Addition by subtraction (Tmac Apologists need not click)

I'm dead certain that Les will insist that we keep our cap flexibility for that year. Ron's fate with the team will hinge on whether he agrees to a deal that keeps us a full max contract beneath the cap for 2010 (would be roughly $10M tops).
I believe we did not pursue the rumored deal with Detroit because both Billups and Prince have contracts that go across the 2010 summer and would push our commitments (with Yao) to or above the cap.
I don't think we're (or Detroit) getting any of the 2010 free agents, personally. But I do expect Les to hold firm on our cap flexibility that summer.

But if you trade up on professionalism, health, and reliability, that evens out. Get a swingman that scores 17 ppg, plays average defense, and shows up more than 75 games a year and you just broke even on what McGrady gives you. If he's someone that is willing to make cuts on offense and go to the hole at least 3 times a game, you won.

He can't shoot with range, but Iguodala would be a fine return for McGrady. Richard Jefferson would be acceptable. Gerald freaking Wallace.

People need to really stop and reflect on what McGrady's given us the last few years.

Evan

 

Excuses? Malingering? B.S.? 1st round playoff exits? Head-case off-the-court problems?

 

Iguodala can't shoot period, and would be an awful return on McGrady. Jefferson or Wallace? You may need to take your own advice. Without T-Mac Houston would have been a laughing stock the last few years. T-Mac gives us a legit shot at a championship. Switching him for any of those players would be a huge step backwards. I get that you're all angry that we're not 24-4, but come on. Patience people.

 

Houston have been a laughing stock the last few years anyway, we talked about legit shot at championship every year and never passed first round. Time to shake up.

 

Instead of the shot at a championship that you claim T-Mac gives the rockets, I'll settle for just getting past the 1st round and with T-Macs current attitude I don't really think he cares where the rockets end up at the end of the season.

 

We're not getting back an All-Star for a washed up former All-Star that misses a quarter of each season, FLAT REFUSES to move or cut without the ball, mails it in on defense, is allergic to the paint, has chronic health issues, makes $21M, and has a history of quitting on his team.

The only scorer in the top 25 that we could conceivably call about and not get laughed off the line would be Ben Gordon.

I don't care one bit that we're "only" 21-14. That's better than we've been the last few winters. I DO care that we're nursing a malcontent that's done very little in the grand scheme of things for this team, and has progressively become a worse and worse, lazier and lazier player on the court for us.

T-Mac, in NO WAY gives us a legit shot at a championship. No player with his "take the shortcuts when you see them" approach has led a city to a championship. He's repeatedly failed in the first round, sometimes because of a weak cast, other times because he took his foot off the gas after going up a couple games.

The idealized Tracy McGrady that has infatuated everyone since we got him DOES NOT EXIST. He's teased us with his ability several times each season (the SA comeback), but he either can't or won't play at that level for an entire season. He's not an elite SG/SF. He's not going to re-become an elite player again. He's Vince Carter.

Evan

 

Oh come on. I don't agree at all. With healthly Ron, Yao T-Mac yes, we have a good shot at championship, period.

But damn, he actually MAKES everyone around him BETTER. He sometimes is a ball stopper but down the stretch you wanna go to him.

a) he can make the right pass
b) he can create for himself and make a shot when it counts

 

How about he's only effective when he had the ball. He didn't set pick for others, he seldom ran without the ball, instead he just watched from 3 pt line. Did I mention he do the same thing on the defense side too?

 

I like tis man. As it seems he and I think alike. But theres one thing thats different. I suggest trading him now?

 

I agree with a) and the first half of b). Making shots... Really?

 

Bandwagon fans indeed.

Tmac is the same guy that dropped 13 on the spurs in 35 seconds and WON the game for us.

Tmac is the same guy that penetrated the defense and kicked it to Novak for the 3 point drop that led to our 22 game win streak.

Tmac is the same guy that dropped 40 points on the Jazz last year in the playoffs, when everyone else was shooting <40% <15pts.

Without Tmac, our team is just as good as the Clippers...big name players, but going nowhere. Remember what the Rox were before Tmac arrived? Garbage may be too harsh of a word...

I am not saying Tmac is the answer to a ring, but he is our best player. If you think Yao is our best player, then let Yao handle the ball without the right pass from Tmac and see him score >20pts. Hakeem Olajuwon was a superstar center that could create...but Yao, he just drops the shot, but can't make anything happen from midrange and beyond. Dream even dropped a couple 3s a year.

Yao is still an awesome center, don't get me wrong. But without better ball handlers on our team that can CREATE, tmac is our only option. Artest can penetrate the basket, but he doesnt have the court vision like Tmac, instead Artest turns it over when he passes out...hence why he is the best going straight for the basket or droppin the J...no passing.

 

I really think people are spoiled by Hakeem and Lebron. Tmac has brought alot to this team, albeit he blows right now. Unless you get something fantastic in return, you are gonna regret trading him.

 

I'm so sick of hearing about that. Yes, it was fantastic but in the grand scheme of things, it was meaningless.

 

Yeah, I regret not trading him sooner.

 

If you are going to dismiss games he won, then others can dismiss games he lost, ie the Toronto game. You have to look at total body of work and not make trade decisions based on one week of work.

That game was an example in which he did not quit, and wanted to win.

 

The problem is his good/bad game ratio is like 1 to 8.

 

About as meaningless as a 22 game win streak. He's a superstar, thats the point. No other Rocket besides Artest? could pull that off.

 

If T-Mac's decided to mail it in and play the role of team cancer then what he did in the past means squat. The idea is to win now, in the present, and that may not be possible with T-Mac doing his Statue of Liberty impression out past the three point line. Except of course that the Statue of Liberty at least has one arm up.

And it's not like the guy accomplished that much anyway.

 

signed, Orlando Magic fans in 2004.

How many Magic fans do you think are missing him today?