T-Mac-for-Francis swap reported; and who should be No. 1 pick?
By JAMAL THALJI
Published June 22, 2004
ORLANDO - It's Thursday night. The start of the NBA draft is minutes away on ESPN. The phone rings. It's the Orlando Magic's rookie general manager, John Weisbrod. He sounds frantic.
The weight of all the trade offers, all the scouting reports, all the franchise-defining scenarios facing the Magic these past weeks has gotten to him. He needs help.
He wants to know:
What would you do?
Would you trade two-time scoring champ Tracy McGrady?
Orlando was reportedly poised to do just that late Monday, trading him for Houston point guard Steve Francis in a deal that would involve other Magic and Rockets players. Indiana's Ron Artest, Phoenix's Shawn Marion and even Shaquille O'Neal have been mentioned in connection with a McGrady deal.
Then what do you do with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft? Do you make the solid pick in 6-foot-10, 252-pound co-national player of the year Emeka Okafor? Or do you risk the future on 18-year-old Dwight Howard, the 6-11, 240-pound kid from Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy?
The confusion reached a crescendo this weekend when Okafor and Howard worked out in Orlando and reports surfaced that McGrady and the Magic were about to part ways. Life in the Magic kingdom has been anything but this offseason.
"It's part of life," Orlando coach Johnny Davis said. "You have to deal with it."
First, McGrady and the Magic have to deal with what looks like an impending divorce.
The four-time All-Star and Auburndale native can opt out of his seven-year, $93-million contract after next season. But before this season was even over, Weisbrod wanted McGrady to sign a contract extention or accept a trade. The Magic doesn't want to risk McGrady going the way of O'Neal, who left as a free agent eight years ago without compensation.
Why are the Magic and McGrady at odds? McGrady has carried a team that has only gotten worse since he signed in 2000. Weak drafts, weak upgrades and injuries took Orlando from a 3-1 playoff series lead on Detroit two years ago (a series the Magic lost) to an NBA-worst 21-61 record and the No. 1 pick in the draft this season.
According to reports, the Magic has in turn questioned McGrady's work habits, his relationship with teammates, his commitment to defense and even his attendance at practice in recent weeks.
Weisbrod would not confirm that a trade is imminent, nor would the Magic comment on Monday's reports by the Houston Chronicle and ESPN.com of a McGrady-Francis swap. But Weisbrod said Saturday that he and McGrady's agent, Arn Tellum, are negotiating over something, which could be a contract extension or a trade.
"I certainly will not confirm that T-Mac's going to be traded," Weisbrod said. "I'm going to continue to say on T-Mac what I've said for the last month, which is that Arn and I are in discussions.
"I have seen and heard a lot of things out there, but not much of it has been accurate."
What does the Magic want in return for McGrady? A slew of talented veterans to spark the rebuilding process and more salary cap flexibility (Francis, for example, makes $18-million less than T-Mac and can't veto trades). Indiana, Phoenix, Dallas and the Los Angeles Clippers have joined Houston in the rumor mill.
A McGrady trade would mean the No. 1 pick will decide nothing less than the future of the franchise. That choice got a lot harder after this weekend.
Okafor and Howard impressed the team in every regard: talent, ability, attitude and demeanor. Friday, Okafor answered questions about the health of his back and his offensive skills. But otherwise the 21-year-old Connecticut All-American earned Ben Wallace-like comparisons as a rebounder and shot-blocker.
"If I wasn't confident I wouldn't be here," Okafor said. "I'm a basketball player, you have to believe in what you can do and I'm confident I can come in anywhere and contribute. So I just have to convince these guys of the same things."
Howard's youth was the big question mark until he displayed Kevin Garnett-like maturity at Friday's dinner and K.G.-like talent at Saturday's workout. "I think it's not just how I worked out," Howard said, "but about how I presented myself during the total time I was down here."
Said Weisbrod: "I left (the restaurant) Del Fresco's (thinking) this kid was Grade A."
Weisbrod said he likes both styles of play.
"I think they both ultimately would fit in our style," he said. "I mean, you've got to have everything represented on a team. You would never say it's not our style to want a kid (Howard) that can rebound and score in the post and pass. His hands, his ability to move the ball, his knowledge of the game, you'd never have any kind of style that wouldn't allow for a kid like that.
"And Emeka is a warrior, and certainly I like that style, too. I mean, he'll grind you to death. I'm amazed at how consumed (Connecticut coach) Jim Calhoun is with making us know just how special they think this kid is."
Weisbrod said the McGrady issue will be decided by Thursday. But whom to pick No. 1 overall?
"By my estimation (there are) about 20 teams that would take Dwight if they had the first pick," Weisbrod said, "and nine that would take Emeka."
- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.
NBA DRAFT
WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m. Thursday; Madison Square Garden, New York.
TV: ESPN; predraft show begins at 7 p.m.
MAGIC PICK: Orlando has the No. 1 overall pick for the third time in franchise history (along with 1992 and 1993). The Magic has the first pick of the second round, No. 30, and picks again at No. 36.
NEED TO KNOW: There will be 59 players selected over two rounds. Charlotte rejoins the league this season and Monday traded the No. 4 and No. 33 picks to the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 2 pick and an agreement to pick up Clippers center Predrag Drobnjak in today's expansion draft. Don't be surprised if the Magic packages No. 30 and 36 and tries to move up into the first round.
DRAFT PARTY: The Magic's annual draft party will be 6-9 p.m. at NBA City at Orlando's Universal CityWalk.
