Tracy McGrady has spent the last few years playing half a season and spending the other half on the injured reserve list. His left knee has been surgically repaired multiple times.  Knee injuries are a very serious deal in the NBA, especially for a player who relies on his vertical when he gets to the rim or shooting his jump shot.

The Chicago Bulls are not in heavy pursuit of McGrady, but they have been asking about his health and have considered the idea of adding him to the roster.

A few years ago, I would have loved McGrady in a Bulls uniform.  Now, not so much because his health is a big question mark. Last season, he only played 30 games. He averaged three points a game during the six he was a Houston Rocket and nine points a game for the 24 he was a New York Knick.

According to ESPN’s Roman Modrowski, McGrady worked out with the Los Angeles Clippers and had a physical on Tuesday.  The teams curious about his health include: the Bulls, Clippers and the Miami Heat.

McGrady should go to the Miami Heat.  The game plan is easy; sit on the bench, come in for 12 to 15 minutes a game to add veteran leadership and hit a few jumpers. He could do this for a couple of years and then ride out in the sunset after he wins a championship or two with the “dream team”.

The Bulls should not pick him up.  He would simply be wasting minutes for a young and athletic squad.  They would also be wasting money, because have of his contract would be paying for his new outfits he would need to buy when he sits out 40 to 50 games.

His time has come and go.  The Bulls need every player on their roster to produce at a maximum level if they want to be contenders.  McGrady, 31, can’t do it anymore.  He was supposedly healthy as a Knick, but he didn’t do much at all.

I wish him the best on his next career adventure, just hope it isn’t as a Chicago Bull.

The 12 year veteran is returning to the western conference after a year and a half hiatus as a Chicago Bulls.  Before being traded to the windy city, Miller played for the Sacramento Kings for five and a half years.

I thank Miller for his time and service for the Bulls, but it isn’t a sad day.  I like the wily center, but he has seen better days.  In April, Miller turned 34.  He has been past his prime for the last three or four seasons and is on cruise control until his jump shot fails him.

The Bulls are building a team around a young nucleus and need athletic guys to run with them.  Miller isn’t the guy to sprint to the other side of the court to contribute whether it’s a transition bucket or fast break help defense.  He is a grinder with a tough redneck mentality the Bulls will miss against bigger physical teams, but he is not the guy they need for their up-tempo style of play.

Earlier in the off-season, I said they should resign him.  This was before I realized they are picking up young athletic talent who like to run the floor.

On the other hand, the Rockets need him.  Yao Ming is coming back this up-coming season and is supposedly healthy.  Besides Ming and Luis Scola, Houston doesn’t have a proven low post rebounding presence.  This is where Miller fits in.  During the 09-10 season he only averaged five rebounds a game, but he played limited minutes on a athletic Bulls team.  In Sacramento the season before he averaged eight rebounds during his 31 minutes a game.  If he gets minutes he will throw his body around and grab boards when the Rockets need them.

Miller brings the Rockets more productive depth off of their bench.  They should have a good team who will challenge for the 5th to 6th spot in the western conference.  It all depends on Ming’s health.

Rosters are starting to take shape, especially for the Chicago Bulls. They traded away Tyrus Thomas, John Salmons and Kirk Hinrich for expiring contracts that are now off the books and future draft picks. The Bulls are starting to build the roster and our only six days into the free agent signing period.

Boozer and Korver are officially signed. Yesterday, the Bulls signed 7 ft center Omer Asik from Turkey. Asik was originally drafted by the Portland Trailblazers in 2008, but was immediately traded to the Bulls. He has been developing for the past two years in Euroleague play. Chicago needs a big man who can defend a Dwight Howard or a Pau Gasol. Asik looks long and lengthy but is a great shot blocker. Maybe he will defend with intimidation as his best aspect; that’s what Ben Wallace did. Scouts seem to think he has solid NBA skills.

“Center seems to be his natural position as he loves playing with his back to the basket possessing a good assortment of moves to get his shot off … He is a tenacious rebounder going for the offensive boards as well as wiping the defensive glass.”

This isn’t saying he will dominate, but he will add depth off the bench. The Bulls have been a team that relies on six to seven players, maybe Tom Thibodeau’s run as head coach will bring in a new era called use the bench.

In other NBA news:

Golden State gets forward David Lee
New York gets forward Anthony Randolph,forward Kelenna Azubuike, forward Ronny Turiaf and a 2010 second-round pick.

Golden State wins the trade. Lee is a great rebounder and can put up 20 to 25 points any night. He is perfect for the run and gun tempo of the Don Nelson’s Warriors. New York got three so-so players. The second round pick will more than likely lead to the same type of player. Randolph is a solid player with upside but he isn’t going to develop into an all-star. He will be a great sixth man or a contributing role player. Warriors get an all-star and the Knicks get three similar players who will not amount to much.

Miami resigned forward Udonis Haslem.

Haslem has been a blue collar player for the Heat since 2002, it only seems right to bring him back to attempt to win another championship. He is a big man who can step out and hit a jumper, rebound and defend in the low post. Heat owner Pat Riley would have been a fool not to bring him back.

Dallas gets center Tyson Chandler and center Alexis Ajinca
Charlotte gets center Erick Dampier, forward Eduardo Najera, guard Matt Carroll and cash considerations.

Dallas wins this trade. Chandler is not offensively gifted but can rebound and block shots on a much higher level than Erick Dampier can. Oh, Dampier can’t shoot a penny in the ocean, Chandler is better in this category too.

Najera is on his last legs and Carroll isn’t an NBA talent. Dallas drops some salary to pick up players they could use, while Charlotte picks up veteran players who will not fit their system.

Derek Fisher stays with the Lakers.

Great move. Fisher kept the Lakers in the playoffs throughout every series. He is tough and the heart of the team.

Most of everything is rumors and hasn’t been set in contract yet.

The Atlanta Hawks are going to send Chris Childress to the Suns. The Suns are also going after Hedu Turkoglu. Childress has played over seas for the past few years, and has become a great player.

Al Jefferson will be a Denver Nugget.

J.J. Redick has been offered a deal from the Bulls but Orlando can keep him if they match the 3 year deal worth $20 million because he is a restricted free agent.

“Big Z”, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, will probably join the Miami Heat. He will follow LeBron, no dobut about it. They play well together and respect each other. They want to win a ring for each other.

Cavaliers have put an offer on the table for Kyle Lowry, but the Redick situation falls on Lowry as well. The Rockets have reportedly matched the contract.

I have no idea why, but the Timberwolves are going after Luke Ridnour. They have seven point guards and are trying to get another, no clue why.

Either way,  the Boston Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau has been hired by the Chicago Bulls to replace Vinny Del Negro.

Thibodeau is well respected as a defensive master mind, helped the Boston Celtics become one of the best defending teams in the league.  Boston would never have beaten the Lakers in 2008 for the NBA Championship, if their team defense didn’t rotate and communicate like Thibodeau taught them.  It also helps that Kevin Garnett, one of the biggest mouths in the NBA, is on the Celtics.

In his 21 year coaching career, he has traveled the NBA ranks.  He began as an assistant to the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves in 1989.  In 1991, he was a scout for the Seattle SuperSonics.  He has been an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and until this years post season is over, the Boston Celtics.

Thibodeau has aided his teams to finish in the top ten in team defense for 15 seasons.  This is impressive.

The Bulls were a solid defensive team last year.  Thibodeau will help them become great.  Joakim Noah wants to play defense and showed signs of defensive brilliance this season.  Kirk Hinrich is a good perimeter defender.  Derrick Rose is quick, giving him the ability to get in front of any match up and Luol Deng has great length and hoops to block shots from the corner.

They have the skills, now Thibodeau will give them techniques.

The question I have is, how does this help Chicago’s scoring?  The Bulls scoring was a huge problem this season.  The offensive sets resulted in Ros running around and trying to drive, or they were stagnant.  Three players roamed on the perimeter while Noah and Taj Gibson got faced until they needed to get a rebound.

Maybe Thibodeau has more than one trick up his sleeve, plus,  he will have assistants and hopefully an elite talent after free agency begins.

The hire could draw big names.  Thibodeau is well known and respected.  Basketball players need to know their coach can or wants to win before they believe in the system.  Thibodeau helped win a championship in 2008 and was a part of the Knicks trip to the finals in 199 with Jeff Van Gundy, Patrick Ewing and Allan Houston.

Thibodeau should be a good coach.  Some assistants who are supposed to do well, stumble and fall.  Others coach a team to two three-peat championship run, aka Phil Jackson.  He will not reach Jackson’s level, but he could be the coach to get Chicago further in the playoffs than first round.  This would mean a better record, so they’re not the eighth seed.

On a faith level, I have 85% faith that he will help the Bulls get to the next level.  The doubts I have are on offense.  If the defense can get points off of its hard work than that doubt would be quieted.  The other doubt, is if Thibodeau is a coach the big named free agents want to play for.

Lebron James might want to be on the same team with Thibodeau instead of receiving the wrath of his zone defensive schemes.

Ewing was one of the best scoring centers in league history.  His low post moves were on THE best when he played in the late 80′s and 90′s.  He was the rookie of the year in 1986, a 11 time all-star, 7 time all-NBA team selection and was put in the Hall of Fame in 2008. 

Ewing took a job as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards in 2003.  Kwame Brown is by no means a star student or student at all, so we won’t count this against Ewing.

In 2004-2006, he was an assistant for the Houston Rockets.  Ewing helped Yao Ming with his low post game.  Ming stopped settling for a jump shot because Ewing gave him post moves.  Ming’s career best field goal percentage of .55 was during the 04-05 season. Hopefully, Ming will find a medical procedure to strengthen his feet and ankles and play again. 

The basketball world has had some kind of involvement with Ewing since his freshman year at Georgetown in 1981. In 29 years (excluding play before college) of basketball he has got to know something about the game.  He knows how to teach, so put the two together and I think he’ll be alright. 

Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson could definitley use some of Ewing’s moves down low.  This season the Bulls were an outside team.  They shot jump shots most of the time, getting the ball down low wasn’t a main priority.  Maybe they should make it option number one.  This would open up Rose and Hinrich on the perimeter.  Right now,  why would any team double Noah or Gibson?

IS EWING A LEGIT CANIDATE FOR THE HEAD COACHING POSITION?

Usually, most teams quit when they ship players away for expiring contracts showing the world they’re more focused on next year than this year.

The nucleus of the Bulls are still showing up on the court in attempts to come away with victories not stats.

They have won five of their last eight. It isn’t great, but it is an improvement from their 10 game losing streak.

Chicago beat the Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Bobcats, Houston Rockets and the New Jersey Nets.  The only team worth mentioning is the Bobcats, who are currently in seventh place in the eastern conference’s playoff race.

The Bulls are winning the games we know they can. This is a good sign.

Players are coming back from injuries with only a handful of games left instead of mailing in the season. This is also a good sign.

The Bulls have tough games coming up. They have to continue playing at the level they are at and maybe a little beyond because Cleveland and Boston are playing at serious high levels.

I agree the Bulls fell apart in the second half of the season.  Trades, injuries and a head coach who should have never got the job justify their losing ways. Joakim  Noah was hurt for almost two months, Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng have all missed games.  John Salmons, one of the Bulls top scorers, was traded; same as a key defensive player in Tyrus Thomas.  Enough said,  I get Redmond’s point.

But to blame the NBA and the playoff structure for the Bulls having a chance to get in is crazy.  Eight teams on each conference is perfect.  Some of the most memorable series have been 1 against 8.  Remember the Utah Jazz against the Sacramento Kings, the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks and more recently, the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors.

The playoff structure works well.  There is no need for tampering.  The games are exciting to watch.  Even if they are blowouts, we get to see the real dominant teams.  No one thought the Orlando Magic were going to make it to the finals last year until they dismantled Philadelphia in the first round and successfully challenged the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics.

I think those series are needed.  One, it prepares the young guys for the harder seven game series they will face later in the playoffs.  The earlier series help gain confidence and exposure to the bigger stage.  This isn’t the regular season anymore, nerves grow.

Plus, why blame the Bulls, or the NBA for that matter, when it is the team’s owner and the general manager who build the roster and the basketball program.  When the Bulls have a horrible team,  I blame Jerry Reinsdorf for spending his money on bad players and John Paxson for making the decision.  Each team can be held accountable for their own actions.

The Bulls shouldn’t get blamed because the Pacers, 76ers, Knicks, Pistons, Wizards and the awful Nets can’t win games.  Shouldn’t it be the 76ers for making the trade for Elton Brand who has been a huge bust.  Washington went through a fire sale. The Pacers have done nothing to help Danny Granger.  Joe Dumars traded their glue player, Chauncey Billups, for the don’t know what is going on Allen Iverson.  The Knicks put Isiah Thomas in charge,  we all know what happened with the situation in New York and the Nets,  no one knows where to start with their problems.

Each team has the same salary cap.  Each team has the opportunity to draft players out of college.  The bad teams have a better chance of landing a better player.  It isn’t the NBA’s fault when a team drafts a bust.

The number eight seed isn’t going to be playing for the NBA Championship anyway but they should be given some props for beating out the other eight teams.  If the eight only wins one game in the first series, oh well, they got things to work on for the future.

None of this is the Bull’s fault.  Does it suck for the Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets, who have better records than the Bulls but won’t make the playoffs in the Western Conference?  Of course it does.  They could have won more games.  They knew the strength of other teams in the west and didn’t exceed it.

If the Bulls get in, it is because they won more games then the teams below them.  Sure, they didn’t have a great year, but they did what they needed to do to survive.  Sometimes the cookie crumbles in your mouth and sometimes all over your favorite shirt.  This is how the world works, sports included.

Chicago led the entire game. They went on a scoring streak in the second quarter, braking the game open with a 34-22 advantage. The Pistons cut the lead to seven in the fourth quarter but could not handle Derrick Rose and Ronald Murray in the final minutes.

Murray scored 23 points while Rose added 21 and 9 assists. Brad Miller added 17 points and Taj Gibson was one point shy of a double-double with 9 points and 10 rebounds.

This is great for the Bulls since they’re fighting for a playoff spot. With this victory they are only a half game back of the Toronto Raptors for 8th place.

They won four of their last five games. Of course, the one loss was a 29 point blow out from Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat but they did win the games they should win. The Bulls beat the awful New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, Pistons and the down and out Houston Rockets.

Wins like this will help them pass the Raptors. If they keep winning they could possibly find themselves in 7th place, but lets take it one seed at a time.

During the 10 games, the Bulls were fighting injuries.  Joakim Noah did not play a game in March until the win against Philadelphia.  He played limited minutes but is looking well in his comeback from his left foot injury. Derrick Rose also made his return on Saturday after missing four games with a wrist injury.

These two players are the corner stones of the young Bulls roster.  Add Taj Gibson who I believe is a top five rookie from his draft class and Luol Deng, after he sits for two weeks with his re-aggravated calf injury, and they have a very promising team on paper.

Like I said, on paper.  Paper doesn’t mean nothing without wins.  The Bulls still have a shot for the playoffs.  The Toronto Raptors are not better than the Bulls and have a tougher schedule coming up.  Chicago will not make it if they continue to lose games to teams who season is pretty much over.

The Rockets are around .500 but they are in the tough Western Conference.  They are in ninth place, the same as the Bulls, but they are behind four and a half games to the Portland Trailblazers.  The Rockets are not going to catch up, their season is over.

The Bulls have a chance, they just have to play like they know it.

They are 31-31 and hold 8th place in the Eastern Conference.  Let me say this again, the Eastern Conference.  If they were in the west, the Bulls would be tied with the Houston Rockets for 10th place and no possibility for the playoffs.

NBA fans know the difference between the conferences.  The Bulls look bad.  They are only a half game ahead of the Charlotte Bobcats who have never been in the post season.

A week ago,  I said the schedule would be tough.  I didn’t think the Bulls would get wiped out; that is what might happen.

They have lost four straight.  A bad Indiana Pacer team beat them by 10. Atlanta smashed them by 24.  Memphis beat them by nine and Dallas beat them by six.

Chicago looked like a high school JV team in three of the four contests.  Dallas was on a 10 game winning streak and look unbeatable as of late.  I do give the Bulls props for their effort, but for the most part they still have to step up.

Injuries have taken Joakim Noah out of the line-up and has hampered Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich.  Every team faces nagging injuries three quarters through a season.  The Bulls can’t use injuries as an excuse.

The Utah Jazz come to the United Center on Tuesday sensing the Bulls have gave the season up for the summer’s free agency.  They are 4th in the Western Conference at 40-22.  Deron Williams is playing like the elite point guard he is and Carlos Boozer is dominating inside.

I hope the Bulls haven’t gave the season up.  If they want a top free agent to join the team,  they have to prove they have heart and want to win.  Beating the Jazz would prove they are still in the playoff hunt.   Defeating a good opponent would also give them momentum during the rest of the tough schedule, looks like they need it.