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Weisbrod Takes Aim at T-MacOrlando Magic GM John Weisbrod believes the Magic will be better off without Tracy McGrady because the superstar talent and NBA leading scorer did not rise to the occasion of leading his team to victories. Meanwhile, Steve Francis said Orlando's acquisition of him, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Kato will turn the tide on the Magic's abysmal record this past season. Weisbrod implied that McGrady does not have the leadership qualities to take a team to the top. "It starts with how you define a superstar," Weisbrod said. "I think a superstar is defined by wins, by making the players around him better and by making the team better. On that part, my perception is a little different than most." While an All-Star in each of his four years in Orlando and the Magic's most popular player, the behavior of McGrady during last season's 61-loss season convinced Weisbrod that McGrady was part of the problem. Francis, for one, believes he and his fellow former Rockets will change the Magic into a team on the upswing starting next season. "We're here to fill voids the Magic know they have lacked in the last couple of seasons," said Francis. "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 basketball from us." Weisbrod told the media that by the All-Star break, it was clear McGrady wanted out. Then McGrady told team owner Rich DeVos two weeks ago that he wanted to be traded to a contender. "We just came to the conclusion that if he wanted to leave, we thought that could very well be best for our basketball team," Weisbrod said. Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets McGrady Goes to Houston, Francis to OrlandoThe Orlando Magic finally traded Tracy McGrady to the Houston Rockets. The superstar McGrady had demanded a trade and a deal for Steve Francis had been discussed for the past several weeks. It was completed Tuesday. McGrady is the NBA's top scorer for the past two seasons and he will join forces with the 7'6" Yao Ming. On paper, the duo is a formidable pairing, perhaps second only to the Los Angeles Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. But with controversy brewing, the Laker tandem may not stay together for next season. The complete trade: Orlando will receive the all-star point guard Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato for McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines. The trade establishes that Houston's future is now. Under first-year head coach Jeff Van Gundy, the Rockets made the playoffs last season for the first time since 1999. This year they will be expected to reach great heights. Orlando preferred to keep McGrady but he made public his plans to opt out of his contract after next season. The Magic had already lost Shaquille O'Neal to free agency with nothing in return, so Orlando's new general manager John Weisbrod had to make a move. Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets T-Mac to Rockets Looks to Be a Done DealAfter weeks of anticipation and a lot of back and forth, the blockbuster trade sending Tracy McGrady to the Houston Rockets appears close to being final. Under the terms of the trade, the Magic will send guard McGrady, forward Juwan Howard and guard Tyronn Lue to the Rockets for guard Steve Francis, guard Cuttino Mobley and center Kelvin Cato, according to a source that says the trade will be announced Wednesday. Though apparently close before the NBA Draft, the deal has been delayed as Francis expressed dissatisfaction with leaving Houston and Magic general manager John Weisbrod halted the process and began to review the situation carefully. Weisbrod also appeared to be waiting for additional offers for the superstar McGrady. Now after more talks with the Magic organization, Francis feels comfortable with Orlando and the Magic management is ready to pull the trigger. Perhaps the chance to play alongside high-school star Dwight Howard has persuaded the three-time all-star Francis to drop any objections to the deal, according to his agent. Tracy McGrady is the NBA's leading scorer and will give the Rockets a fiersome inside-out tandem along with Yao Ming. Francis was swayed in part by the fact that Weisbrod and the Magic thought highly enough of his game to want to acquire him in a trade for McGrady. Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Rockets Jun 2004 Archive
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