The Chicago Bulls were already thinking about the future even as their dynasty was still in progress during the late 1990s. General manager Jerry Krause had one name in mind that would ensure the team’s success beyond the Michael Jordan era. It was an electric high school phenom named Tracy McGrady. Krause was enamored with the 6’8″ forward with elite athleticism and a deep offensive back. So much so that his first attempt to acquire the young man came in 1997, when he offered to trade franchise superstar Scottie Pippen to Toronto for his rights. Team owner Jerry Reinsdorf vetoed that idea.
Then, in 2000, when McGrady became a free agent, the Bulls tried again, making an aggressive push to sign him. Sadly, he elected to play closer to his home in Florida with the Orlando Magic. Krause’s obsession proved accurate as McGrady became a seven-time All-Star and two-time scoring champion. Chicago couldn’t help but wonder how different the 2000s might’ve been if they’d rebuilt the roster around him.
Well, longtime NBA analyst Bill Simmons says they no longer have to wonder. The team appears to have landed McGrady’s doppelganger in 4th overall pick Caleb Wilson.
The craziest part is that Tracy McGrady underachieved.
Here is a guy who had a Hall of Fame-caliber career in the NBA. Easily one of the best scorers of his era. Unfortunately, he was also beset by constant injury problems. He played fewer than 60 games in five of his 15 professional seasons. Many of them came during his peak years, shortening what should’ve been an incredible prime. Had he stayed healthy, he likely would’ve won multiple MVPs. Maybe Orlando or Houston would’ve won a championship. Alas, nobody will ever know.
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If the comparison with Wilson is accurate, then the Bulls finally captured the ghost they’ve been chasing for the past 29 years. There have already been glimpses in the Summer League. Wilson is every bit as explosive as McGrady was. His shooting also appears much more polished than draft experts expected. McGrady averaged 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in his first season as a starter. If Wilson reaches those numbers, it would be another sign that the comparison fits.
Understand that Simmons rarely gets this excited.
This is a man who has watched basketball his entire life. He knows what the really good players are supposed to look like. Whenever he’s shown genuine excitement about a player coming out of college, he’s usually right. Wilson is easily the player he’s been the most animated about in the past few years. That is a pretty good sign for the Bulls. If he’s right about the Tracy McGrady comparison, the organization has found its franchise pillar. The key will be whether Chicago can succeed where other franchises failed with T-Mac.
For all his brilliance, McGrady was never on a team that had the necessary talent to win a championship. He left Toronto right before Vince Carter blew up. He teamed up with Grant Hill in Orlando right before his career was derailed by injuries. It was much the same with Yao Ming in Houston. He was brilliant, but couldn’t stay healthy. It didn’t help that he kept running into powerhouses like San Antonio and Los Angeles. For Wilson to reach the heights McGrady never could, the Bulls must build a supporting cast worthy of a star.
