I think I would rather end up with Cato and Rogers because they are two guys who can fill holes on this team for years and do a good job at it. McDyess is only one player and signing him would still leave us with a huge hole at center after dream is gone.
We didn't have a choice way back when concerning McDyess becuase he didn't want to play for us. But at the time and still now, I'd rather have signed him than Pippen. I'd rather have McDyess than Cato, Rogers and Williams -- though I'm not completely unhappy with how things turned out.
Gotta go with McDyess if we were his #1 choice. I don't know if Barkley would have come back if we signed McDyess though. Who knows, if we had gone with McDyess (again if he wanted to come here)and Chuck had gone with the Lakers or another contender and didn't have to work so hard, Chuck might still be playing and in the ring hunt while we also might be in at least the playoff hunt.
If you really want to go back in time... Just think if we had given Portland Robert Horry for Clyde Drexler in '95. I think Horry is who they really wanted but we wouldn't part with Horry at that time who was looking really good (surprise he wasn't). We would have had Dream, Otis Thorpe, and Clyde. No offense to Chuck cus we came close with him but I think with OT still here and having Clyde would have been a great nucleus for years to come. By now yall know I would love another power forward like OT.