Tucker as a Precursor to T-Mac?

[jade_hippo]

McGrady is still only 30 and doesn't have as many miles on his body (although he's had some nasty injuries) any outside shooting he brings would be a huge upgrade over Sasha, and that gets him at least 15min a night.

[Klomp]

Gomes is a guy we could trade for something.

Isn't McGrady, a career 22/6/5 player, something?

.. but you can't trade him because he's too expensive to salary match.

If we traded for him this year, we wouldn't be trading him away this year either. And since he's expiring, theres no need to worry about salary matching...

I'd rather have McGrady for half of this year, and resign him for around 7-10 million, rather than spending the 14 mil likely needed to sign Johnson.

[slinky]

Wilkins, Cardinal and Blount are assets?

I understand Gomes may be useful to a contender looking for some solid bench play. But i dont think the good Dr was saying we need to go run out and get McGrady tonight. If we cant find a better deal out there before the deadline and this is on the table I dont see how you can pass it up.

Even with a lost step we get to see what our team would look like with a game changing wing. We move lifeless bodies from the bench and have no longterm commitment to him.

As I said before if he showed any willingness to want to come back here after the year, than i would have no problem with this.

I do consider Gomes an asset. And I understand we would look and see if there were other deals out there first and if Kahn plans on cutting Gomes anyways in the offseason than yeah this deal might make sense. But I think we are undervaluing Gomes here, just like I might be undervaluing McGrady. Gomes is a good role player, on a good contract. IF McGrady is a 1 year rental, than i feel we can get something more substantial for Gomes, or we just keep Gomes for the duration of his contract. Its not as if we wont need solid veteran players on good contracts in a year or two.

Kahn seems to show a ambition to call teams and make moves(or at least listen to offers), so if gomes(and company) was traded for McGrady than i would trust that gomes was in the future plans and it was the best deal out there for Gomes.

Finally, I dont really buy into the 'see how the team looks with a game changing wing' theory. We know what it would look like. We all see the rest of the NBA teams. All teams look better with a game changing wing. Thats why all our draft talk is focused on wings and a PG(who dropped 16 assists last night).

[slinky]

I'd rather have McGrady for half of this year, and resign him for around 7-10 million, rather than spending the 14 mil likely needed to sign Johnson.

Hopefully, thats a 1 or 2 year deal. He hasnt exactly been the healthiest guy in his career.

[Worm Guts]

I think the potential chemistry issues are being understated here. McGrady could really change the locker room dynamic.

[deeney0]

idk, I think it sends a good message to the rest of the players, "We're serious about acquiring the talent we need to win" - something that moves like the Alando Tucker acquisition (as much as I love him) do not.

[invno1]

Tracy is wanting to play for a contract the remainder of the year and at 30 prolly his last and prolly not a 1 or 2 year stint. Let him come and pad his numbers here, give him 30 minutes if he wants 30. It can olly help him & Timberwolves will sell more tickets & jerseys, lots of casual fans will go see McGrady play. T-Mac prolly is not the direction team is headed in but if everyone wins for half a year why not...Rambis has to approve something like this though.

[slinky]

Tracy is wanting to play for a contract the remainder of the year and at 30 prolly his last and prolly not a 1 or 2 year stint. Let him come and pad his numbers here, give him 30 minutes if he wants 30. It can olly help him & Timberwolves will sell more tickets & jerseys, lots of casual fans will go see McGrady play. T-Mac prolly is not the direction team is headed in but if everyone wins for half a year why not...Rambis has to approve something like this though.

We dont exactly run an offense that encourages a player to pad his stats. And if they allow McGrady to come in and chuck up shots then i am not sure how that helps the wolves and their development in the triangle offense. I am perfectly fine with him taking some of Brewer's shots, but if we wanted someone to run the offense by letting him dominate the ball...we would let Flynn come in and play like he wants to...

If we can say there is no long term detriment to bringing him in to 'win for half a year' than that is ok. It just seems like a big risk, for someone with his injuries, recent attitude, and potential agenda of getting 'himself' a new contract. But you are right, he would probably sell some tickets and Glen would like that.

Also, how much do you want the wolves to win this year? I am all for making the team better, but is it better in the long run to let McGrady find his game here or is it better that we get a better shot at a high lottery pick. If McGrady wants to stay here after next year, than great, lets do the deal...but otherwise what is the benefit to us long term?

[horaceworthy]

idk, I think it sends a good message to the rest of the players, "We're serious about acquiring the talent we need to win" - something that moves like the Alando Tucker acquisition (as much as I love him) do not.

I'm not sure acquiring a player that's openly quit on two teams sends that message either.

[Krapinsky]

idk, I think it sends a good message to the rest of the players, "We're serious about acquiring the talent we need to win" - something that moves like the Alando Tucker acquisition (as much as I love him) do not.

I'm not sure acquiring a player that's openly quit on two teams sends that message either.

I don't know, something tells me he's been humbled at this point. I would like to give him a shot. He's led several teams to the playoffs that weren't any better than the Wolves teams with Garnett. This season, even if he surprises and plays exceedingly well, I don't see us falling any further than 6th in the lottery. If he fits we look to resign him, if he doesn't we let him walk and lose nothing.

[horaceworthy]

Weren't those Orlando teams playing in an Eastern Conference that was ridiculously weak at the time? And didn't he end up quitting on them just as he would later quit on the Rockets? I'm not saying that giving him a shot would be the worst thing in the world, I just don't see it as sending the message to our youngsters that we're willing to bring in the talent we need to win. I see it potentially sending the message that you only need to make an effort in your contract year, and/or that it's okay to throw in the towel when the going gets rocky. I see the potential upside (particularly for Glen Taylor's wallet), I'd just rather let another team roll the dice.

All that being said, he intrigues me as a free agent option given that I don't expect teams to be clamoring for him, he might be available at a sizable enough discount that it mitigates some risk, he's only 30 (just 2 years older than Joe Johnson), and, as you said, he may have been humbled.

[wolves_fan_82au]

if t-mac re-signed i would love him to be at the wolves
c-Jefferson pf-Love sf-T-Mac sg-Turner pg Rubio 6th man Flynn pretty good side in 2011,2012

[Krapinsky]

Weren't those Orlando teams playing in an Eastern Conference that was ridiculously weak at the time? And didn't he end up quitting on them just as he would later quit on the Rockets? I'm not saying that giving him a shot would be the worst thing in the world, I just don't see it as sending the message to our youngsters that we're willing to bring in the talent we need to win. I see it potentially sending the message that you only need to make an effort in your contract year, and/or that it's okay to throw in the towel when the going gets rocky. I see the potential upside (particularly for Glen Taylor's wallet), I'd just rather let another team roll the dice.

All that being said, he intrigues me as a free agent option given that I don't expect teams to be clamoring for him, he might be available at a sizable enough discount that it mitigates some risk, he's only 30 (just 2 years older than Joe Johnson), and, as you said, he may have been humbled.

Yeah, he asked to be traded from Orlando, but how has he quit on the Rockets?

[Iommi]

Wait, really? Did you watch him last year? He played uninspired, sulky ball for awhile, then announced he was having season ending surgery without informing anyone involved in the Rockets organization. Bill Simmons (not the most credible source, but he nailed this one) had this to say:

"And by the way, nobody loves basketball more than me. I mean, NOBODY. But when an NBA player with two years remaining on his contract for a total of $44 million shows up for the season out of shape, complains most of the year, lets down his teammates and fans again and again, lands in some trade rumors and decides, “Instead of getting traded to a team I don’t like, I’m going to announce that I’m getting microfracture surgery four days before the trade deadline and kill any potential trade, and even better, I’ll be healed by next spring, just in time to showcase myself for another contract,” and successfully pulls this off — with no repercussions from anybody — then yes, the system is broken and needs to be fixed. Because that was disgusting. Tracy McGrady, you are officially indefensible for the rest of eternity. Even your cousin Vince wouldn’t have done that. And that’s saying something."

[Vega06]

Yeah, he asked to be traded from Orlando, but how has he quit on the Rockets?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjbkXewxlGI

[Esohny]

Nice clip.

[horaceworthy]

Yeah, he asked to be traded from Orlando, but how has he quit on the Rockets?

He's mailed in much of the past two seasons, at least the parts he's been on the floor for. Then, when he decides he wants to put together a contract run, he announces his return without discussing it with the team. When he doesn't get the minutes he wants, his representatives asked the Rockets for a trade.

Also, it wasn't just asking to be traded in Orlando. He's since admitted to going Vince Carter circa Toronto, 2004 while there.

Like I said, I see the potential benefits of bringing him in (and I'm not wholly averse to it), but moving for a player soon to be on the wrong side of 30, with a history of dogging it, may not be the same after microfracture, and who's asked to be traded from two teams isn't a no-brainer.