developing.

 

 

The thing that is scary about Howard and that was said by one NBA player, forget which, is that he doesnt even know what he is doing yet. And its definitley true. The kid is getting 12 points and 10 rebounds at a +50% clip when he is 19. Hands down that has to be the best rookie season of any of the high school superstars. Once he develops his core of moves and masters the flow of the NBA, he is going to be a force.

 

The future is bright with this kid. And the only way we could have gotten him is by trading Tmac.

i wouldnt call hedo turkoglu a part of a 'great nucleus'

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Hedo as a 4th or 5th option is pretty awesome.

 

The Magic wont win anything with Francis, they need to trade him.

 

Howard is a bad ass, nd Nelson is gonna be a very good PG in the NBA for years to come.

 

When the Magic are ready to win Hill wont be with the Magic.

 

IMO the Magic nucleus is Howard and Nelson, they need to build around these guys.

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and in a big game situation, hedo will choke.

 

 

that is fact.

Hedo sucks.

 

Francis is a headache.

 

Nelson is solid.

 

Howard is a stud and will rival Amare for the best young big man for many years to come.

i wouldnt call hedo turkoglu a part of a 'great nucleus'

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Turkoglu can flat out play. Obviously you don't watch the Magic.

i wouldnt call hedo turkoglu a part of a 'great nucleus'

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Turkoglu can flat out play. Obviously you don't watch the Magic.

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obviously i watched hedo play for a year, watched him get coddled because he couldnt handle the pressure and choke in big game situations.

 

 

next.

i wouldnt call hedo turkoglu a part of a 'great nucleus'

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Turkoglu can flat out play. Obviously you don't watch the Magic.

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obviously i watched hedo play for a year, watched him get coddled because he couldnt handle the pressure and choke in big game situations.

 

 

next.

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Hedo improved in Orlando. I know he struggled in San Antonio but he seemed to find his niche in Orlando. He became a solid scoring threat behind Francis and Hill and I imagine in a few years he will be a good compliment to Howard and Francis. He may not be a clutch player but nobody really is asking that of him anymore.

i wouldnt call hedo turkoglu a part of a 'great nucleus'

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Turkoglu can flat out play. Obviously you don't watch the Magic.

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obviously i watched hedo play for a year, watched him get coddled because he couldnt handle the pressure and choke in big game situations.

 

 

next.

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Next? Turk can play.

T "Choke" Mac..will choke again

Tracy McGrady=This generation's Chris Webber.

 

He's great......until it matters....

Tracy McGrady=This generation's Chris Webber.

 

He's great......until it matters....

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That's a bunch of BS!

 

He is averaging 30.2ppg, 7.4rpg and 6.6apg on 46% FG.

 

He has a career playoff average of 29.6, 6.8rpg and 5.7apg on 44% FG.

 

He has raised his game this year in the playoffs and his career playoff numbers are also higher than his regular season averages.

 

Basketball is not a one man game and in Orlando he never had help. Is it his fault that Grant Hill suffered all the freak injuries and was never the player he had anticipated playing with? Additionally, it is not his fault that Yao Ming doesn't come to play everygame. Have you actually watched a Rocket's game? His teammates have been virtually non-existent since very early in the series, failing to push their weight. Also, before you mention Yao's 2 30-point games, go back and watch how many of those points came off of a McGrady drive and dish where all Yao had to do was make an uncontested lay-up.

 

To say McGrady is great until it counts is just garbage.

even the greatest players can win one playoff series alone.

even the greatest players can win one playoff series alone.

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McGrady is only 25. He will win many series in his career once (gambling that he will) Yao matures and develops a more consistent game and the ability to take over a little bit down low.

 

His statistics back up that he has been very, very good in the playoffs throughout his career. As I said, it is not a one man game and to expect someone to win a series alone is ridiculous.

 

The Mavericks are a very talented and deep team and if the rest of the Rockets players do not show up, it would be insane to expect McGrady to beat a team like Dallas all by himself.

 

In 01' he was a 21-year-old leading a 7 seed against a Milwaukee team who had a very legit shot to make the Finals that year. The team featured Ray Allen, Sam Cassell and Glenn Robinson, Tim Thomas, etc. McGrady played with a slumping rookie (Mike Miller) and an injured Darrell Armstrong, the same one Doc Rivers said almost didn't suit up and only did because it was the playoffs, but he was not as effective as he could have been.

 

In 02' he led a 5 seed Magic with Patrick Ewing at center on his last legs against a clearly more talented Hornet team.

 

In 03' he led an 8th seeded Magic team against a 1st seeded Detroit team, a team which features many players from the current roster and last years championship roster and took them into 7 games basically by himself.

 

Now, to say that he should have been expected to win a series by himself after carrying a team into the playoffs by himself is just lame.

Tracy McGrady=This generation's Chris Webber.

 

He's great......until it matters....

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Looks like he showed up once again when it mattered tonight.

Tracy McGrady=This generation's Chris Webber.

 

He's great......until it matters....

761549[/snapback]

 

That's a bunch of BS!

 

He is averaging 30.2ppg, 7.4rpg and 6.6apg on 46% FG.

 

He has a career playoff average of 29.6, 6.8rpg and 5.7apg on 44% FG.

 

He has raised his game this year in the playoffs and his career playoff numbers are also higher than his regular season averages.

 

Basketball is not a one man game and in Orlando he never had help. Is it his fault that Grant Hill suffered all the freak injuries and was never the player he had anticipated playing with? Additionally, it is not his fault that Yao Ming doesn't come to play everygame. Have you actually watched a Rocket's game? His teammates have been virtually non-existent since very early in the series, failing to push their weight. Also, before you mention Yao's 2 30-point games, go back and watch how many of those points came off of a McGrady drive and dish where all Yao had to do was make an uncontested lay-up.

 

To say McGrady is great until it counts is just garbage.

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Well said... and comparing him to Chris Webber is one of the dumber things I have read

Tracy McGrady=This generation's Chris Webber.

 

He's great......until it matters....

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Looks like he showed up once again when it mattered tonight.

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TMac is a choke artist. I watched him play almost every game in Orlando and he is a good superstar. However when the game is on the line, he will choke. Also, he will run his mouth and I hope he never wins a playoff series. Loser for life.

The choke artist is Yao Ming. He's not physical at all and was forced to sit out the entire 4th quarter yesterday. However, T-Mac on the other hand, is carrying his team's offense plus is holding Dirk to minimal Dirk production on defense. T-Mac is carrying this team right now and there is no doubt about it.