Tracy McGrady believes the Toronto Raptors could have contended for championships, had he chosen to remain with the team instead of joining the Orlando Magic. “At that time, I think Toronto probably could have competed for championships with the Lakers, that’s what I think,” McGrady said. McGrady doubled his scoring average to 26.8 in his first season with the Magic, and led the NBA at 32.1 and 28.0 per game during his final two seasons there. “Toronto, they didn’t know I was capable of that type of performance as far as scoring. I didn’t (even) know I had that in me,” McGrady said.
Maybe. People thought McGrady and Grant Hill were going to be perennial contenders in Orlando. I don't think Hill was that much better than Vince Carter in his hey day. I highly doubt it though. They still wouldn't have had any sort of answer for Shaq.
Hill was injured almost his entire time in Orlando so thats not the greatest example of things. Can't really tell shed any light on a Hill/Carter comparison since I didn't pay attention to either player really but just by looking at that roster even if TMac developed into the TMac from Orlando/Houston I can't see that team getting by Philly/Nets or the Pistons in 04 to play the Lakers before Shaq gets traded, definitely not beating the Lakers in any of those situations even if they get passed those three teams in the east.
Interesting topic, but a more interesting subplot to it all is that McGrady implies that he left Toronto because he didn't think they were using him right. I always figured that he left because he didn't want to play in Canada, as a lot of analysts have intimated over the years.
Who exactly would guard Shaq in that scenario? McGrady was great, and Vince was exciting, but the Lakers had a good bench as well. I don't see it at all.
