http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/22/sp...all/22nba.html
McGrady Likely to Team With Yao in Houston
By CHRIS BROUSSARD
Published: June 22, 2004
The Houston Rockets and the Orlando Magic engaged in talks that would send the Magic's superstar, Tracy McGrady, and three other players to Houston for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. The deal would team McGrady, the league's scoring leader the past two years, with Yao Ming, the Rockets' 7-foot-5 All-Star center.
Officials from two separate teams, one from each conference, said yesterday afternoon that the deal, which would also send Tyronn Lue, Andrew DeClerq and Juwan Howard to Houston, had been agreed upon. But later, several other officials, including one from one of the participating clubs, said that that nothing had been completed.
The proposed trade could not be made official until July 15 because of a stipulation in Francis's contract that makes him a base-year compensation player.
The talk of the 25-year-old McGrady going to Houston dominated a day in which two of the league's top players, the other being O'Neal, were discussed in several trade possibilities.
On the coaching front, it appeared likely that Rudy Tomjanovich would replace Phil Jackson as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Tomjanovich, who won two N.B.A. titles as the coach of the Rockets in the 90's, flew to Los Angeles yesterday and will meet with Jerry Buss, the Lakers' owner, and General Manager Mitch Kupchak today. On a list that includes the Jackson assistants Jim Cleamons and Kurt Rambis, and possibly George Karl, Tomjanovich is reportedly the front-runner.
The expansion Charlotte Bobcats and the Clippers completed a minor trade yesterday, swapping their first-round picks in Thursday's draft. The Clippers gave their No. 2 pick to Charlotte for its No. 4 selection. Charlotte also sent its second-round pick, the 33rd selection over all, to Los Angeles and agreed to draft the Clippers' Predrag Drobnjak in today's expansion draft.
Charlotte will select either Emeka Okafor or Dwight Howard, the 6-10 high school phenom, with its first-round pick, giving it what it hopes will be a centerpiece for the future. The latest indications are that the Bobcats will end up with Okafor, since Orlando is believed to be leaning toward Howard now that McGrady has demanded a trade.
Several clubs have been trying to trade with the Bobcats through the expansion draft. The Knicks, who have much interest but little hope of landing any of the top three available superstars (O'Neal, McGrady and Bryant), tried to swing a deal with Charlotte that would have sent Dallas's Antoine Walker to New York. Charlotte was going to take Walker in the expansion draft and then trade him to the Knicks for several role players with favorable contracts. But the Knicks did not have enough players in the final year of their contracts to make the Bobcats bite.
Thursday's draft could be the occasion for several trades, with many teams looking to trade lottery picks in a year where the draft is regarded as underwhelming. Chicago, with a roster full of young hopefuls, would prefer not to add another project, and it is willing to trade its No. 3 pick. Washington, with the fifth pick, has also been active in discussions.
Indiana was as talkative as any club yesterday, and among its discussions was a deal to send Al Harrington to Cleveland for the Cavaliers' first-round pick, the 10th over all. The Pacers would use the pick to take the Oregon swingman Luke Jackson, who is believed to be a favorite of Larry Bird, the team's president of basketball operations. Several general managers said Indiana was also looking to trade Ron Artest, its All-Star small forward, but Donnie Walsh, the Pacers' president, denied that.
"We've got a lot of offers for different people," Walsh said. "People are calling us about Ron, but we're not shopping him."
Most of the talk revolved around McGrady, O'Neal and Bryant. With Jackson out as the Lakers' coach and O'Neal asking for a trade, most league officials assume that Bryant, who will be a free agent on July 1, will return to the Lakers.
Dallas was attempting to unite O'Neal and McGrady, who are good friends and often talk about playing together. Dallas could still land O'Neal, as the Mavericks are one of the few teams that has the assets, both in talent and finances, to get the game's most dominant player. With several talented, well-paid players in Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley, Antawn Jamison and Steve Nash, the Mavericks could make the Lakers an enticing offer.
Although O'Neal wants out of the Lakers' organization and every team in the league would love to have him, O'Neal's salary of $27.7 million next season makes it difficult to trade him. Second, if O'Neal did not like the team he was traded to, he could opt out of his contract next season, so a team might ruin its future for one season with O'Neal. As a result, most officials believe he will probably remain with Bryant in Los Angeles for at least another year.
With Yao and McGrady perhaps on the horizon, that sounds like a good idea for the Lakers.
McGrady Likely to Team With Yao in Houston
By CHRIS BROUSSARD
Published: June 22, 2004
The Houston Rockets and the Orlando Magic engaged in talks that would send the Magic's superstar, Tracy McGrady, and three other players to Houston for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. The deal would team McGrady, the league's scoring leader the past two years, with Yao Ming, the Rockets' 7-foot-5 All-Star center.
Officials from two separate teams, one from each conference, said yesterday afternoon that the deal, which would also send Tyronn Lue, Andrew DeClerq and Juwan Howard to Houston, had been agreed upon. But later, several other officials, including one from one of the participating clubs, said that that nothing had been completed.
The proposed trade could not be made official until July 15 because of a stipulation in Francis's contract that makes him a base-year compensation player.
The talk of the 25-year-old McGrady going to Houston dominated a day in which two of the league's top players, the other being O'Neal, were discussed in several trade possibilities.
On the coaching front, it appeared likely that Rudy Tomjanovich would replace Phil Jackson as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Tomjanovich, who won two N.B.A. titles as the coach of the Rockets in the 90's, flew to Los Angeles yesterday and will meet with Jerry Buss, the Lakers' owner, and General Manager Mitch Kupchak today. On a list that includes the Jackson assistants Jim Cleamons and Kurt Rambis, and possibly George Karl, Tomjanovich is reportedly the front-runner.
The expansion Charlotte Bobcats and the Clippers completed a minor trade yesterday, swapping their first-round picks in Thursday's draft. The Clippers gave their No. 2 pick to Charlotte for its No. 4 selection. Charlotte also sent its second-round pick, the 33rd selection over all, to Los Angeles and agreed to draft the Clippers' Predrag Drobnjak in today's expansion draft.
Charlotte will select either Emeka Okafor or Dwight Howard, the 6-10 high school phenom, with its first-round pick, giving it what it hopes will be a centerpiece for the future. The latest indications are that the Bobcats will end up with Okafor, since Orlando is believed to be leaning toward Howard now that McGrady has demanded a trade.
Several clubs have been trying to trade with the Bobcats through the expansion draft. The Knicks, who have much interest but little hope of landing any of the top three available superstars (O'Neal, McGrady and Bryant), tried to swing a deal with Charlotte that would have sent Dallas's Antoine Walker to New York. Charlotte was going to take Walker in the expansion draft and then trade him to the Knicks for several role players with favorable contracts. But the Knicks did not have enough players in the final year of their contracts to make the Bobcats bite.
Thursday's draft could be the occasion for several trades, with many teams looking to trade lottery picks in a year where the draft is regarded as underwhelming. Chicago, with a roster full of young hopefuls, would prefer not to add another project, and it is willing to trade its No. 3 pick. Washington, with the fifth pick, has also been active in discussions.
Indiana was as talkative as any club yesterday, and among its discussions was a deal to send Al Harrington to Cleveland for the Cavaliers' first-round pick, the 10th over all. The Pacers would use the pick to take the Oregon swingman Luke Jackson, who is believed to be a favorite of Larry Bird, the team's president of basketball operations. Several general managers said Indiana was also looking to trade Ron Artest, its All-Star small forward, but Donnie Walsh, the Pacers' president, denied that.
"We've got a lot of offers for different people," Walsh said. "People are calling us about Ron, but we're not shopping him."
Most of the talk revolved around McGrady, O'Neal and Bryant. With Jackson out as the Lakers' coach and O'Neal asking for a trade, most league officials assume that Bryant, who will be a free agent on July 1, will return to the Lakers.
Dallas was attempting to unite O'Neal and McGrady, who are good friends and often talk about playing together. Dallas could still land O'Neal, as the Mavericks are one of the few teams that has the assets, both in talent and finances, to get the game's most dominant player. With several talented, well-paid players in Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley, Antawn Jamison and Steve Nash, the Mavericks could make the Lakers an enticing offer.
Although O'Neal wants out of the Lakers' organization and every team in the league would love to have him, O'Neal's salary of $27.7 million next season makes it difficult to trade him. Second, if O'Neal did not like the team he was traded to, he could opt out of his contract next season, so a team might ruin its future for one season with O'Neal. As a result, most officials believe he will probably remain with Bryant in Los Angeles for at least another year.
With Yao and McGrady perhaps on the horizon, that sounds like a good idea for the Lakers.
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