If the biggest question about Tracy McGrady’s career at this point is his health, the second-biggest is how he’ll fit in with his new team, the Detroit Pistons, who have an abundance of depth at the wing positions. David Aldridge of NBA.com, a well-respected veteran reporter, has the scoop on how the Pistons plan to address the glut of players on the wing:
A league source indicated Tuesday that the Pistons will work to “un-jam the log jam” the team now has at the shooting guard and small forward spots after signing the 31-year-old McGrady, who has been working out for several teams this summer looking for a home, including Chicago and Cleveland.
The source said that McGrady agreed without conditions to play behind starters Rip Hamilton and Tayshawn [sic] Prince next season, though it’s likely that Detroit will move either Hamilton or Prince before the start of next season. It’s more likely the Pistons will move Prince, who is entering the last year of his contract.
A second source said Sunday that Detroit won’t move Prince unless he requests a trade.
According to ShamSports.com, the web’s best NBA salary database, Prince’s deal is worth $11.1 million this year, while Hamilton’s is worth $37.5 million over the next three, though only $9 million of the final year is guaranteed.
You might find those salary figures useful as you work on ways for the Pistons to unload either of those players, though I certainly wouldn’t blame you for questioning the wisdom of dumping either of those two players to free up time for McGrady, whom Tas Melas called “a 31-year-old trapped in a 35-year-old’s body” in his evaluation of the deal for The Basketball Jones.