Tracy McGrady's frustrated friend, Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves, finally has had a wonderfully long summer. The T-Wolves at last got Garnett some help, as Latrell Sprewell, Sam Cassell and Michael Olowokandi have arrived with the free-agent cavalry. They made the bold moves that they hope finally will deliver Garnett to the second round of the playoffs and head off his possible defection as a free agent after the season. "Sounds good," McGrady said Thursday. With the T-Wolves loaded like never before, the pressure could be on McGrady to shake the label long pinned on Garnett: The best player never to make it past the first round. McGrady is now 0-for-3 in Orlando. And the pressure could turn up on the Magic to continue improving the club and try to keep McGrady from developing a wandering eye. T-Mac can explore opportunities as a free agent after the 2004-2005 season if he chooses to opt out of his seven-year, $93 million contract. That's 164 regular-season games left on McGrady's deal with the Magic, a little more than a baseball season, actually. It sounds like a long ways off, but time flies when you haven't ever gotten out of the first round, and T-Mac already is heading into year No. 4 with Orlando. It's never too early to be concerned about McGrady's mental whereabouts. A free agent after this season, Garnett still won't publicly commit to remaining with the Timberwolves -- even after the team's home improvements. Indications are that Kobe Bryant will test the free-agent waters after the season, although he has more pressing and serious matters at the moment. Internet innuendo claims the San Antonio Spurs are planning to clear cap room for McGrady to make a run at him in the summer of 2005. Asked if he would consider opting out after the 2004-2005 season, McGrady told the Orlando Sentinel, "I don't know. I can't say yet." Notice he didn't proclaim his undying love for Orlando, either. But Magic Chief Operating Officer John Weisbrod called McGrady's comments on his future "responsible," considering he can't become a free agent for two seasons. "We care about Tracy, obviously," Weisbrod said. "We're doing everything we can to make him aware of the direction we're going. "We want to win a championship, too. I don't think our goals are out of line with his. But we're not laying around at night worrying about something that's two years away. . . . We're not running around chasing ghosts for the next two years." What the Magic are doing is trying to build around their centerpiece, despite being financially hamstrung by Grant Hill's injury fiasco. McGrady seems happy with the off-season acquisitions of forward Juwan Howard and point guard Tyronn Lue. "I think we're going to be better," McGrady said. "Who knows how things are going to work? You have Drew Gooden and a guy like Juwan [Howard] coming in. I don't know how [Coach] Doc [Rivers] is going to play both of those [power forwards] at the same time. I'm pretty sure he has something in mind. But I think adding a guy like Juwan Howard, his caliber, is really going to help us out. It's going to help me out. "Yeah, I definitely think this is the year [to get out of the first round]. I hope those other guys are working as hard as I am." Gordan Giricek, acquired along with Gooden in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies last season, is working hard. He gave the Magic a scare this week when he sustained a leg injury training in Rogla, Slovenia. Weisbrod doesn't think the injury is serious, but he said, "It's been hard getting information." McGrady hopes Gooden, who showed promise as a rookie, is breaking a sweat. "As far as him going out and competing and playing hard, he does that," McGrady said. "His main thing is to get in better shape and work on post moves." While McGrady loves Lue's game, he wants the Magic to acquire a veteran point guard, especially with only rookie Reece Gaines backing up Lue. The Magic did not re-sign Darrell Armstrong, meaning McGrady has lost his two best friends on the team in about six months. Mike Miller was traded to Memphis at midseason. "Another of my good buddies is gone from my team. But like Darrell says, it's a business," McGrady said. "I also realize that, but you hate to see somebody go that you grew close with over the years. . . . To have them not be a part of this team again is really sad." McGrady led the league in scoring last season with a 32.1 average and says performing an encore will be no problem. "I got a lot more tricks in my bag. I'm going to be even better than last season. I'm not saying I'm going to average above 32 but. . . . I believe I can," he said. "I'm more confident, too. Sounds crazy, but, yeah, I just feel unstoppable. I just feel like nothing right now can stop me from doing what I want to do on the basketball court. I can always get better. I really can." McGrady says he's never felt better physically, and the call of country kick-started his workouts early. He'll begin playing next week for the U.S. Olympic team, which must qualify in Puerto Rico for the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece. The world caught up to America's basketball dominance last summer during the World Championships as Team USA failed to medal. With stars such as McGrady, Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson sitting out the tournament, the U.S. saw its 58-game winning streak snapped. "I'm just looking forward to going over there and claiming what's really ours. It kind of got away from that last year when those guys took the international players for granted," McGrady said. "And they saw what happened. We got a team out there that's focused to claim what's really ours. "I think it's good to have guys such as myself and Tim Duncan, the elite players in the league, to go over there to set example and makes those guys realize that, 'OK you beat some of the best players, but you didn't beat our elite players.' We're going to go over there and take it seriously and win that gold medal." McGrady doesn't believe the extra basketball will tire him out when he reports to the Magic's camp Oct. 4. "Come on -- I'm 24!" he laughed. The Magic announced their eight-game preseason schedule Thursday and will open Oct. 7 at Dallas, then travel to Baton Rouge, La., to face New Orleans on Oct. 8. Their other two road games are Oct. 16 against Utah at St. Louis and Oct. 17 at Memphis. Their home games at TD Waterhouse are Oct. 11 against Miami, Oct. 14 against New Orleans, Oct. 22 against Atlanta and Oct. 24 against Utah. He is very confident and will tear it up this upcoming season y'all agree?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">T-mac To Spurs Baby!!</div> Like thats gonna happen
Didn't you know? spurs will go after mcgrady and sign him....if he opts out of his contract next season..which seems very likely i heard....i don't criticize him i give him props most of the time...if he wants a title..come to San Antonio....if he wants to continue to put up stats and never win a title..stay
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">why would u want tmac</div> You always go on about how great he is...i'm sure you can answer that question...
i don't worship him or anything, that was truemaster, but i just defend him. tmac is staying in orlando near his home.
Dirtysouth, next time, don't post the entire article, and also give a link <div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">T-mac To Spurs Baby!!</div> :thumbsup: i wish
man , I love Tracy, but the guy needs to step up in the plaoffs when it counts , In my opinion he is top 3 or 4 in the league. I used to hate this guy , but i didnt know much about him. Its going to be scary for the rest of the league when Tracy reaches his potential in 2 or 3 years. The Magic may win a championship then.
i don't think i would go that far in saying that we might win a championship with how stacked the west is getting. tmac is the most talented player, but the reason why he's not considered is he disappears when the game is on the line, but again, everyone knows that he's gonna get the ball, so they triple team him. he's gonna be even better this year, which is scary.
In 2 or 3 years they will have Drew Gooden, Reece Gaines, Gordan Giricek developed. Lets hope Grant Hill retires by then or opts out of his contract so the Magic can get that 14 million back in their cap space. Ridiculous though that they were deneind the inj exception. Who the hell decided Hill was ready to play, lets hope he is right.
