Chicago Bulls 'Unlikely' To Sign Tracy McGrady
What a shocker.
Tracy McGrady did not make the Chicago Bulls feel like he was ready to accept a secondary position with the team. After speaking like he was already apart of the team, McGrady didn't make anyone feel that way.
"I think we (the Bulls) can be really good," McGrady said. "I really do."
When asked about coming off the bench McGrady had this to say:
"I won't have a problem, but that's not what I'm really shooting for. I think, yeah, if I was the player that I was in a Knicks uniform [at the end of last season], I would have no problem coming off the bench. But I've worked extremely hard and I'm far from being that player. Trust me. It's up to me in training camp to prove I'm a starter."
Okay, you aren't coming off too well, Tracy.
How about a more humble quote?
"Without me, without Boozer, they're a .500 ball club," McGrady said. "And with the guys that they added, if they add me, I think we'll be 30 points better. I think we'll be a better defensive team with Thibodeau, who I played with for three years [in Houston]. So [the Bulls] have a really good chance of being good. The city should be excited about this team."
Okay, not so much. So you plan on scoring 30 points off the bench, right?
Anyone with ears and/or eyes can see McGrady is not ready to be apart of a team rather than be a highlight.
Apparently, the Bulls noticed it too.
Although his Monday audition proved he was fine physically, McGrady was unable to convince the Bulls he was ready to take on a secondary position, which is one of two prerequisites McGrady must prove in order to receive a deal from Chicago.
According to a source for ESPN, after the workout and interview, McGrady becoming a Bull was downgraded to "unlikely." Another source confirmed the meeting after the workout is what really turned the Bulls off.
Going into the workout Monday, McGrady knew he had to show the Bulls he was healthy and willing to take on a new role, one Tom Thibodeau would assign him. Even knowing these two demands, McGrady seems unable to accept it.
Although the Bulls are short of proven scoring at the wing position, the team may be hesitant to gamble on bringing in a player of McGrady's ego, even with a contract that is not guaranteed.
McGrady averaged 9.4 points, 3.9 assists and 26.1 minutes in 24 starts for the Knicks, who acquired McGrady from Houston in a three-way trade in February.
McGrady has the recommendation of Derrick Rose. Thibodeau is also well aware of what McGrady can do, coaching him as an assistant coach in Houston.
Whether McGrady can learn to accept a smaller role is what will make or break him getting a deal from Chicago and he's running out of options, seeing as the L.A. Clippers committed to bringing back Rasual Butler.
