Is McGrady an option next year for the MLE?

[VIPER8382]

Pretty simple, let's suppose McGrady misses the first 30 or so games, then comes back and stays relatively healthy the rest of the year (occasionally sitting out back to backs etc.). Let's say he averages between 15-18 PPG, 5 APG, 5RPG, on 40-45% shooting with 35-38% from 3. Is that enough for a team to take a shot on him at more than the MLE, or is an MLE offer about the best he could get? If his market value is at or near MLE level would we be interested in him? I personally would be extremely excited if it happened, and think it would be great for both parties. McGrady would get all of the pressure taken off of him in so many ways, on the court and off. As for the Lakers, McGrady would be more of a luxury than anything, but if healthy come playoff time I don't think a team could beat us in a single game, let alone a series. The thing that I feel would make this a dream marriage is that LA can offer him as much playing time as his body can handle, while not being overly dependent on him.

McGrady healthy 10-11 depth chart if McGrady signs
PG- McGrady (8) / Brown (24) / Farmar (16)
SG- Bryant (24) / McGrady (24) / Vujacic (depth)
SF- Artest (36) / Bryant (12) / Walton (depth)
PF- Gasol (18) / Odom (30)
C- Bynum (30) / Gasol (18)
* McGrady would be the 1 on offense, but usually guard 2's or 3's depending on the match up.

McGrady hurt 10-11 depth chart if McGrady signs
PG- Brown (28) / Farmar (20)
SG- Bryant (36) / Vujacic (12)
SF- Artest (36) / Walton (12)
PF- Gasol (18) / Odom (30)
C- Bynum (30) / Gasol (18)

See I think this is a perfect marriage, as we are stacked without him, and absolutely unstoppable when he is at least 80% healthy. What does everyone else think? When healthy he would take his 32 mpg from as follows 12 each from Walton and Vujacic and 4 each from Brown and Farmar, I would call that an exponential upgrade. The questions are as follows, would LA take the risk on him, and would he settle for a 3 year MLE deal for what I believe is a dream scenario for him?

[iamworthy]

No.

[dannydd]

lool in what world is Gasol only getting 18 minutes at center.
He COULD play point guard but like u wrote in very limited minutes.
he could share some minutes with kobe but maybe like 12-18??? not anything more THATS KOBE BRYANT
He could potentially get some minutes from the SF position.. nd just have walton be third string
I mean there isn't much room on that team for a Mcgrady. he hogs the ball when he's on the court and dishes it off if he has nothing with no time left and leaves them hanging...

i mean he's not gonna be high flying nemore.

[J Rob]

No.

[VIPER8382]

lool in what world is Gasol only getting 18 minutes at center.
He COULD play point guard but like u wrote in very limited minutes.
he could share some minutes with kobe but maybe like 12-18??? not anything more THATS KOBE BRYANT
He could potentially get some minutes from the SF position.. nd just have walton be third string
I mean there isn't much room on that team for a Mcgrady. he hogs the ball when he's on the court and dishes it off if he has nothing with no time left and leaves them hanging...

i mean he's not gonna be high flying nemore.

Gasol gets only 18 mpg at center when Bynum gets 30 because 48-18 is 30, then Gasol gets 18 at PF where he starts the game. McGrady isn't stealing any minutes from Kobe, it looks like it, but McGrady is getting 24 at SG because his presense allows Kobe to soak up all SF minutes Artest doesn't take (I am in the Kobe is better at the 3 camp). So essentially you are right, even though McGrady only plays at the 1 and 2 in my chart, the minutes he gets also come at the "sacrifice" of Walton's SF minutes. That last part about a ball hog sounds a lot like what non Lakers fans say about Artest, but I think Artest will play within the system, and I think McGrady would too. I agree McGrady's 25-32 PPG days are behind him, but if he plays within the system I could see 18/5/5 with improved efficiency to the tune of 50% on field goals and 40-43% from 3 point range.

[Cookin Baskets]

dont like T-Mac at point besides I can see him coming back and demanding more then MLE. Laker fans should be really happy what they got, I have never seen a title team improve like this with addition of Artest is a lot bigger then people think. Artest is going to play his best ball in L.A

[Test of Wills]

No.

[DEEP3CL]

This will never happen even if hell freezes over.

[Luffy]

I'd say only for the Veteran's Minimum. I don't want to waste valuable salary cap room for a player who might not play the whole season. Tracy McGrady at the veteran's minimum would be a steal though. Anything more, and no thanks.

[TEXNIFICENT09]

I'm the biggest Rockets fan there is, and I wouldn't wish Tracy Mcgrady on anyone.
Let's see he's Kobe without the toughness, the will, the athleticism or the defense. Other than that he's another KB24!! The guy is a financial winner and a basketball LOSER. He's done!!! Hopefully Kupchak will find a way to give him the MAX!!!

[Rain_Maker]

so healthy lineup

Bryant gets 36
Gasol gets 36
Bynum gets 30
Odom gets 30
Artest gets 36
McGrady gets 32
Farmar gets 16

but in the end:
















no

[lakersfanatic]

Mcgrady wouldn't play with another super franchise player unless it's for the olynpic team. Plus for MLE? nah no way he'll agree to that. Like what LO and Ariza did.. they just wanted to secure their future and get paid as much as possible and look at how old Ariza is.

i see mcgrady going to new york or something..

[Sofa King]

No.

[tkb]

Mcgrady wouldn't play with another super franchise player unless it's for the olynpic team.

Based on what? He's stated in the past that he'd love to play with Kobe (the vid is on youtube).

I think he'd be a great addition, but I doubt we even use the MLE next summer since our payroll is getting really high. He'd be worth it for sure, but at the same time I want us to look at the PG spot next summer if we were to use our MLE.

[VIPER8382]

Mcgrady wouldn't play with another super franchise player unless it's for the olynpic team.

Based on what? He's stated in the past that he'd love to play with Kobe (the vid is on youtube).

I think he'd be a great addition, but I doubt we even use the MLE next summer since our payroll is getting really high. He'd be worth it for sure, but at the same time I want us to look at the PG spot next summer if we were to use our MLE.

Look at Phil's history with PG's (Ron Harper, Brian Shaw, etc.), McGrady would be perfect on offense at PG, and with Bryant and Artest also on the perimeter he would be able to slide over to SG's or SF's on D. Now all of that would be based on keeping the triangle.

[hermes]

isn't he the guy who never wins in the playoffs and is hurt a lot?

i'll pass

[laduane1]

Let him show he can play a full season. He will be traded so the rockets can chope his max deal off there books. But who wants him is the real question. Damage goods.

[joe.linnen]

I like the idea of him playing for us and we would have a very long line up as well.
SF:Artest/Walton
PF:Gasol/Odom/Powell
C:Bynum/Mbenga
SG:Bryant/Vujacic/Brown
PG:McGrady/Fisher/Farmar

[DoctaJ]

Not going to lie.. I would love to see it.

[daddyfivestar]

I think a PG is going to be the MLE or portion of MLE next year (as long as Odom is back). Duhon, Alston, Blake, Dooling, all UFA's next yr.