From Chad Ford on ESPN Insider comes this little nugget:
"McGrady knows he's not going to get a huge deal at his age. But he's been eyeing South Beach and seems to be leaning toward taking a minimum deal for a chance to play with the Miami Thrice. The Bulls have some interest in McGrady too."
There's been a lot of names linked to the Bulls lately, and yet they're all going elsewhere. Raja Bell is to sign with the L.A. Lakers [EDIT: Utah]. Derek Fisher is also going back there. Shaun Livingston just agreed to sign with the Bobcats. And then there was that thing with that Jim fella.
This one I'm kind of hoping goes elsewhere.
Irrespective of his injury history, and irrespective of his greatly declined performance, there's one other fundamental sticking point to the idea; Tracy McGrady is not a small forward. He used to be able to play it, but he also used to have two working knees. This is the same problem that the Josh Howard rumour has; even when all other facets to the idea are identified, considered and accounted for, the player still plays a position that we don't need a player at.
The only way that is not true is if McGrady is too injured to play. And that's entirely possible.
Filed under: Free Agency
Tags: chicago bulls, free agency, Rumours, tracy mcgrady, Yeah Actually No
Tracy McGrady on the Bulls? Come on. That's ridiculous.
Haven't we already learned not to believe everything we read?
as long as benny the bull doesn't meet him in ohare airport, I would throw him a mill to join the bulls and have him gaurd LBJ and he can blow his knees again! LMAO!
Just like Josh Howard, TMac doesn't fit the blue collar, hard-working, and humble type of player Pax likes. Do you remember when we got JR Smith for basically nothing and then gave him right back to Denver? Too bad the bulls are afraid of a little attitude, because that guy can score the ball.
He can also commit vehicular homicide with the best of them.
Sounds like more FICTION, than FACT.
I'm sure the Bulls want to see what happens with Redick and Brewer, not McGrady.
Just NO already.
This isn't what this Bulls team needs.
Tracy McGrady - NO
Shaq - NO
Iverson - NO
NO to guys like Michael Finley, and Rasheed Wallace, and Stephen Marbury, and Jermaine O'neal who wanted a ring but had nothing left to give.
We are not a 3 superstar team looking to plug in an unproductive, has-been star for 3-4 minute stretches in the hope that they can make an emotional basket or two.
Boston got away with it once, but it's backfired twice ... and maybe a third time coming up.
Miami will have to give it a try with a guy like Ilgauskas and maybe someone else.
But we're not in that situation.
We have a young team with several stars in the making and the need to fit quality role players around them. Not these ball hogging, egotistical has-beens who've been overpaid and yet have underachieved their entire careers.
Speed, Athleticism, Hard Working, basketball smart ... these are things to look for now. Guys who are willing to play defense, rebound, move without the ball, and work on their still improving games. Hopefully we get one more guy like Redick with an outside shot. But that's the best way to build this team for the next two or three years.
Too bad we let Ben Gordon walk for nothing. He's a much, much better version of Redick who can actually create for himself as well. Neither of them know what the word "defense" means. Neither of them can handle the ball worth a damn.
I can't wait to get Redick. Everyone on this site is going to hate him by the All-Star break. He sucks THAT badly, especially if he's our starter at SG. Hahaha. I can't wait.
Disagree
While it's true that the shooting numbers aren't much different, I think Redick takes his shots in a much different way than Gordon does.
Ben needed to go, not only did he not play a second of defense and turned the ball over way too much, he would waste the time off the clock and then try to create a poor shot. He monopolized our entire offense at times. When he was on ... once every three or four games, he was great. And when he was off, the rest of the team sat around and watched as he missed bad shot after bad shot.
Will Redick miss some shots? Sure ... but will he have it in his mind that he's got to throw up 15 shots per game like Gordon used to think? I doubt it. Redick has never even attempted 7 shots per game. Gordon's career average is over 14.
The difference should be in the mind set ... and I believe that Ridick will understand what the Bulls are hoping he'll bring to the team.
He'd be at best, the 4th scoring option on the team. I don't think Gordon was ready to accept that kind of "demotion" from the Bulls.
I hope the Bulls don't sign these "has-beens" to more than one year deals and get stuck with 2-3 year contracts. You never know deep teams like Portland, Memphis might trade somebody we need for cheap during trading time or next off-season.
enough on Ben G. move on. & as a Bulls fan why would you want one of your players to fail--just so you can be right--some fan
Exactly! BG is not all that and he will show you next season as if this season wasn't an indicator. Reddick is hopefully willing to accept his role, like he did in Orlando. Plus he tries to play D now and that will get better this year imo.
Couldn't agree w/you more Silverwulf!
Of the 3...shaq, AI and Tmac...ill take Tmac.
I don't believe that we are interested I really think we need to get Brewer. What are we waiting for? We should get him even if we do get Redick.
Guys who are volume scorers are crap once they lose their athleticism, anyone who signs TMac is signing a net negative to the team. I'd hope we have more sense.
Agreed. The only reason Allen is still good is b/c he has a specialty the 3pt shot. Most past stars can't play roles its not in their nature generally.
Looks like the Bulls are looking for that hidden diamond since they couldn't buy the real diamonds. I hope they realize that some of these diamonds have already been proven to be fake and only looks like a real one and if they don't buy it, it will end up on TNT or ESPN bench anyhow...
Crowned,
Bulls didn't get JR Smith from New Orleans for "basically nothing", it was for Tyson Chandler who had signed a $60 million contract just the year before! Bulls signed free agent Ben Wallace so they traded Chandler's big contract for PJ Brown and JR Smith. It was a salary dump for Bulls. JR Smith was immediately traded to Denver for two 2nd round draft picks and PJ Brown only had 1 year left on his contract. Brown played well for Bulls for one year and then signed with the Celtics where he won a ring and then retired.
Edward Richards
Exactly.
I'm guessing his agent called Gar, and Gar's secretary said that he wasn't available, so call back later.
Now the Bulls are interested because the agent was told to call back later.
Ha! Yea all this "interest" is sickening. I'll believe it when they sign.
I live in Las Vegas and I'm watching Summer League ball. It's not pretty. Bulls are playing like hot garbage. Lucas is the only one who showed up so far. James Johnson had 3 fouls in first 4 minutes. His body language is awful. Lost with no confidence.
Bulls lead 17 - 16 after one. Johnson has more turnovers and fouls than points. Positive side is the play of John Lucas. Ugly quarter on both sides.
John Lucas dropping treys tonight! LOL
Lucas is killing it. Four 3's so far. Johnson looks good in isolation plays. Horrible at everything else.
Johnson just stuffed the crap out of Aminu.
Ugly ball! Bulls look awful. Clips manage to play worse. Bulls up by 17.
Ridiculous. Raja Bell has not signed with the Lakers, and no credible media source has made that claim. Yahoo Sports and Mike Monroe of the San Antonio paper have said that Bell is down to the Lakers and the Spurs, but no decision has been made. The Lakers have 1.8mil to offer and the Spurs have around 2.4.
SUMMER LEAGUE:
John Lucas III is definitely playing with some PURPOSE and PASSION.
It looks like Derrick Byars got benched. Dickey Johnson still has a FOUL PROBLEM (4 in the 1st half), but he did have a nice AND 1, a nice assist and a nice block.
SIDE NOTE:
Derrick Rose is sitting on the bench next to Randy Brown. That's good to see.
Per Yahoo Sports:
Looks like the Clippers are looking at TMAC.
Vedo,
Good get.
I just saw the TWEET.
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/18562827134
I'm hearing Utah picked up Raja Bell. Bulls should be pursuing Brewer/Barnes.
3 years, $10 million. Wow, not very expensive.
The Bulls gave him 3yrs/8mil..Jazz countered the deal with an extra 2 mil.
Per Marc Stein/ESPN
SUMMER LEAGUE GAME #2:
- Dickey Johnson was SPORADIC at best. He had 7 points and 6 fouls.
- Morris Almond and Matt Bouldin are playing decent basketball.
- John Lucas III looks like he wants to be the back-up PG at this point.
- Derrick Byars didn't played less than 10 mins. and only took 3 shots.
Overall, things are still up in the air. Lucas looks the best so far. Dickey Johnson doesn't impress me one bit. I can't see what people see in this kid.
He had a few bright spots but yeah he's not very impressive yet. He's on the roster so maybe he's not trying to impress idk. Anywayz John Lucas is looking great! We might have our back-up PG...he reminds me of Earl Boykins a lil bit w/his size.
Only two people on the Bulls summer roster have any business even sniffing an NBA rotation. And neither of them is named John Lucas III or Derrick Byars. This is quite evident from watching the first two games.
I will agree that Bouldin is looking decent. But I think you're way off on the assessment of the others.
JJ and Bouldin are the only two who should be in Bulls uniforms.
Please don't fall in love with Byars again. He's really not that good - at all.
McGrady, Shaq, AI, how about we go for the all malcontent team, I hear that Antoine Walker needs some cash, and maybe we can get Rasheed Wallace out of retirement from Boston.
Tracy McGrady??? Noooooooooooooooooooooo!
Morris Almond has a spot in the NBA imo
RONNIE BREWER:
http://twitter.com/ChrisMannixSI/status/18558344350
The Bulls look like the best fit for him out of that group.
I agree. I think he is just waiting to see what happens with the Bulls/Redick on Friday. I'm just not sure why they don't give him an offer now.
Vedo,
Utah just signed Bell, so they look out of Brewer sweepstakes. Portland is getting Matthews, so they don't appear to be in the running anymore. Washington is re-building. Boston is a contender, but also getting older.
The Bulls have two former teammates of his, who are blatantly recruiting him to Chicago. This should be a NO-BRAINER, regardless of what happens with Redick on Friday.
That being said, Friday should be an interesting SG-day for the Bulls.
With the re-signing of Joe Johnson and the drafting of Jordan Crawford, you figure the Atlanta Hawks' "other" Crawford -- Jamal -- could be available via trade. He becomes unrestricted next year so whatever he makes this season comes off the Bulls' books anyway. Not only did he win last season's Sixth Man of the Year Award, he also shot a respectable 38% from 3 and is a tall (6'5'') shooting guard.
True, his first tour with the Bulls wasn't great, but remember, that was during the Jay Williams era when we couldn't decide who we wanted to be our point guard. Who our point guard is is obviously not in question now with D-Rose and I think Crawford is worth a one-year experiment. He would start immediately and is a volume scorer on the perimeter which this team still needs. Although his individual defense isn't great, I expect Thibs' coaching to shore up the overall team defense. Crawford can also run the offense in stretches when D-Rose is out of the lineup or when he is focused on scoring.
Since the Hawks seem to be enamored like wing players like James Johnson (see Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Maurice Evans, Joe Johnson), maybe some package of our JJ and cash/draft picks could land us Crawford (while we're at it, we could sign the Hawks' free agent big Randolph Morris on the cheap too). As mentioned above, we'd get that cap space back next year when Jamal becomes unrestricted.
For those reasons, I would welcome him back for at least one year. He wouldn't even cross paths with Bill Cartwright :)
919293,
Jamal Crawford was 6th Man of the Year last year. He's not leaving the ATL.
He's now backing up an overpaid, overrated maximum-salary player though. To justify his contract, Joe Johnson necessarily gets the lion's share of minutes at shooting guard, not to mention the scraps Jordan Crawford will hope to get in garbage time. I don't see Jamal getting the kind of playing time he'll need to repeat as SMOTH, let alone be an impact player for ATL. I'd say he's the odd man out, but he could find a starting position and a very meaningful role being back with the Bulls.
Atl still doesn't have a reliable PG option...Teague? Bibby? Jamal will not be supplanted by Jordan just yet. He will stay put most likely. If he has trade value it won't be until the trade deadline that they unload him depending on how their season is going.
You're right, it'll probably play out like that. But Jamal will be in a contract year and won't get the minutes to play for a big new deal (likely his last) stuck behind Joe Johnson. So I'm all for him showcasing his skills and possibly putting up career numbers for a year with the Bulls. They'll have benefited from it and won't be under any obligation to keep him beyond 2011...unless of course they want to.
Well put silverwulf. but i would give AI a chance. The only one, but like i said before keep him a short leash!
I prefer Shaq to AI any day.
If Tmac came here with the correct mindset.."your arnt a superstar mindset" then ill take him. He's 6'8 with experience plus he can nail open 3's. Give him a 3 three deal or something for cheap. JJ Reddick cannot be our starting SG. Tmac can also draw fouls pretty well, and if he wants too, his decent isnt that bad. Its a option