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Money Talks and Free Agents Walk

© Ryan Lester

It looks as if Tracy McGrady is definitely headed for the Orlando Magic. Though he's scheduled to meet with the Chicago Bulls, the only other team with enough cap room to sign him, it's apparently just a formality. Nothing is official yet, but it's as good as done. Toronto loses a first round draft pick and one of the players that helped them reach the playoffs for the first time, and Orlando gains a rising young star who is only 21 and has yet to play his best basketball. And why? The answer is simple. Money.

As a wise man once said, it's all about the benjamins. Need proof? Look at the Lakers or Trailblazers. Would the Lakers be the champs if they didn't spend 120 million on Shaq? No. But La La Land is a big market they could afford to throw money at O'Neal. How about the Blazers? It's free agent heaven over there. Paul Allen has plenty of money to spend and has grabbed some great players from teams that for various reasons couldn't hold on to their draft picks. Now I'm simplifying of course. It takes more than just money to win games. All the free agents in the world won't win unless there is good coaching, team chemistry, good ownership etc... But to begin with, it comes to the dollar and how much is on the table.

Take the T-Wolves for example. They drafted both Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury. Wow, what a combination. And for a few years it was. They made the first round of the playoffs after years of being bottom feeders. But then came trouble. After dishing out 126 million to Garnett, there was no way they could afford to pay Marbury what he was worth. So, before they lost him to free agency they traded him to the Nets and lost, what on paper, looked to be an unbeatable duo.

That makes me wonder if a team can build through the draft and make their way to the championship. I don't think so. Not anymore. The Spurs did it a few years ago by lucking out and being able to draft Tim Duncan, but there now close to losing him and may not react the finals for a long time.

The Chicago Bulls may be the last dynasty that originated from the draft. They did it by taking both Jordan and Pippen, but in drastically different times. Can you imagine Jordan being a free agent in today's league? Owners and general managers would be selling off organs to raise cash to sign him. It would be madness. Or how about Scottie Pippen? He was drafted by the Sonics and sent to Chicago (nice goin' Seattle) for Olden Polynice and a future number one pick. Okay, they didn't draft him directly, but close enough. Also, Horace Grant and B.J. Armstrong, two of the contributors in the early championship years, were chosen from the college ranks. Sure, some free agents like Harper, Longley and Rodman came to play, but you get the idea. Jerry Krause was able to keep the team together long enough to win six championships. A feat that I doubt will ever be repeated.