Threads / Is Tracy McGrady a bust in Houston?
« Older
Happy Birthday Owner! (EST)
Are these Rockets the real deal? Newer »
He's missed 125 games in his six seasons with the Rockets and is now 30. He's making 23.2 million this year regardless if he plays or not but the Rockets can get insurance reimbursement if they don't play him from here on out. Much dissension between T Mac and Rockets head coach Rick Adelman. The team went deep into the playoffs last year without him and is 7-5 right now without him in this early NBA season.
So, is Tracy McGrady a bust in Houston thus far? I say absolutely even though injuries are not his fault, they're not the fault of the organization neither.
, PA
It depends on the angle. I'm sure the management/ownership would view it as such because they want and need results so no matter how they arrived at lack of results, it is still what it is. Dunno if the Houston fanbase would see it that way though.
I understand. I look at what a player has done when getting his opportunity to perform. Injuries, it's just bad luck.
Agreed. Man dude, your Saints are tearing up the league! Might just be their year...I hope they carry the momentum into the playoffs. :)
Home field advantage is the key. The only team I'm worried about facing outside of New Orleans is the Vikings. It will be difficult to go into Minnesota and beat them. Can, they? Sure, they got the talent to do so. But I'd rather have them in the Dome.
Sometimes it's bad luck. Often it's tied to a player's conditioning, especially in the case of guys like McGrady with multiple recurring injuries. There's a real art to taking care of your body. Ask Karl Malone.
Karl Malone was a great example of work ethic. I haven't ever read or heard of T-Mac being a slacker though.
He's certainly been a disappointment but I wouldn't say he's a bust. The Rockets got a pretty sweet deal to get McGrady. The main pieces going to Orlando were Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley. Neither of which was any good at that point and neither is still in the league so it's not as if the Rockets traded away a future superstar PG to get him or anything.
They still paid him an arm and leg for salary. Dunno if he would even be considered a better catch than them two because Mobley did some nice things. Not saying Francis & Mobley are even in T-Mac's league but they did (for the most part) what was expected of them. Bust is always a foul word to use I understand but clearly Tracy has struggled to deliver on any of the expectations of him in Houston. Unfortunately injury has played a huge part in his in-effectiveness.
I think a big reason for the injuries is the heavy workload he had to handle in his younger years is really taking its toll on him. It's not often that a guy plays 27,000 minutes before his 30th birthday.
Good point but not so uncommon these days with so many high schoolers making that move to the NBA. Kobe has a similar scenario but has endured. Injuries are a tough thing because anyone can get injured and then if it happens more than once you get labeled.
My bet is McGrady will get his walking papers after this season and land some where else next year with a much reduced salary.
My bet is McGrady will get his walking papers after this season and land some where else next year with a much reduced salary.
True. A lot of these guys that came into the league at a young age are breaking down earlier for pretty much this reason. Even KG's breaking down and if I was a Celtics fan I'd be really worried about that knee because the Celtics can forget about an 18th title if KG has to sit out the playoffs again.
Kobe's an interesting case. He's gotten to the point where I kind of expect him to start declining and follow the same path as McGrady (not to T-Mac's extreme obviously). But he plays hurt and his conditioning is great and that's a credit to Kobe for not only being able to log the heavy minutes but continue to be extremely productive in doing so.
And I agree about McGrady. I'm not sure how many years he has left on his deal but if this isn't his last year the Rockets should really buyout whatever is left of his contract. They have some good, young pieces there and McGrady's really just a detriment at this point.
Kobe's an interesting case. He's gotten to the point where I kind of expect him to start declining and follow the same path as McGrady (not to T-Mac's extreme obviously). But he plays hurt and his conditioning is great and that's a credit to Kobe for not only being able to log the heavy minutes but continue to be extremely productive in doing so.
And I agree about McGrady. I'm not sure how many years he has left on his deal but if this isn't his last year the Rockets should really buyout whatever is left of his contract. They have some good, young pieces there and McGrady's really just a detriment at this point.
I have a friend that knows Mike Miller. Miller played in Orlando with McGrady and is very good friends with Tracy. They used to hang out together in the off season all the time before both got married. He said Miller always commented on McGrady's body structure. Said he has tender limbs that have small, slender bone structure. I'd bet that had something to do perhaps with his injury prone career.
I would have to agree with you. It's not his fault on the injuries but when a team is paying a guy like that and he doesn't win a single playoff game for you then it has to hurt.
i don't consider him as a bust in Houston. yes he was way better in Orlando, but i don't really consider being injured makes him a bust.
His Orlando days were a long time ago. The 6 long years he's been in Houston are what are ailing his career. He had moments where he shined but the injuries unfortunately hampered his efforts. I think because of the injuries he has been a bust of sorts in Houston. They will rid themselves of him after this season most likely feeling cheated.
good point...but at least it is better than letting him play injured which may lead to him playing badly and giving him a bad rep. Also, it could be worse for Houston. They could get someone else that messes up their team chemistry like Iverson or Marbury. So I don't think it really is that bad. I also think that McGrady did pretty well in those games he played with the Rockets.
Sad but true. When McGrady has been available he has done very well and hasn't caused the type of problems that a Marbury or Iverson have. Very good point.
I wouldn't say bust but he is just another player on the list of talented but couldn't stay healthy. Too bad because the guy has all the tools to be a great player but he just can't stay healthy. He has the worst injury a basketball player can have and that is a bad back.
No he's not a bust,but at this point he's not as relavant as he once was.Seriously,I got this guy who knows Tracy and he told me that one of the reasons his back was hurting him so much was due to excessive sex.I'm not making that up.I've never had the privilige of excessive sex,but if that were the case Wilt Chamberlain would have been riding in a scooter in his later years.
Evidently, (from what I read) he went and had some things done surgically without the team's consent. He didn't use the physician the team assigned and didn't ask and that is where the trust was breached.
i would say that was a big no no by tracey,the rocket cant even trade him,becuase of the injury,so i would say you are rite,he is a busted,him a yoa have killed them with thier injurys
Must be extremely tough for him to swallow also. 23.2 million this year had to ease that hurt though. :)
it to bad they both were never health at the same time ,if so the rocket would have been one hell of a team,it to bad the rocket are lossing that kind of money
The money is part of the reason the Rockets want him to sit and heal. They get insurance monies from here on out (after the 42nd game missed) to cover his salary for the rest of the season. So they're off the hook for his salary for the remainder of the season under these circumstances.
well im glad something has work out in thier favor with tmac,it to bad he was injury,he was a very good player,he would have help them win alot more game and help ticket sales
Yea for sure. It's never been his on court perfomance that was in question. But now chemistry is the question because the Rockets are winning without him. We'll see buzz.
, NY
Starting to look like his days in Houston are over and according to at least 1 rumor he may be the reason the Knicks were not interested in A.I. Apparently the Knicks are interested in T-Mac:
http://www.newsday.com/columnists/alan-hahn/hahn-mcgrady-can-be-had-but-it-ll-cost-knicks-1.1615327
Eddy Curry & his expiring contract would play a big part in the trade. This year Eddy replaces Yao, next year he's off the books.
http://www.newsday.com/columnists/alan-hahn/hahn-mcgrady-can-be-had-but-it-ll-cost-knicks-1.1615327
Eddy Curry & his expiring contract would play a big part in the trade. This year Eddy replaces Yao, next year he's off the books.
That would be a dream for this Houston fan. Get an overpaid center (a real center not a PF pretending to be a center) in exchange for an injury prone 2/3 that we don't need. It could make Houston a real problem in the West. And the bonus is we still have an expiring contract for next year to add a piece when Yao returns. If I could only be so lucky.
It might explain why Houston is refusing to play Tmac. Houston blogs are filled with fans unable to understand why he isn't at least hitting the floor with the second squad to get some limited minutes on his newly repaired knee.
Houston needs size and doesn't need Tmac. Sounds like this could solve both problems without making any long term commitments.
I will be watching and hoping.
It might explain why Houston is refusing to play Tmac. Houston blogs are filled with fans unable to understand why he isn't at least hitting the floor with the second squad to get some limited minutes on his newly repaired knee.
Houston needs size and doesn't need Tmac. Sounds like this could solve both problems without making any long term commitments.
I will be watching and hoping.
You define a bust based on what you get from the player vs what you paid the player. In Tmac's case, he is clearly a bust. He is the top payed player in the NBA this season and has not even walked out on the floor yet. So we have gotten zero and paid the highest price possible.
This is also true for his entire stint in Houston. When you look at how much he has been paid while wearing a Rockets jersey vs where he has taken the team, once again he is a bust. Or you could look at how much time he is available to play vs what he is paid......bust.
I do not see how you could view him as anything other than a bust. It does not matter if it is due to injuries or not. The fact is Houston is paying out the nose for a guy that is rarely available to play. It may not be his fault but Houston still is not getting what they paid for.
This is also true for his entire stint in Houston. When you look at how much he has been paid while wearing a Rockets jersey vs where he has taken the team, once again he is a bust. Or you could look at how much time he is available to play vs what he is paid......bust.
I do not see how you could view him as anything other than a bust. It does not matter if it is due to injuries or not. The fact is Houston is paying out the nose for a guy that is rarely available to play. It may not be his fault but Houston still is not getting what they paid for.
I agree 100%. Although I must admit injuries are an unfortunate facet of a players career that they often do not control. Tracy has had his share of injuries but I agree, he has not produced regardless of why and that is how the team must see it because it is reality.
, TX
As a Rockets fan I consider him a bust. Knee-Mac was great for two years, but his injuries caused him to break down and cost the Rockets a lot of money. Him being in and out of the lineup, caused them to lose chemistry, and if he comes back, I would be skeptical as to how he will effect this team's chemistry as well.
Tough deal for Houston. Because T-Mac has produced when he's on the court. But he hasn't been on the court all that much. BUST.
- Luis Scola, are you kidding me?! by hpanic7342
- Rockets, Kings and Knicks trade update. It's final. by BKA24
- Houston Rockets might have finally got rid of T-Mac by BKA24
- Tracy McGrady by Flyinghammerlock
- Landry is gone.... that is crazy by poopyman
- Possible 3-Way deal that would send T-Mac to Chicago by cubbies19082
Related Articles
Related Polls
NBA Basketball Forum Categories
-
Top Nominees
-
Atlanta Hawks
-
Boston Celtics
-
Charlotte Bobcats
-
Chicago Bulls
-
Cleveland Cavaliers
-
Dallas Mavericks
-
Denver Nuggets
-
Detroit Pistons
-
General
-
Golden State Warriors
-
Houston Rockets
-
Indiana Pacers
-
Los Angeles Clippers
-
Los Angeles Lakers
-
Memphis Grizzlies
-
Miami Heat
-
Milwaukee Bucks
-
Minnesota Timberwolves
-
New Jersey Nets
-
New Orleans Hornets
-
New York Knicks
-
Oklahoma City Thunder
-
Orlando Magic
-
Philadelphia 76ers
-
Phoenix Suns
-
Playoffs
-
Portland Trail Blazers
-
Sacramento Kings
-
San Antonio Spurs
-
Toronto Raptors
-
Utah Jazz
-
Washington Wizards
