T-MAC still an option? Bulls passing on McGrady?

[Jon]

I'm not in love with the idea of McGrady.  There are a number of options that I'd rather pursue.  
... 

I pretty much agree with your entire take and reasoning on at least exploring this possibility.

As you correctly point out, we've signed guys that I've hated when they were elsewhere and they were good soldiers here.

Several times you've mentioned other options that you prefer.  Curious as to who those other wing options are.

Thanks.

Well, the potential Josh Howard for Sheed and a pick deal is very appealing to me.  Howard is a borderline All Star type with good length and athleticism. 

The whole Shaq and Moon/Parker idea is also appealing to me.  We kill two birds with one stone (another big and another wing). 

However, I question whether these deals are actually going to go down, as Sheed's deal doesn't do much for Cleveland (who would only be clearing the very reasonably priced Moon or Parker) and Washington (who wouldn't be clearing anything, as Howard isn't under contract).  And I wonder if a second round (or even late first round pick) is enough to make them want to help an Eastern Conference team. 

So if those potential deals fall apart and it comes down to going into the season with the likes of Daniels, Bradley, Gaffney, and Lafayette as our only backups, I think McGrady is worth a gamble. 

[Moranis]

Mcgrady is just 30 and is only two years removed from his 8 year string of at least 20 ppg (the last two years also ended his 10 season string of at least 5 rpg, he also has been over 5 apg 7 different times).

If as the Bulls say his knee is healthy, he is going to be much better then he was the last two seasons.  He won't ever be what he once way, but he could still easily be a 25 minute, 15 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg type player coming off the bench.  If he will sign for the veteran minimum, why wouldn't the C's take a chance on him.  I'd even give him LLE type money.

[acieEarl]

He is damaged goods anyway.  Seems pretty egocentonic and egomaniacal.

Well put. There's a reason no one has snatched up Grady. The Bulls seem to be testing him out and must not like what they see. Damaged goods. I'd pass. Did nothing for the Knicks last year.

[Snakehead]

McGrady's attitude towards coming off the bench seems fair enough.

If he can only play at the level he was at with the Knicks then he is happy to come off the bench.

If he can get back to where he was previous, an All-NBA player, he would like to start. Why the heck wouldn't a team want to start McGrady if he was playing at that level?

There is no attitude problem here.

He shouldn't be worrying about starting.  He should be worrying about doing what is best for the team and filling the role they want him to if he wants to sign there.

He has to prove it on the court that he can get back to what he was before he can be placed in as a starter and I mean in games when I say this.  

McGrady agrees with that -- he said he doesn't deserve to start if he can only play at the level he was at while with the Knicks. That he is happy to accept a bench role.

"I won't have a problem, but that's not what I'm really shooting for," he said of a potential bench role.

"I think, yeah, if I was the player that I was in a Knicks uniform, I would have no problem coming off the bench, but I've worked extremely hard and I'm far from being that player. Trust me."

That's a big time red flag answer.  He should of just said "I will do whatever my team needs to win" and that would sound good.  Saying "I'm okay with that" but then going on to talk about how you are trying to start is a very bad sign that you will not be happy as a role player.

He should be happy being a J.R. Smith, Crawford, Terry type off the bench who can provide scoring and potentially go off for a big game on any given night.  But no, talk of starting again.  And putting himself in with Boozer... I'm sure Boozer had a laugh at that.

Dude, you are not a starter on a young team trying to build. Get over yourself and prove useful.

[BballTim]

After the quotes he was saying I don't want him here.  He doesn't understand where his skill set is at this point in his career.  

  Where is his skill set though? 2 years ago he was getting 16/4/5 on a 53 win team. I don't know, but is it really that set in stone that he'll never really be healthy again?

[35Lewis]

I would rather sign Tracy Morgan at this point.

I think there are still some better bench options available.  I think the only reason anyone wants to sign McGrady is that they are hoping for a "homerun" vet minimum signing that goes off and gives us another star to combat Miami.