Orlando
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Vince Carter would like to see how far he can take his cousin's former team, but Orlando GM John Weisbrod is not willing to give up his own All-Star in return. Is there a deal for which the Magic would take Carter? Sure, but as Weisbrod said "in no uncertain terms," he would not trade Steve Francis for him.
The two could be swapped immediately as a player-for-player trade. The salaries are close enough to matching. It would be an intriguing trade for both teams but there are two problems. One, Carter is not a Weisbrod-esque tough, defensive guy. But more importantly, two, Francis wouldn't go back to Canada. Have people forgotten the hissy fit Francis threw upon being drafted by the expansion Vancouver team? Within two months, he had been traded to Houston. No way would Francis, who had to be convinced to come to Orlando for crying out loud, play ball in Toronto. He might even resort to Gary Payton-esque tactics.
There is no chance Francis is moving north.
What about West? How about a Francis for Baron Davis swap? That trade also works salary-wise (in fact the two players have literally identical salaries), and though it would probably be an upgrade for the Magic in terms of offensive potency, Weisbrod still would be unlikely to make such a trade. "The more I'm around him, the more I'm a Steve Francis guy," Weisbrod toldThe Orlando Sentinel. "Don't get me wrong, Vince is an unbelievable athlete, but I'd rather have Steve Francis. Steve is a warrior."
Weisbrod seems to be done with offseason moves and is looking to enhance chemistry. Over the weekend he invited everybody out to a voluntary welcome session in Las Vegas, and all 15 players showed. Cuttino Mobley was reportedly holding team meetings in his room. The guys gelled. Dwight Howard was excited to be playing with Grant Hill, who was moving well and without incident.
Weisbrod has reshaped the team in his image. For a spectacular trade, of course he'd move anybody, but at market levels, or even for only slight upgrades in talent, he'd prefer to sit tight.
TEAM NOTES
Tim Povtak ofThe Orlando Sentinelwrites: Vince Carter wants to replace cousin Tracy McGrady as the leader and star of the Orlando Magic. It's not going to happen... "There just aren't many scenarios you could draw up where we'd be a better team in acquiring him," Magic General Manager John Weisbrod said, "not when you factor in whom we would have to trade. I can say in no uncertain terms, we would not trade Steve Francis for Vince Carter."
Tim Povtak ofThe Orlando Sentinelalso writes: John Weisbrod was practically glowing after he returned recently from Las Vegas, where he gathered all 15 Magic players and the coaching staff for a long weekend of bonding and basketball.It's part of Weisbrod's all-for-one philosophy that he felt was missing last season with McGrady leading the team. Although the collective-bargaining agreement prohibits teams from requiring players to attend such an offseason function, the Magic held it anyway on a volunteer basis. Everyone showed.