The Bulls almost used Pippen to replace McGrady. If Jordan teamed up with McGrady, would he win the championship?

On May 9, in the summer of 1997, the Chicago Bulls management had planned a deal that would change NBA history - using Scotty Pippen to trade young rookie Tracy McGrady for Toronto Raptors. This trading plan, which was strongly stopped by Michael Jordan, has become one of the most famous "if" in basketball history. When we turn the clock back to that changing season, we will find that behind this unsuccessful deal is the hidden worries of the dynasty team, the rise of the genius boy, and the decision of the God of Basketball.

The then general manager of the Bulls Jerry Klaus was gradually dissatisfied with the 33-year-old Pippen. The back injury and contract issues of the six-time champion were worried about the management. During the 1997 playoffs, Pippen was able to contribute only a poor performance of 6.9 points per game due to a back injury, and refused to play in key games. At the same time, McGrady, who just turned 18, showed amazing talent in the Raptors. Her height of 2.03 meters and 2.20 wingspan, her athletic ability was hailed by the ball scout as the "next Jordan". Klaus took a fancy to McGrady's potential and tried to exchange Pippen for this future star to reorganize the lineup with Jordan. According to a senior ESPN reporter, the trading framework has been initially formed, and the Raptors have even begun preparing for a physical examination for Pippen.

Jordan immediately intervened when he learned about the transaction. He recalled in his autobiography: "I told the management that there would be no me without Scotty. " At that time, the Bulls locker room was already undercurrent due to the undercurrent of conflicts at the management. Jordan knew the value of Pippen to the tactical system - as the most comprehensive striker in history, Pippen's defense and organizational ability are the hub of triangular offense. In the 1997-98 season, Pippen used his actual performance to prove Jordan's judgment: he averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists per game, and increased to 16.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists in the playoffs, becoming the Bulls' second pillar of three consecutive championships.

Assuming the deal comes true, the combination of Jordan and McGrady will have a completely different chemistry. McGrady averaged only 7 points and 4 rebounds per game in the rookie season, but her physical fitness was amazing. In the competition between the Raptors and cousin Carter, he quickly grew into the super sixth man with an average of 15.4 points per game. If he is trained by Jordan under the Bulls system, his growth trajectory may be close to the peak of the Magic later (average of 32.1 points per game in the 2002-03 season). But the problem is the time window - it takes 3-4 years for McGrady to fully mature, and Jordan was 35 years old at the time. Basketball analyst Hollinger pointed out: "In 1998, the Bulls needed immediate combat power, and McGrady's talent could not immediately fill the offensive and defensive vacancy left by Pippen. "

From the analysis of tactical adaptability, Pippen's value is difficult to replace. He averaged 5.8 assists per game and played the role of the actual organizer, allowing Jordan to focus on scoring; the defensive end was even more iron gate locking the opponent's arrows, and the successful restriction of Reggie Miller in the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals was proof of this. In contrast, rookie McGrady had a three-point shooting percentage of only 29% at the time, and had a weak sense of running without the ball, which had a function overlap with Jordan. Former Bulls assistant coach Winter admitted: "Tresey needs to hold the ball to play, which will destroy the rhythm of the triangle offense. " The 1998 playoff data confirmed this: when Pippen was on the court, the Bulls' net efficiency value was +12.3, and then plummeted to -4.1 after the game.

What is more important is the team's chemistry. Rodman said bluntly in the documentary "The Last Dance": "Scotty is the locker room adhesive. "Pippen's spirit of being a green leaf has shaped the bull culture, and there is still doubt whether the young and energetic McGrady can obey Jordan's authority. Referring to the later conflict between McGrady and Carter in the Raptors and his relationship with Hill during the Magic period, this personality risk cannot be ignored. Historical data shows that Jordan Pippen's winning rate during his cooperation is as high as 78%, while Jordan's winning rate alone is only 54%.

From the perspective of subsequent development, this transaction miscarriage objectively preserved two legends. Pippen completed his second three-game winning streak with the Bulls, establishing his historical status; McGrady gained plenty of room for growth in the Raptors and the Magic, and was eventually crowned the scoring champion twice. It is interesting that after McGrady joined the Magic in 2000, he had fought with Jordan, who had come back many times and gained the upper hand, proving that he does have super potential. But as Sports Illustrated commented: "Greatness requires the right time and place. McGrady in 1998 is like unopened champagne, while the Bull needs ready-to-drink spirits. "

Looking back at this historical episode, perhaps the most touching thing is Jordan's leader wisdom. He neither blindly pursues talent nor sticks to his feelings, but makes judgments based on his pure desire for victory. This unrealized combination leaves future generations with infinite imagination, but the God of Basketball proves with his sixth crown: Sometimes, the most beautiful "if" is reality itself. On the road to greatness, grasping the timing is often more important than building talents.