Jettisoning TMac

It’s a disturbing trend – former franchise players being tossed and jettisoned by their respective clubs after they can no longer produce wins, points, or people in the stands. You can even call it revenge of the club owners who at times are at the mercy of their players. Except for the purgatory that is the Los Angeles Clippers where it’s a one-way ticket to sucky town.

We’ve seen it with Stephon Marbury and Allen Iverson and the flavor of the month Tracy McGrady. If I were you Yao Ming, I would pay attention to this loaded statement by Houston Rockets coach Rick Adelman: “He’s been hurt for over a year. The thing that people want to write about is who he was two years ago and he isn’t that right now."

I hope you remember that Adelman because after your teams start to suck you get jettisoned too. Surely, you must remember Portland and Sacramento.

Yes, McGrady might not have the sunniest disposition around town but the Rockets should have handled his return better. He after all, has given the club some plenty good moments despite his inability to get the Rockets past the first round.

But the end is clearly near for McGrady, the 12-year vet who is a seven-time NBA All-Star, two-time scoring champ, and two-time All-NBA first teamer who has been slowed down by an assortment of back and knee injuries. Prior to his six appearances this season (averaging 7.7 minutes and 3.2 points), he has averaged 22.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, and 1.3 steals in 784 matches. He increased those numbers in the playoffs with 28.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 38 matches – all in the first round with Toronto, Orlando, and Houston.

Like Iverson with the Memphis Grizzlies, McGrady has been allowed to go on leave indefinitely as the club will seek options to deal him. But it isn’t easy especially with a bad economy. So is it possible that we’ve seen the last of T-Mac? And for sure, this will affect his contract with adidas.

On another note, some players tend to overestimate their worth such as Latrell Sprewell who spurned offers from Minnesota and two other clubs saying he was insulted with their offers as he had a family to feed(?). He never received another offer and is out of the NBA with all sorts of financial problems.