McGrady headed to Detroit

[Andrew]

Source

Seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady(notes) has reached agreement on a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Detroit Pistons, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

After impressing Pistons president Joe Dumars, coach John Kuester and the Detroit training staff in a workout late last week, the Pistons became more serious about signing the free-agent forward.

After internal discussions over the weekend, and conversations on Monday with agent Arn Tellem, the Pistons and McGrady came to terms on what team officials believe is a low-risk, high-reward proposition: McGrady, 31, a full year removed from micro-fracture surgery on his left knee, will play for the NBA’s veteran’s minimum. After saying all the wrong things and turning off the Chicago Bulls, McGrady sold the Pistons on his willingness to play whatever role asked of him off the Detroit bench, sources said.

Emphasis is mine. Clearly, there were no guarantees or even a good chance of a starting role out there.

It's not a terrible signing because there's really no risk involved. It's one year at the veteran's minimum, if they need to cut him loose they can otherwise he's gone at the end of the season. If he can be half the player he was and his health holds up for at least 70 games or so then he'll be a solid role player which will make it a decent signing to get the Pistons through the year. It's nothing to get excited about but it can't really blow up in Detroit's face either.

[mynameisgerd]

True, true. But who knows, T-Mac might drop some pretty good numbers and might be a great consideration for 6M. But that's only gonna happen if his health holds on like you said. I wish Iverson the best too..

[George7]

Couldn't we do it?
I mean,for that price,T-Mac would be a great option for the Bulls,and despite going good at Bulls' workout too,they didn't offered him a contract.
He would be more helpful than Bogans is IMO

Nice move for the Pistons,especially cause of the salary and duration.Low risk ,good choice

[Alpha_]

wew Detroit will force to move Hamilton..

[Modifly]

I wish my favourite player nothing but the best. It'll be hard to see him come off the bench, but that's life.

[Martti.]

It would be interesting to see how he will fit in his new role. I hope he does well.

[NovU]

This guy's no Grant Hill but Anfernee Hardaway. I think that's the reason why so many better teams turned him down.

[shadowgrin]

This guy's no Grant Hill but Anfernee Hardaway.

What the hell does that even mean?

T-Mac might drop some pretty good numbers and might be a great consideration for 6M. But that's only gonna happen if his health holds on like you said.

No, he won't. What made you think he'll even be the sixth man for the Pistons? Assuming everyone is healthy for the Pistons...

The Pistons plan to use McGrady as part of their rotation of wing players, which includes Richard Hamilton, Ben Gordon, Austin Daye and Charlie Villanueva

There's also Tayshaun Prince. There's also the awesome sauce that is Will Bynum.
T-Mac is no 6th man with the Pistons.

[rise]

Tyshaun Prince might not be with Detroit much longer, there's talk of moving him.

[NovU]

This guy's no Grant Hill but Anfernee Hardaway.

What the hell does that even mean.

That he's not likely to make a good come back from the injury.

[Axel The Great]

The best for T-Mac. His good years with Orlando and Houston are over, but hopefully he can withstand injuries and become a good role player. Predicting him 6th man of the year is overrating him way too much.

[Lamrock]

Iverson to Memphis 2.0. This deal couldn't make less sense., The Pistons already have Suckey, Rip, Gordon, Prince, Jerebko and Daye at the swingman positions so they bring in a washed-up T-Mac to take minutes away from their developing players.

Turrible.

[Martti.]

It's also weird, because I believe T-Mac wanted to be on a contender.

[Lamrock]

Maybe some second-tier team like Atlanta will take notice of his 20 PPG (30% shooting) season and give him a contract next summer

[Killer Crossover aka OG]

Nice move for both I think T-Mac's time is as good as over, but wish all the best for him

[Rip32]

This has to mean Rip is going to be moved... it just has to. There's been talk of moving him and Tayshaun for months and that's not ging to change. Tayshaun isn't going to be sold off, he's an expiring contract that can actually help a good team. That's Dumars' ace in teh hole, hoping that he can get some sort of impact player (or expiring contract) in exchange for Tay.

I mean, don't get me wrong, Rip Hamilton can still be a resourceful guy too. I don't think he should be anywhere close to your primary option on offense, but he can be a support player on a good team and, if his ego shrinks to a reasonable level, a solid scorer off the bench.

As much as NBA fans hate to hear about the impending lock-out, it sort of helps the Pistons' rebuilding efforts. A team isn't going to want to pay Hamilton's obscene contract as it is today, but knowing they might be only have to pay half (or none) of his 2011-12 salary depending on how long the lock-out lasts will make a difference.

To put it simply, they need to send Rip and Tay packing, move Stuckey to shooting guard full-time, and start to build a normal team that doesn't consist of 15 small forwards.

All that said, T-Mac may be a helpful guy if they move one or both of the two vets. I really don't think he's not going to hurt the team's chemistry-- I think. The Allen Iverson comparison is plausible, but Iverson is a totally different monster than McGrady. Iverson's ego and personality have always been larger than life, and sometimes, larger than the team. That kind of cancerous behavior can really deter a team, and that's exactly what happened to every Iverson team outside 2001.

I honestly don't think McGrady has any sort of Iverson-like swagger or ego left at this point. If you remember the peak of his career (let's say, game four of the 2003 Eastern Conference First Round), he was a young and cocky star that looking ahead to his second round opponent. Well the Magic led the Pistons 3-1 at that point and ended up collapsing in game seven. Really, after the Pistons roared back in that series and sent the McGrady packing his career totally changed course.

He had some nice moments in Houston, but nothing like he, the media, or the Rockets would have expected. He's been injured, robbed of his athleticism. He's been exposed as unnecessary, shown by the Rockets (finally) getting out of the first round without him.

He's just looking to rebound on a once-promising career. He's not much different than Antonio McDyess when he came to Detroit. Both were shadows of their former selves, but if McGrady can somehow swallow his pride like Dyess did (not to say Dyess was ever like McGrady, but I digress) he can find a niche with Detroit this year and maybe latch on with a contender next season.

[benji]

This has to mean Rip is going to be moved... it just has to. There's been talk of moving him and Tayshaun for months and that's not ging to change.

And in Rip's case that's all it's going to stay as, talk.

Also:

A second source said Sunday that Detroit won't move Prince unless he requests a trade.

Have faith, Dumars will screw this up. Daye, Jerebko, Maxiell and Wilcox plus a first rounder to Cleveland for Antawn Jamison.

[Rip32]

I'm banking on another 16-26 start to get those feelings rolling.

and that trade? you are a facetious downer

[Kenny]

I don't like the signing if it means they move Rip.

[Lamrock]

Why? Because there's a 1-in-29 chance he and his contract will land on the Nuggets?

[Cleveland wins]

I would love to see McGrady play small forward behind Prince, because the pistons i think have enough gaurds, and they could use another veteran at small forward.

[NovU]

I think he won't have a good comeback at all. He was hoping to go to the contenders but all of them passed on him. There should have been good reasons. Perhaps, he's not humbled yet, or injury still is an issue or even both. I am thinking he'll be a distraction for the team regardless he plays well or not.

Anyways, that leaves Iverson. Wonder which team will pick him up. I think Olympiako or Marbury's team would be a good destination if he wants a major role. Or he's humbled now.

[Andrew]

The Sixers are probably Iverson's best hope and they're likely still a long shot.

[shadowgrin]

Bobcats need a PG other than Augustin and Livingston. Save Iverson Larry Brown!

[Lamrock]

Perhaps Kahn gave away Al Jeff to clear cap space to give AI a big deal?