Why the Bulls can't afford to pass up T-Mac

This blog is about numbers. My argument is that Tracy McGrady is beneficial to the Bulls now and in the future. The great T-Mac has been working out in Chicago (presumably meaning he has a residency or temporary residence here already) in order to return to form from a micro-fracture of his knee. McGrady brings to the Bulls a potentially good scorer (maybe 15-19 pts/gm average, his career average is 21 pts) and someone who can take clutch shots. He can still play 30-35 mins/gm and he's someone who can end games and who can help some of the young talent on this team mature. T-Mac is an ex-superstar and still carries with him the ability to lead (which the Bulls desperately need as they seem likely to be an 7 or 8 seed in the East) Now to the numbers, T-Mac's current contract with the Houston Rockets has him slated to make $24 million in the 09-10 season and then it's over. The Bulls 09-10 salary is $69 million and there are five players coming off the books at the end of the season (with the possible exception of Aaron Gray because he signed a qualifying offer). Once that happens, the Bulls 2010-2011 salary looks like it will be around $41 million. This would seem promising for cap space, except that the NBA has come to grips with reality and in anticipation of the impact that the world recession will inevitably have on it they have lowered the 2010-2011 cap threshold. It will be around $50-53 million without a luxury tax. Which means the Bulls will only have around $10 million in cap space to pursue the Wade, Bosh, Joe Johnson, Lebron free agent spree. John Salmons has a player option for the $6.7 million he makes next year. So, if he opts out of the option or gets traded than the Bulls cap goes up almost $7 mil. If GarPax, the General Monster of the Chicago Bulls can make the right moves (Salmons + whoever Houston wants with the exception of Rose and Noah) for Tracy McGrady and deal with the $24 million contract, than the cap space explodes for the Bulls and they can offer maximum contracts for 1st choice free agent (Wade or Bosh) as well as competitive contract offer for their 2nd choice. There you have, the numbers are there, the logic is there, the i's are dotted. Oh, and by the way, Tracy McGrady wants to play, don't forget, he would be playing for a new contract after this season. (Thank you hoopsworld.com and nbaroundtable.com)