CHICAGO _ The Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan parted ways after the 1997-98 season, severing ties after winning six titles in eight years.
Why both sides called it quits was a topic of intense debate for decades. But while the reason for the Bulls' dissolution is still argued, the results remain clear _ the Bulls dynasty ended and the search for the next Michael Jordan ensued.
After a painful start to the post-Jordan era, the Bulls were connected to nearly every star in the early 2000s. They made runs at Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony. The list of names was deep and the odds were long. Each player was courted by the entire league but gave the Bulls real consideration.
Twenty years ago, McGrady became the first player to flirt with the Bulls when he entered free agency in the summer of 2000. The 21-year-old had proven himself in Toronto and caught the attention of Bulls general manager Jerry Krause.
On the 20th anniversary of the Bulls' failed attempt to land McGrady, it feels like a perfect avenue to explore what went wrong in the team's efforts to sign McGrady and other free-agent superstars after the Jordan era.
