Orlando 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.