Tracy McGrady (Or T-Mac's Back)

I begin this post by stating point blank that Tracy McGrady is my favorite basketball player. T-Mac has long been my favorite guy to follow in the NBA, and I've been a fan through his best (leading scorer) to his worst (barely played last year, and when he played, he wasn't playing very good).

I just read an article on T-Mac. Apparently T- Mac is feeling awesome and for Rockets and T-Mac fans, that's good news.

Let's talk about T-Mac for a second. McGrady has been an elite scorer for most of the last decade. He's one of those Bryant/ Wade/ Kobe guys: a streak shooter with a knack for finishing at the rim. He's been labeled the best player never to get out of the first round, and as much superlatives are great, no one wants that title. His teams have blown plenty of playoff leads, and you have to wonder how much of that has to do with his inability to be a good leader. But I digress...

T-Mac says he will be back next season better than he has been in a long time. He's ready to be the elite player that he was. Of course, Rockets fans have heard that for the last 84 seasons, so it's hard to tell whether he's really feeling that good. I personally think he truly believes in what hes saying, and I think he really is working harder than ever.

It's pretty simple. T- Mac has been much maligned, and usually, he tries to deflect rather than defend. However, he's at a point in his career where accountability is important. He's becoming a grizzly veteran, and he probably realizes that time is no longer on his side. He came to the Rockets five years ago, and he's failed to meet a lot of expectations. He's also in the last year of his current contract and he probably realizes that a healthy, consistent season could mean big money next year. People don't realize what this guy is still capable of, and if some sort of duo featuring Wade/ Bosh/ LeBron doesn't work out, T- Mac could be a cheaper alternative. He easily has four to five years of good basketball left, and he has at least three elite years still in front of him.

An interesting season awaits Tracy McGrady and the Houston Rockets. I'll be looking forward to seeing him either become one of the league's best players or crash and burn. It's pretty crazy that either is possible, but man it makes for some good drama.

Andre Miller and the Blazers Disastrous Move

Andrew Miller is an awesome basketball player. He has court vision that very few in the NBA possess. He's a solid shooter (over 47% last year) and a really good free throw shooter (over 82% last year). He'll get you more 'bounds than the average guard. He's a seasoned veteran.

Oh yeah, and he's also 33 and a terrible pickup for the Portland Trailblazers.

Look, Miller is an excellent option on a lot of teams. And honestly the 7 million a year he's being offered is not that bad compared to what some players get. However, Miller is not a good fit for the Trailblazers. The Trailblazers have been going very young. Their defacto leader Brandon Roy just turned 25. Miller is 33, and I'm pretty sure he's headed for a decline.

The point is, a 3 year deal for Miller doesn't make sense. I would have understood a one year offer to make sure you have some short- term flexibility and you're not locked to this guy for 3 years. But 3 years? Even if Miller somehow plays at the level he has for two years, his third year will not be so pretty. Three years from now is when most of the Blazers players will hit their prime, and they'll need a point guard who "grew up" with them. Miller's going to be 36 by the time that season starts, and inevitably he'll at least start declining (if he hasn't already hit the wall).

Come on Blazers. In the words of Marc Jackson, Yo betta than that.