If bought-out, Cavs option for McGrady

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for the vet min hes worth it as long as he's not more concerned about showing people he can still be the man.

And that's the problem - all indications out of Houston indicate he thinks he's still the man. If he can't get burn on a no-nonsense Rockets team desperate for depth, there's no way he's any good to a contender this year. This isn't Powe, a guy who says all the right things and puts the work in. This is McGrady, a guy who says the wrong things and wants to start more than he wants to play. I just don't see it this year, he's not humbled enough.

 

[BruceBowensFoot]

I've been going through some of these posts and... really? People actually want McGrady on this team/are afraid of him playing for another contender?

Really?

...

REALLY?

 

[Mdog1]

I've been going through some of these posts and... really? People actually want McGrady on this team/are afraid of him playing for another contender?

Really?

...

REALLY?

I'm not advocating TMac. But he is a good player, and he is dynamic when he is on. Even though he hasn't made it out of the first, he stil plays really well in the playoffs far exceeding his regular season numbers in almost every category. Here TMac would only have to drop some threes and play solid D on the wings while Anthony Parker got some rest and Delonte wasn't on. As for people being afraid of him going to other teams, why? Most contenders already have better 2/3s than TMac. Denver does in JR and Melo, LAL does in Kobe/Ron, Orlando could use him at the 3, but I doubt that one happens, Boston has Ray/Pierce and that to me is his most likely destination.

 

[Ziggie123]

T-Mac can no longer play at anywhere near the level he once was capable of. In the few minutes he has played this year he has shown he can't play. Unless he shows Ferry more than he has shown so far since his recovery from knee surgery, I would much rather get a legitimate SG like a Mike Miller (I know he is supposedly not available and has a $10 million dollar contract but someone like that).

 

[Green Lantern]

I don't see how this happens if Z gets bought out and returns.

Our current roster:
1. LeBron
2. Shaq
3. Mo
4. AV
5. JJ
6. AP
7. Moon
8. Delonte
9. Boobie
10. Jawad
11. Powe
12. Green
13. DJ
14. Antawn
15. Telfair

So right now, we don't even have space for Z. I assume we would cut DJ to make room for him again. We re-sign Z, we're back to 15.

Who do you cut? Telfair? Would be an expensive buy-out. Then you have to pay TMAC on top of that. And remember Gilbert has to pay double for any additional signings. If Z gets the BAE, that's $2M in luxury tax plus whatever he would make pro-rated for the rest of the year. A $1M contract for TMAC costs Gilbert $1M in luxury tax plus pro-rated salary. Buying out Telfair's going to cost quite a bit, too.

That said, I think I would do that. But it seems complicated and reliant on Telfair even allowing us to buy him out.

Easy..U dump Telfair..and stop trying to think of trade senero's people..thats idiotic..McGrady would be BOUGHT OUT and could go where ever he wanted.

 

[Frank Stallone]

DBlock and Powe for Z and t-mac.. Get it done Ferry!

Wow...that is the worst trade proposal...ever. It doesn't make sense common sense or basketball knowledge wise.

Anyways, Id be for bringing him if he would contribute. A good McGrady is an All Star obviously. I just wouldn't want to see him come and ride the bench all year then get a ring if we win a title.

Can he dance?

 

[APW2914]

If you can get him for the minimum. There is no reason to not sign him. If he sucks, we don't have to play him. If he becomes a problem, we can cut him. Huge upside with no risk. Send a couple guys down to the D-League. Re-Sign Z and add McGrady to the bench.

 

[sailfish]

I would love to see the Cavaliers acquire T-Mac. He would be an instant upgrade at SG. Unfortunately, it sounds like there's a very good chance that T-Mac gets re-routed to New York today, as the Knicks are desperate to clear cap room.

Besides, the Cavaliers are at 15 roster spots currently and they're going to have to waive someone just to bring Z back. So sign Z AND T-Mac would mean waiving two players with guaranteed contracts. I just can't see that.

 

[Nicky_Sats]

If someone would have told me 5 years ago we would end up with Shaq and potentially McGrady, I'd drug test you.

 

[Brandname]

I pretty much think McGrady is definitely finished as a star in this league, and probably a starter as well. But if you're thinking about picking him up to compete for minutes with Jawad Williams and Jamario Moon? Well I think you gotta definitely look into that.

The thing he does that none of our bench players aside from Delonte (and maybe Boobie a little bit) do is pass the ball extremely well. He's used to being a primary ball handler and play maker, which means at the very least that he's experienced with making decisions as the primary focal point of the offense. You can take away his athleticism, but that's something that he still probably has. If he could come in and give some quality Delonte-like minutes now and again, I'd take that any day.

 

[Walter White]

Don't forget who is the biggest advocate for this and brought up this scenario along time ago during the season You guys remember my T Mac avatar.

 

[Lee]

No one knows what t-mac has left. He got in a fued with management over in Houston. Do we bring him in for a conversation and a work out? Sure, thats called being a good GM. Do we sign him? Depends on his work out and how the convo went. I am not a t-mac fan what so ever, not even when healthy. That being said, it is Ferry's job to look at all angles, and t-mac is possibly one of those angles.

 

[rapidfire23]

If T-Mac gets buy out with Kings, he privately hopes to sign with Lakers or Cavaliers for the playoffs, source close to him tells Y!

No evidence Lakers would have interest, but Danny Ferry kept an eye on T-Mac this season. That said, unclear if either team would want him.

While McGrady is obviously a more talented player that Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon or Jawad Williams, he's also a guy who is accustomed to playing with the ball in his hands.

90% of the time our shooting guards play WITHOUT controlling the basketball - as Mo, LeBron or Delonte are doing the ball handling.

Despite the fact that bringing in McGrady would be a risk that could disrupt team chemistry, he doesn't really fit the prototype for what the Cavaliers look for at that position.

My guess, and its only a guess, is that the "source close to McGrady" (McGrady's agent?) made this comment as a way to force the Knicks hand. Its been reported multiple times that McGrady would like to go to New York . With the Knicks dithering over lottery protection for the 2012 draft pick they would surrender to the Rockets in a TMac deal, its likely that his agent simply put this out to try to push the Knicks into making the trade.

Remember this - if the Knicks TRADE for McGrady he NOT ONLY provides them with a large expiring contract but they would also acquire his Bird Rights. This is important, as if NY strikes out on singing TWO max-level free agents this offseason, and if TMac performs well over the last 30 games, he becomes a secondary option for NY and they would be able to exceed the salary cap to sign him due to owning his Bird Rights.

If McGrady is bought out, whatever team he signs with would NOT obtain his Bird Rights, as they disappear when a player becomes a free agent. TMac would then be looking at receiving no more than the mid-level exception this offseason, at best.

Therefore it is absolutely in Tracy McGrady's best interest to be TRADED to the New York Knicks, and the rumors that he'd like to sign with LA or Cleveland are most likely made in an effort to influence the Knicks decision making.

Just my guess...

 

[Lee]

While McGrady is obviously a more talented player that Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon or Jawad Williams, he's also a guy who is accustomed to playing with the ball in his hands.

90% of the time our shooting guards play WITHOUT controlling the basketball - as Mo, LeBron or Delonte are doing the ball handling.

Despite the fact that bringing in McGrady would be a risk that could disrupt team chemistry, he doesn't really fit the prototype for what the Cavaliers look for at that position.

My guess, and its only a guess, is that the "source close to McGrady" (McGrady's agent?) made this comment as a way to force the Knicks hand. Its been reported multiple times that McGrady would like to go to New York . With the Knicks dithering over lottery protection for the 2012 draft pick they would surrender to the Rockets in a TMac deal, its likely that his agent simply put this out to try to push the Knicks into making the trade.

Remember this - if the Knicks TRADE for McGrady he NOT ONLY provides them with a large expiring contract but they would also acquire his Bird Rights. This is important, as if NY strikes out on singing TWO max-level free agents this offseason, and if TMac performs well over the last 30 games, he becomes a secondary option for NY and they would be able to exceed the salary cap to sign him due to owning his Bird Rights.
If McGrady is bought out, whatever team he signs with would NOT obtain his Bird Rights, as they disappear when a player becomes a free agent. TMac would then be looking at receiving no more than the mid-level exception this offseason, at best.

Therefore it is absolutely in Tracy McGrady's best interest to be TRADED to the New York Knicks, and the rumors that he'd like to sign with LA or Cleveland are most likely made in an effort to influence the Knicks decision making.

Just my guess...

You are way off on this. They will have cap space. His last years contract plus 10%? will be the cap hold to keep his birds rights. Even as dumb as the Knicks are, they will surely renoucne his rights to make sure they have the max amount of money available to sign a free agent.

You are way off on your understanding of the current colective bargaining agreement. Birds rights are only useful to teams currently over the cap.

 

[rapidfire23]

Thanks for the clarification Lee...

Now that I look at it again, you're absolutely right. My understanding of Bird Rights was off - I forgot about cap holds, which obviously is a huge oversight on my part.

I still believe the ultimate premise of my thought process was correct - the comments coming from McGrady's camp are meant to force the Knicks into making the deal. No matter what - NY trading for TMac is better for him than a buyout. If he's bought out he loses money. If he gets traded to NY he doesn't lose a dime and he's pretty much guaranteed playing time and an opportunity to prove his worth once again.

At the end of the day, I'm thinking any interest TMac expressed in the Cavs or Lakers is a smokescreen coming from McGrady. You haven't heard anything from anyone surrounding the Cavs or Lakers say a word about Tracy McGrady, other than Danny Ferry "keeping an eye" on him this season.

Now, I shall return to salary cap school, where I obviously still have some work to do...