NBA: Los Angeles Lakers and Tracy McGrady
The Los Angeles Lakers might have kept low in the free-agency, with not much news circulating the franchise. Despite the fact Lakers won two NBA titles in last two years, the team is trying to improve their roster by adding more depth to it. They have upgraded the bench by signing on Matt Barnes and giving an extension to Derek Fisher who is the team’s star point guard; this addition has filled in the holes that were created by Jordan Farmer and Josh Powell.
However this year’s champions continue to look for players who could strengthen their guard depth and bench depth. There have been reoccurring speculations about Tracy McGrady joining the Lakers for the 2011 playoffs.
Experts say this could be a great move both for the Lakers and McGrady, who has been with the NBA since past 13 years and is still without a championship ring and has been unable to pass the 1st round of the playoffs. McGrady is now 31 years of age and has joined three teams who put their faith in him, thinking he would help them in winning the next title but sadly that has not happened.
On the other hand rumours have it, Lakers are finding it hard to deal with Luke Walton who plays as their backup forward. Luke has suffered from multiple back injuries, sadly for the team there are still three years remaining on his contract. Experts say McGrady might be injury prone as well but it does not matter how many minutes are given to him as he makes sure he scores according to the time limit, and he could be a perfect insurance policy for Walton. The fact that Luke’s contract almost makes him an immovable object puts Lakers in a serious bind.
Basketball enthusiasts say Kobe Bryant and Tracy are close friends, and this will definitely help keep McGrady’s ego intact if he moves to the ego-bruising bench. Also looking back into history Bryant is not the same player he used to be a decade ago; selfish and keeping an arrogant attitude towards his teammates but now he has developed into a true leader and keeps his team motivated through thick and thin. Experts conclude that if McGrady wants to remain longer in the league he needs the same sort of leader and adjustments.
Tracy McGrady is a threat whether he is inside the perimeter or outside, with his excellent ball handling and fade away he is considered to be a legitimate mean machine. Tracy McGrady’s height helps him to play at different positions, and his sheer strength helps him catch rebounds as well. Lakers have shown signs of welcoming aboard players who are good at catching rebounds this offseason; one of their picks this season was Theo Ratliff who plays as a power forward and centre.
Due to McGrady’s history of getting injured every year, slowing down his team will not be the problem if he joins Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers already have a starter Kobe Bryant as their shooting guard and Pau Gasol who holds the reigns for the centre position.
However, the question that was on every basketball enthusiast was, if Tracy will be okay about being considered as a back-up with minimum minutes on court? The question was answered by Tracy via Twitter a social networking site, where he said that he will be okay with spending time on the bench as long as he wins a championship title.
One thing the Lakers have that no franchise in the NBA has “Zen Master” Phil Jackson. Phil has 11 championships underneath his belt and has motivated and moulded average players into world class athletes. Basketball pundits say Tracy might have come-off as a ruthless player but over time he has lost that cutting edge persona due to several injures and one coach who could really mentor the deteriorating star is Phil Jackson. Jackson has tamed players like Ron Artest and moulded an egotistical player like Kobe Bryant into a leader. Experts say Phil has the ability to draw out whatever potential is left in the 31 year old player.
We have seen over the years in every sport, teams win and lose championships. Whatever the case might be they do not take a break on laurels but they change their roster which means sometimes letting go of the players who aided them into winning a title. Franchises need to evolve and equate by adding fresh new faces and egos. Lakers welcoming Tracy McGrady aboard could possibly add up to their recipe of winning the championship making it into a better formula.
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