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By Don Ellis

The NBA According To Ellis

Maybe this one should be called "The NBA According to T-Mac".

In the November issue of "Stuff" Magazine, Orlando Magic superstar Tracy McGrady tells writer Bill Schulz that 5% of the players in the NBA are gay.

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

That was just one of the surprises that TMac has for Stuff readers. On the subject of marijuana, he says that while he doesn't smoke it, he knows of other players who "smoke and then still go out and drop 30".

He also adds that while he is very happy with the Magic's addition of free agent Juwan Howard over the summer, he adds that it "is crazy" that the Magic front office didn't discuss it with him in advance. In McGrady's eyes, since he is the key guy for the Magic, the team should "involve me in everything".

I definitely recommend to all of you that you grab the November issue of "Stuff", if for no other reason than to check out the rest of the McGrady interview. It's undoubtedly one of the most honest you'll ever read with an NBA player.

While I'm sure many media sources will run with the "5%" comment, my follow-up question for TMac would be "are you happy with the Magic"? He went out of his way to say that he should be involved in all transactions while endorsing the deal itself. Add this to the conflicting stories surrounding TMac's back injury during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament last month, and it seems as if there may be some trouble brewing in the land of Magic.

McGrady had many nice things to say about Magic Coach Doc Rivers and teammate Grant Hill, but you know that not getting out of the first round of the playoffs has to be gettting to TMac. His comments also imply that he doesn't agree with all of the moves Magic GM John Gabriel has made over the past few years. McGrady's best friend on the team, Mike Miller, was traded last season, and he expressed his displeasure at the time.

TMac can opt out of his contract and become a free agent in the summer of 2005- does that mean that Rivers and Gabriel are on the hot seat this season?

O'NEAL ON HIS WAY OUT OF INDY?

I mentioned in the last NBA Runaround that the Pacers might well look to trade All-Star forward Jermaine O'Neal, who has expressed his adamant displeasure at Isiah Thomas' firing as Pacers coach. Soon thereafter, word got out that new Pacer GM Larry Bird wouldn't have a problem with trading JO if that's what he really wants.

As soon as that rumor died down a bit, reports out of Indy had Bird trading away head case Ron Artest to Seattle in exchange for Brent Barry. And while both O'Neal and Artest are still Pacers for now, the team is still in need of some major salary-cap relief, so don't expect the Pacers roster to look the same for much longer.

VAN EXEL TO THE BIG APPLE?

The latest rumors out of New York have Golden State sending the recently acquired Nick Van Exel to the Knicks for Kurt Thomas and Charlie Ward. Just what the Knicks need, another over-priced veteran who is past his prime. This team will once again win 30 games and not contend for the playoffs or a high lottery pick- not exactly a winning recipe for rebuilding a franchise that has too many marginal young talents and too many bad contracts.

That's all I have for now, please send your comments and/or questions to dellis@bullsnews.net, and include your name and hometown if you want your question answered in the column. Just remember that I can't answer them all, and thanks for reading.