The Bulls still haven't informed Tracy McGrady that they won't sign him, but the addition of Keith Bogans appears to have completely ruled out the possibility. McGrady understands the agreement that was struck between Chicago and Bogans on Friday essentially extinguishes any hope he had of playing for the Bulls next season, according to a source close to the process. http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/18798/what-next-for-t-mac
Apparently TMac is trying to hook up with Detroit for a minimum contract. For about $1M, I fail to see why he's not worth taking the risk. He could always be cut without that much of a hit.
At vet minimum, he could be cut the instant he's a locker room cancer, and the Bulls could sign someone else at the vet minimum to replace him. The risk is really the ~$1M salary, and that's it.
I agree Denny! A non guaranteed contract for the minimum, then cut him if he was any trouble. I am speculating here, but my guess is he is still hobbling. And when he said he wants to prove he can make a difference. That was a red flag to them that he would not accept coming off of the bench all season long. It could be interpreted that way or on the flip side it could be Tracy was just saying, I want to help us win. By competing with the others over starting is one way to help the team. We shall see how he works out in Detroit. Pistons trying to move Prince and Hamilton.
They don't want to bring him in because they fear he'll get bumped in an early December game and one of his extremities will land in the 200 level seats.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1684259 The 38-year-old Pippen missed 17 games last season after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. He returned for Portland's final two regular-season games and played 32 minutes in the playoff series opener. He missed three games in the playoffs because of swelling in the knee, but returned for the final three games in the Trail Blazers' first-round loss to Dallas. Paxson was well aware of Pippen's health problems -- Friday's surgery will be his 10th overall -- when he signed him to a two-year, $10 million contract last summer. Pippen passed a physical, and he and Paxson both hoped he'd be able to play 60 games as he did each of the last three seasons. The Bulls were careful with Pippen's minutes, limiting him to 20-25 a game, and he rarely practiced. But he has had repeated swelling in his knee, and already has had it drained three times. "I still think in the role we envisioned him -- playing that 20 minutes a game, 25 minutes -- that's still something I think is attainable unless you go in and there's something severely wrong with (the knee)," Paxson said. "But we're not anticipating that." Despite the latest health problems, Paxson said he doesn't regret bringing Pippen back to Chicago. A cornerstone of the Bulls' championship run, Pippen was voted one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996. He's a seven-time All-Star in 16 seasons, and is one of the best defensive players ever. But signing Pippen wasn't a nostalgic move. Paxson thought the move would make the Bulls better, and he also thought the Baby Bulls would benefit from Pippen's leadership and experience.
Even more puzzling, wtf is Dumars thinking in Detroit? What are they going to do with another ball stopping wing who wants to shoot jumpers?
I'm fine with the Bulls going without McGrady. It's easy to say you can just cut someone before they cause a problem, but my experience is that bad attitudes tend to spread a bit before they're let go. If for nothing else, the disconnect between players>>coaches>>management can be long enough that by the time the malignancy of McGrady's attitude becomes obvious enough to all decision makers involved to reach a consensus, the team may already be a mess because of it. McGrady's had plenty of chances for a team to sign him, and no one has even given him the minimum. Now he's fishing for teams, and practically anyone of any significance has already been signed in FA. I think if this guy was really worth taking on someone would have done it by now. I was glad the Bulls gave McGrady a look, but I'm fine with them bypassing him too. Hello Keith Bogans!!
It was obvious he and they weren't on the same page from the first questions he started answering after his workout. I think he's done.
