Just as the fan rumors had guessed, Krause was indeed trying to pry loose the Raptors' cornerstone. His target was none other than the young man whose talent practically overflowed the screen—Tracy McGrady.
"Glenn, let's speak frankly."
Krause's voice carried an unquestionable force. "You know very well that Tracy isn't happy playing beside his cousin Vince Carter. He wants to be the tactical centerpiece. He wants unlimited freedom to shoot. And in Chicago, beside Michael, he'll have the best opportunity to learn. In the future, he'll be the king of this team."
Glenn Grunwald chuckled softly on the other end of the line. "Jerry, you make it sound nice. But we both know that selling big dreams to an unproven young player is the specialty of general managers from powerhouse teams like yours. Tracy is not for sale. The wing duo he forms with Vince is Toronto's future."
"The future? The future is too far away, Glenn."
Krause stressed his words. "Can your future compare to Karl Malone's present? Malone is a free agent, but a sign-and-trade is possible. If you're willing to send Tracy, we can not only make Malone a Raptor, but even include one of our future first-round picks. Imagine it: Vince Carter and Karl Malone. One soaring through the skies, one as steady as a rock. You'd immediately become serious contenders for the Eastern Conference playoffs."
Krause cast out his bait.
He knew perfectly well that, for a young team like the Raptors, the allure of a Hall of Fame-caliber player who could contribute immediately was immense.
Glenn Grunwald fell silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons. The Raptors truly did need a veteran who could steady the locker room and provide consistent production on the court.
Karl Malone was undoubtedly the best