Tracy McGrady took one look at the Orlando Magic's roster prior to this season and boldly pronounced that big things were ahead. He predicted they would win 60 games, capture an Eastern Conference championship and try to scale Mount Shaq and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

So it's not hard to understand why McGrady is still puzzled that the Magic obviously weakened their team two weeks ago by practically giving away scrappy power forward Bo Outlaw to the Phoenix Suns in a trade for Jud Buechler.

Veteran point guard Darrell Armstrong has since refused comment on the trade, but was noticeably shaken by it. And head coach Doc Rivers still won't go near the subject, fearing his comments might anger those in Magic management. But as the Magic's unquestioned superstar and leader, McGrady felt it was time to let his feelings known Tuesday. We all know this is a business and things happen, but Bo was a guy I didn't want to see go," McGrady said. I want to win now. If it takes two years, I guess I'll be 24 years old. But apparently (management) has a vision and they see something that I don't. They're management and that's what they do. But those three games we lost (last week to Charlotte, Detroit and Boston), I was thinking after each game, Damn, Bo could have really helped us.' I loved Bo."

Unloading Outlaw was all about finances and the future. The 6-foot-8, 210-pounder was still owed approximately $24 million over the next four seasons. And it was hard to justify paying him $6 million this season when he was too small to play power forward and too limited offensively to play small forward.

And then there's the Tim Duncan factor. Orlando came this close to landing the San Antonio star two summers ago before he re-upped with the Spurs after pleas from fellow 7-footer David Robinson. But he balked at signing a long-term deal, and will be a free agent again after next season.

At that time, Orlando will have only four players under contract -- Grant Hill, McGrady and rookies Steven Hunter and Jeryl Sasser -- and will be able to offer Duncan millions of dollars and maybe half of Disney World.

But two-year plans in a league as topsy-turvy as the NBA are often hard sells. Especially so, when your team was picked to dominate the Eastern Conference and is currently slogging along at 9-9.

The issue is far from being a full-blown controversy, but the impact of Outlaw's loss/addition has been felt in both Orlando and Phoenix. The Magic are just 4-4 since the Nov. 16 trade, while the Suns have fed off his energy and have won five in a row to improve to 12-7.