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The Orlando Magic have acquired guard Steve Francis, guard Cuttino Mobley and center Kelvin Cato from the Houston Rockets in exchange for guards Tracy McGrady, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines, and forward Juwan Howard.

Francis (6’3”, 200, 2/21/77) played and started in 79 games for the Rockets during the 2003-04 campaign, averaging 16.6 ppg., a team-high 6.2 apg., 5.5 rpg. and a team-best 1.76 stlpg. in a team-high-tying 40.4 minpg. He also averaged 19.2 ppg., 8.4 rpg., 7.6 apg. and 1.40 stlpg. in 44.4 minpg. in five playoff outings vs. the L.A. Lakers. Francis ranked among NBA leaders in minutes played (T-4th), assists (9th), steals (9th) and scoring (38th).

A three-time NBA All-Star, Francis joined Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson and Grant Hill as the only players in NBA history to average 15 points, five rebounds and five assists in each of their first five seasons. He has played in 374 regular season games during his NBA career, all with Houston, and averaged 19.3 ppg., 6.4 apg., 6.1 rpg. and 1.63 stlpg. in 39.6 minpg. Francis has recorded 78 career double-doubles and six triple-doubles during his career.

In 2002-03, Francis and Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett were the only two players in the NBA to average at least 20.0 ppg., 6.0 rpg. and 6.0 apg. On Jan. 17, 2003 vs. the L.A. Lakers, he scored a career-high 44 points and added 11 assists, becoming the first player in Rockets history to record 40 points and 10 assists in the same game. During the 2000-01 season, Francis became the first Rockets player and 18th player in NBA history to lead his team in total points, rebounds and assists. He was named the 1999-2000 NBA Co-Rookie of the Year, sharing the honor with Elton Brand and was a unanimous selection for the 1999-2000 NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Mobley (6’4”, 215, 9/1/75) appeared and started in 80 games last season for Houston, averaging 15.8 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 3.2 apg. and 1.34 stlpg. in a team-high-tying 40.4 minpg. He also played in five playoff outings vs. the L.A. Lakers, averaging 14.4 ppg., 4.8 rpg. and 2.8 apg. in 42.0 minpg. Mobley ranked among NBA leaders in minutes played (T-4th), steals (23rd), three-point field goal percentage (.390, T-24th) and free throw percentage (.811, 40th).

Mobley has played in 436 regular season games during his NBA career, all with Houston, averaging 17.1 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 2.7 apg. and 1.21 stlpg. in 37.5 minpg. In Rockets history, he ranks second in three-pointers made (672), seventh in steals (526), eighth in minutes played (16,343), ninth in scoring (7,448 points) and 10th in three-point field goal percentage (.372, 672-1,807). Among the players from the 1998 NBA Draft class, Mobley ranks fifth in total points, trailing only Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki and Antawn Jamison. He finished second in voting to Rodney Rogers for the 1999-2000 NBA Sixth Man Award and was named to the 1998-99 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Cato (6’11”, 275, 8/26/74) played in 69 games last season for Houston, making 67 starts. He averaged 6.1 ppg., 6.8 rpg., 1.0 apg. and 1.39 blkpg. in 25.3 minpg. Cato ranked second on the Rockets in rebounding and blocked shots. He also appeared in five playoff outings vs. the L.A. Lakers, averaging 5.8 ppg., 6.8 rpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 29.6 minpg. while shooting ..591 from the field.

Cato has appeared in 434 regular season games during his NBA career with Portland and Houston, averaging 5.5 ppg., 5.4 rpg. and 1.34 blkpg. in 20.0 minpg., while shooting .507 from the floor. He has also played in 17 career postseason contests, averaging 3.6 ppg. and 3.1 rpg. in 14.6 minpg. In Rockets history, Cato ranks third all-time in field goal percentage and fourth in blocked shots.

McGrady played and started in 67 games for the Magic last season, averaging 28.0 ppg., 6.0 rpg., a team-high 5.5 apg. and a team-best 1.39 stlpg. in a team-high 39.9 minpg. He scored a franchise-record and career-high 62 points (20-37 FG, 5-14 3FG, 17-26 FT) on Mar. 10 vs. Washington. McGrady has been named to the All-NBA First Team twice (2001-02, 2002-03) and All-NBA Second Team twice (2000-01, 2003-04), while also appearing in the NBA All-Star Game four times and capturing the league’s scoring title two straight seasons. McGrady has played in 487 career NBA regular season games with Toronto and Orlando, averaging 21.4 ppg., 6.4 rpg., 4.1 apg., 1.32 stlpg. and 1.17 blkpg. in 33.6 minpg.

Howard appeared in a team-best 81 games for the Magic, averaging 17.0 ppg., 7.0 rpg. and 2.0 apg. in 35.5 minpg. He led Orlando in rebounding, while finishing second on the team in scoring and minutes played. Howard has played in 730 regular season games with Washington, Dallas, Denver and Orlando during his NBA career, averaging 17.8 ppg., 7.4 rpg. and 3.0 apg. in 37.1 minpg. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 1995-96.

Lue played in 76 games for Orlando (69 starts), averaging career-highs of 10.5 ppg., 4.2 apg. and 2.5 rpg. in 30.7 minpg. He led the Magic and tied for 29th in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage, shooting .383 (80-209) from beyond the arc. Lue has played in 283 games during his NBA career with the L.A. Lakers, Washington and Orlando, averaging 8.0 ppg., 3.2 apg. and 1.8 rpg. in 23.2 minpg.

Gaines appeared in 38 games for Orlando, averaging 1.8 ppg., 1.1 apg. and 1.0 rpg. in 9.6 minpg. during his rookie campaign. He was selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Magic, after spending four years at the University of Louisville.