What a shocker.

Tracy McGrady did not make the Chicago Bulls feel like he was ready to accept a secondary position with the team. After speaking like he was already apart of the team, McGrady didn't make anyone feel that way.

"I think we (the Bulls) can be really good," McGrady said. "I really do."

When asked about coming off the bench McGrady had this to say:

"I won't have a problem, but that's not what I'm really shooting for. I think, yeah, if I was the player that I was in a Knicks uniform [at the end of last season], I would have no problem coming off the bench. But I've worked extremely hard and I'm far from being that player. Trust me. It's up to me in training camp to prove I'm a starter."

Okay, you aren't coming off too well, Tracy.

How about a more humble quote?

"Without me, without Boozer, they're a .500 ball club," McGrady said. "And with the guys that they added, if they add me, I think we'll be 30 points better. I think we'll be a better defensive team with Thibodeau, who I played with for three years [in Houston]. So [the Bulls] have a really good chance of being good. The city should be excited about this team."

Okay, not so much. So you plan on scoring 30 points off the bench, right?

Anyone with ears and/or eyes can see McGrady is not ready to be apart of a team rather than be a highlight.

Apparently, the Bulls noticed it too.

Although his Monday audition proved he was fine physically, McGrady was unable to convince the Bulls he was ready to take on a secondary position, which is one of two prerequisites McGrady must prove in order to receive a deal from Chicago.

According to a source for ESPN, after the workout and interview, McGrady becoming a Bull was downgraded to "unlikely." Another source confirmed the meeting after the workout is what really turned the Bulls off.

Going into the workout Monday, McGrady knew he had to show the Bulls he was healthy and willing to take on a new role, one Tom Thibodeau would assign him. Even knowing these two demands, McGrady seems unable to accept it.

Although the Bulls are short of proven scoring at the wing position, the team may be hesitant to gamble on bringing in a player of McGrady's ego, even with a contract that is not guaranteed.

McGrady averaged 9.4 points, 3.9 assists and 26.1 minutes in 24 starts for the Knicks, who acquired McGrady from Houston in a three-way trade in February.

McGrady has the recommendation of Derrick Rose. Thibodeau is also well aware of what McGrady can do, coaching him as an assistant coach in Houston.

Whether McGrady can learn to accept a smaller role is what will make or break him getting a deal from Chicago and he's running out of options, seeing as the L.A. Clippers committed to bringing back Rasual Butler. 

Read more Chicago Bulls news on BleacherReport.com

It seems like most sportswriters are opposed to the idea of the Bulls bringing in the 13-year veteran Tracy McGrady. Many Chicago Bulls fans believe that McGrady will disrupt the direction this team has recently taken toward contending for an NBA title. Many also argue that McGrady is well past his prime and is an injury-prone player.

I totally disagree with that school of thought. The Bulls, as they are currently constructed, are NOT ready for contending for a championship yet.

This may surprise many people who believe that the Bulls will be a force in the Eastern Conference next year. I’m not saying that the Bulls are a bad team. They are a 50-win team at best. They are certainly capable of advancing past the first round of the playoffs, but that is it!

The Bulls do have a great front court with Boozer, Noah, Thomas, and Asik, but the NBA is becoming more of a guard-oriented league, and in order to get to the NBA Finals, you can’t only rely on Derrick Rose to do all the work. You will need a guy who can score, pass, and get to the foul line.

Tracy McGrady is the answer for all of that for the Chicago Bulls. He could be the missing piece to the puzzle. He won’t be a costly addition to this Bulls team. If the Bulls sign McGrady and make him come off of the bench for 20-25 minutes a game, he will prove to be extremely valuable. You will always need someone who can draw double teams in addition to Rose in late game situation in order to win games in this league.

We all saw that Luol Deng couldn’t handle that role consistently throughout his career. Kyle Korver can shoot the ball well, but his game is limited to his shot. CJ Watson is a very solid player, but I don’t think Thibodeau will trust him late in games.

Throughout his career, Tracy McGrady was always the main player on each squad he played for. He had to play the solo role throughout his career, which made him a great finisher, but at the same time, more susceptible to injuries.

If he plays alongside Rose, Boozer, and Noah, life will be a lot more easier for McGrady. He will operate in an efficient manner by getting many open looks. McGrady would be a great asset for the Bulls in the fourth quarter of games.

When you have two players who are capable of closing out games in Rose and McGrady, a deep bench and an excellent front-court, you are talking about a true contender. In order for the Bulls to be mentioned among contenders in the East, they will have to sign McGrady.

Read more Chicago Bulls news on BleacherReport.com

WRITER'S NOTE: The original source of quotes for this article was the Chicago Tribune. Since this story was published, the Tribune has changed the wording of the quotes used, altering the use of the pronoun "we" and adding "points" to the phrase "30 points better."

Either Tracy McGrady is bad at math, has trouble articulating proper math, or is just very, very bullish on the Chicago Bulls' outlook for the upcoming season.

Regardless, McGrady heaped praise on the Bulls after working out for the team on Monday, and the 6'8'' free agent called Chicago his No. 1 destination.

"I'd fit in well. I'd bring what I know about the game and my athleticism and versatility. Knowing my smarts for the game, leadership, anything I can add to help these guys over the edge. Without me, without (Carlos) Boozer, they were a .500 club. With the guys that they added, and if you add me, I think we'll be 30 points better." McGrady said, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.

Now the question is, what did he mean by "30 points better?"

If he meant adding 30 wins to a .500 record of 41-41, then he's saying the Bulls will end the regular season with an overall record of 71-11. That's nearly the 1995-1996 team's 72-10 mark.

T-Mac shouldn't flatter himself. Boozer is good. McGrady could be good.

Still, this team is not going to win more than 70 games. More than 50 would be a realistic improvement.

That's also more realistic in terms of what he meant, as 30 games above .500 (rather than 30 wins better than .500, a subtle but crucial distinction) leaves Chicago at 56-26, a record fitting for the third or fourth seed in the East.

As I previously wrote, McGrady needs to leave his ego behind and accept a bench role if he wants the Bulls to give him a chance.

Well, so much for that happening.

Beyond suggesting that he and Boozer would make a tremendous impact on the team's record, he also did not fully commit to being a role player this season.

"If I was the player I was in a Knicks uniform, I would have no problem coming off the bench," McGrady said, according to the Chicago Tribune. "But I have worked extremely hard and I'm far from that player. It's up to me in training camp to prove I'm a starter."

No, no, no.

McGrady needs to get this through his mind: He will not be a starter in Chicago.

It really doesn't matter what he "proves" to Tom Thibodeau, Gar Forman, or Derrick Rose. His role on this team will be as a scorer off the bench and a situational guy to generate mismatches on both ends of the floor.

Chicago already has a starting shooting guard.

His name is Ronnie Brewer.

Like his poor use of numbers, it seems unlikely the Bulls organization will take much away from McGrady's comments after his workout. 

That doesn't take away from the fact that his statements are concerning.

What the Bulls are building is a team that is unselfish and without an attention-hogging superstar. In other words, the opposite of Miami, which has three egomaniacs and a bunch of random parts to fill out the roster.

The Bulls' thinking toward signing McGrady is spot-on. He is worth the risk, provided that he meet a few criteria. 

It seems doubtful those will be met, or at least not without a struggle.

The problem for the Bulls is McGrady is such a wild card, such a potential game changer, that it is hard to say "no" and go sign Keith Bogans or Roger Mason Jr.

Yes, those guys probably fit better into the system.

Yet, the Bulls had a system under Scott Skiles, back when the "core" of Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, and Ben Gordon was still together.

Look how far it got them. Knocked out of the second round.

Expectations are high for this new-and-improved Bulls squad. Chicago is undoubtedly in the same class as Boston, Orlando, and Miami, but whether they can topple them with their current roster is highly suspect.

With Tracy McGrady playing at 75 percent of his pre-injury level off the bench, the Bulls would definitely be better.

Perhaps not 30 games better in the regular season. But maybe they would win an extra game per playoff series with T-Mac on board.

That's a smaller number McGrady can handle.

Let's just hope he can live with a smaller role as well.

Read more Chicago Bulls news on BleacherReport.com

Begin Slideshow