History Revisited: Mac attack -- or lack thereof

In the summer of 2004, Orlando was at a crossroads.

A new GM was in office and looked to shape up a moribund, mediocre 21-61 squad. With the No. 1 pick in the draft, he issued his star player an ultimatum. Join us or be shipped out.

It was clear even before the Magic picked up that lucky ping pong ball that the superstar wanted out unless his team could become a winner immediately. He thought Emeka Okafor would be that answer, not Dwight Howard.

Fault Jon Weisbrod for a lot of things. But he had bravery to tell an established superstar, "Let's go in a different direction. You are not part of our plans." Yes, he messed up the Steve Francis deal and left the city as a failure for numerous other missteps.

But five years later, look at where Orlando and Houston stand.

Howard has blossomed into the best big man in the league and the Magic are one of the elite teams in the Eastern Conference.

The Rockets have knocked on the door and have always looked like they could be very good. Then they fail to get out of the first round. McGrady still has not tasted playoff success.

Now T-Mac is out for the rest of the year in need of microfracture surgery on his left knee. McGrady has struggled with injuries in the past five years.

It is clear McGrady thought he was going to be the winner of his journey out of Orlando. It is clear now that the Magic were right to rebuild.