Should We Sign T-Mac?

Years ago, when I was still in high school, cutting classes and hanging around Internet Cafes to play PC and PS2 games, like NBA Live, a best bud and I were in constant debate on who is better: Kobe or T-Mac?  It was the time when T-Mac and AI (and sometimes, Carter) were being pitted against Kobe on the "who's the best in the NBA?" debate.  My friend would boast of T-Mac's scoring championships (this was before Kobe got his first scoring championship).  I would point out Kobe's three rings (which I argue is more important).  He will then say that those championships were because of Shaq.  I would counter that Shaq can't win championships without Kobe either.  He will then argue that T-Mac is a better offensive player (again, using the scoring championships as basis).  I would then point out how Kobe's defense (even when he's injured) can lockdown T-Mac (the Lakers home game against the Magic during 03-04 season).  And so on... you know how this kind of debates goes (I presume you have been part of lots of them, too).  We even sometimes settle these debates by playing one-on- one basketball, pretending that he's T-Mac and I am Kobe, and whoever wins makes the player he is representing the best.  I won almost all of those games, proving that Kobe is better. 

Of course, as time went on, Kobe had already left the T-Mac-AI-Carter rivals biting the dust, and is now pitted against a younger generation of Lebrons, Wades, and Durants.  Now, my friend doesn't have any good points anymore to argue that T-Mac is better than Kobe (now that Kobe has his own scoring championships, plus a couple of MVPs and more rings).  He is left with bitching about how T-Mac's injuries limited him and that without those injuries, he could have defeated Kobe - though we both know that this is bullshit.  Moreover, even T-Mac himself said that Kobe is the best player in the planet.  He can't argue with that.    Thus, he shifted to the LeBron bandwagon (that's how Kobe and Laker haters work, support any player as long he's pitted against Kobe, and support any team as long as that team has a game or series against the Lakers.).  

Back to T-Mac.  In this free agency buzz, the only team that is somehow being connected to T-Mac is the Lakers.  So does it mean that other teams are not interested in him?   If so, then the Lakers have some leverage to use to sign him cheap if other teams don't want him.  It is already reported that Raja Bell does not think much of joining the Lakers.  So knowing Mitch and the Laker management, they would just shrug, say, "To hell with Bell," and move on to the next option on the list.  No big deal.  Instead of Bell, there's T-Mac.  

I think T-Mac could make some significant contribution for the Laker bench.  Sure, being injury prone makes him a risk.  But what if he's healthy and can still play in his demi-Kobe level?  Wouldn't that make the Lakers so dangerous that all wins are potential overkills?  They should sign him with the money the Lakers has left.  In my opinion, the Lakers would be benefited by T-Mac's presence.  Anything that would benefit the Lakers would make me happy.

Plus, it would really give me much pleasure to write this on my friend's Facebook wall: "It's official, T-Mac is now Kobe's bitch!"  With an accompanying link to the news of his acquisition, of course.