Duncan, McGrady & Grant Hill :ohlawd:

[Broad Street Bully]

Now just think for one second on how the NBA as we know it would not be the same if this had happened. I've been familiar with this story for a while now but it seems like every time i bring it up in conversations, nikkas look at me like " I aint know that! " so idk if the majority of you guys know just how close this shyt was to happening.

If Pop aint convice Timmy to stay the night before, Duncan would've been an Orlando Magic. Just imagine that Big 3 in those 2000's. fukk a Laker 3-Peat, we could be talking about a Magic 3-Peat.

“It was probably a lot closer decision than people even think or even know,” – Tim Duncan talking about almost signing with the Magic

Flashback to 2000 when a “Big 3″ almost happened that would have created a massive “what if” that would of changed the past decade of NBA basketball. Instant 20 & 10 NBA champion Tim Duncan was becoming a free agent after three great seasons and everyteam but the Lakers & TWolves were salivating and willing to give up their franchise players for him. The most notable was the Orlando Magic with $18 mil in cap space was creating a monster with the signings of Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill and drafting future rookie of the year Mike Miller. Tim Duncan would become the man in the middle of the Big 3 in OTown and make the Magic instant Finals material. The Trailblazers, overflowing with big men like Rasheed Wallace & Jermaine O’Neal, was another team rumored to have a shot at landing Duncan in a sign and trade if the Spurs absolutely had to make one.

 

[Jplaya2023]

We had a thread on this, Grant Hill still would've been injured but those NBA finals between Orlando and Lakers from 00-04 would've been epic

I could see orlando winnign 3 losing 2 or the lakers winning 3 losing 2 it would've been that close IMO. If grant was healthy it might swing it more towards orlando

 

[Swagnificent]

We had a thread on this, Grant Hill still would've been injured but those NBA finals between Orlando and Lakers from 00-04 would've been epic

I could see orlando winnign 3 losing 2 or the lakers winning 3 losing 2 it would've been that close IMO. If grant was healthy it might swing it more towards orlando

Kobe > T-Mac
Shaq > Duncan

Lakers would beat em easily without Hill.

 

[Broad Street Bully]

We had a thread on this, Grant Hill still would've been injured but those NBA finals between Orlando and Lakers from 00-04 would've been epic

I could see orlando winnign 3 losing 2 or the lakers winning 3 losing 2 it would've been that close IMO. If grant was healthy it might swing it more towards orlando

Those finals >>>>>>> Lakers/Sixers/Pacers/Nets

 

[Jplaya2023]

Kobe > T-Mac
Shaq > Duncan

Lakers would beat em easily without Hill.

hmmmmm

Kobe >> Stephen Jackson
Shaq >> Duncan

2003 conference semi's what happened here


kobe >>>> rip hamilton
Shaq >>> Ben wallace

2004 finals what happened here.

Shaq, Kobe, Duncan Tmac were all first team all nba players in that time frame it would've been a great series, a healthy grant hill swing it more towards orlando.

 

[FTBS]

Unless they were willing to take pay cuts (which based on the deals they signed they weren't) they couldn't afford all three. I don't know why people keep running with this.

 

[Broad Street Bully]

With a 94-98 Grant Hill, I got Orlando winning 3 of the 4 meetings

 

[Jplaya2023]

Shaq
Walker
Fox
Kobe
Fisher

VS
Duncan
Outlaw
Miller
Tmac
Hill

 

[Swagnificent]

hmmmmm

Kobe >> Stephen Jackson
Shaq >> Duncan

2003 conference semi's what happened here


kobe >>>> rip hamilton
Shaq >>> Ben wallace

2004 finals what happened here.

Shaq, Kobe, Duncan Tmac were all first team all nba players in that time frame it would've been a great series, a healthy grant hill swing it more towards orlando.

2003 Shaq was fat and out of shape. 2004 Kobe was flabby n sick from not working out the entire summer cause of the rape case.

If Shaq wasn't lazy and Kobe wasn't trikking out on white p*ssy, they woulda won 5 straight.

 

[TheGreatShowtime]

This thread makes me sad

 

[prophecypro]

I vividly remember this as a Magic fan and thought they were being very optimistic about. I actually there was a slight chance none of them would go out loyalty and closeness to their teams (Duncan with Robinson, Hill with Dumars and Mac with Vince, 16 year old me was wrong.)
Even with those three, like others have said Hill stays injured (and god knows what how the hell the doctors in Orlando would have diagnosed Duncan who had been injured that previous playoffs too).
They traded a lot of key roleplayers from the heart and hustle team over time (Losing Wallace on the boards to compliment Duncan). Plus Doc was still developing as a coach.

 

[prophecypro]

They did kind of play themselves into position to get all 3. Even T-Mac and Hill got like $92 million 5-7 year contracts I believe

 

[mastermind]

Unless they were willing to take pay cuts (which based on the deals they signed they weren't) they couldn't afford all three. I don't know why people keep running with this.

yeah, the deal was supposed to be Hill and Duncan. McGrady was going to Chicago, iirc.

Then Duncan decided to stay and Orlando got McGrady. This "all 3" stuff was revisionism.

 

[Broad Street Bully]

yeah, the deal was supposed to be Hill and Duncan. McGrady was going to Chicago, iirc.

Then Duncan decided to stay and Orlando got McGrady. This "all 3" stuff was revisionism.

 

[Sterling Archer]

2003 Shaq was fat and out of shape. 2004 Kobe was flabby n sick from not working out the entire summer cause of the rape case.

If Shaq wasn't lazy and Kobe wasn't trikking out on white p*ssy, they woulda won 5 straight.