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Original topic I know but humor me. 20 years ago old T-Mac wanted to be closer to home in central Florida and the CBA at that time allowed players on their rookie deals more freedom than players have now. He was going to leave so Toronto agreed to a S&T for a pick to at least salvage something (so this wasn’t 100% on the Raptors).

So let’s say he re-signs and is a Raptor from age 21-27. Do they run the east until Detroit hits their run in 04’?

Depends on the mindset of the big-2 going forward. Offensively they’d be overwhelming for anyone in the east (you’d think) plus they had bruisers.

Hook_Em wrote:Original topic I know but humor me. 20 years ago old T-Mac wanted to be closer to home in central Florida and the CBA at that time allowed players on their rookie deals more freedom than players have now. He was going to leave so Toronto agreed to a S&T for a pick to at least salvage something (so this wasn’t 100% on the Raptors).

So let’s say he re-signs and is a Raptor from age 21-27. Do they run the east until Detroit hits their run in 04’?

I think the fact that TMac didn't break out until he left Toronto answers this. You don't get TMac to be TMac until you give him control of your offense, and that wasn't going to happen with Carter there.

We might ask what might have happened in Toronto if they'd built around TMac and traded Carter instead, but of course there's the matter that the later franchises that built around TMac didn't actually have all that much success.

Doctor MJ wrote:

Hook_Em wrote:Original topic I know but humor me. 20 years ago old T-Mac wanted to be closer to home in central Florida and the CBA at that time allowed players on their rookie deals more freedom than players have now. He was going to leave so Toronto agreed to a S&T for a pick to at least salvage something (so this wasn’t 100% on the Raptors).

So let’s say he re-signs and is a Raptor from age 21-27. Do they run the east until Detroit hits their run in 04’?

I think the fact that TMac didn't break out until he left Toronto answers this. You don't get TMac to be TMac until you give him control of your offense, and that wasn't going to happen with Carter there.

We might ask what might have happened in Toronto if they'd built around TMac and traded Carter instead, but of course there's the matter that the later franchises that built around TMac didn't actually have all that much success.

His last game for Toronto was before his 21st b-day. He was breaking out regardless. The numbers wouldn’t have been what they were but still a superstar.

Tmac always played his best as the lone star. In Orlando he had his career year as a solo star. In Houston, he would be having a decent year maybe but when Yao went down for his annual injury, TMac would step into a nearby phone booth and open up a whole level on his game that you didn't see when he was sharing the spotlight. This makes long playoff runs tricky; you would have to have an Iverson in Philly situation with weak competition and a team of defensive specialists.

It could happen. Vince would be unhappy if TMac takes the spotlight and probably leaves and if they could keep the bruisers and get the right roleplayers. Tmac is one of the most talented players of all time, but not much of a team guy with his coaches generally being less effusive than the media or casuals. All the first round exits may be a function of the kind of star he was but he was certainly talented enough to take teams deeper with a few breaks and a coach that built a team around him.

Hook_Em wrote:

Doctor MJ wrote:

Hook_Em wrote:Original topic I know but humor me. 20 years ago old T-Mac wanted to be closer to home in central Florida and the CBA at that time allowed players on their rookie deals more freedom than players have now. He was going to leave so Toronto agreed to a S&T for a pick to at least salvage something (so this wasn’t 100% on the Raptors).

So let’s say he re-signs and is a Raptor from age 21-27. Do they run the east until Detroit hits their run in 04’?

I think the fact that TMac didn't break out until he left Toronto answers this. You don't get TMac to be TMac until you give him control of your offense, and that wasn't going to happen with Carter there.

We might ask what might have happened in Toronto if they'd built around TMac and traded Carter instead, but of course there's the matter that the later franchises that built around TMac didn't actually have all that much success.

His last game for Toronto was before his 21st b-day. He was breaking out regardless. The numbers wouldn’t have been what they were but still a superstar.

I mean, the fact that he broke out specifically when he left Toronto makes the age explanation iffy to me. It'd be one thing if he played the same role on the two different teams, but he didn't.

Probably 2001 finalist but then goes downhill after they lose Antonio Davis in FA (top 20 salary player starting in 2002) and alpha dog battle and Vince's injuries become an issue.

I can see a lot of things going right and falling into place, but to be honest with you, there's nothing about Tracy McGrady that screams that they are going to run anything at all.

I’m not high on either VC or TMac so I don’t think they’d run the tables even though the East was incredibly weak in the early-2000s. Neither struck me as winning players.

T-Mac was trending up his last year in Toronto, so I don't think him staying was going to really stunt his growth. During the 2000 Offseason, I believe ESPN the Magazine had him ranked as the 7th best player going into the 2001 season.

But I would say yeah. Although I don't think the supporting cast would have been as good as Orlando's would have been if Grant Hill stayed healthy. Toronto didn't have a Darrell Armstrong, Bo Outlaw, or a Mike Miller.