Knicks discuss deal for McGrady

Source

The Houston Rockets are in the discussion stages of a complicated, three-team trade that would send Tracy McGrady to the New York Knicks, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The centerpieces of the trade would include the Washington Wizards shipping forward Caron Butler and center Brendan Haywood to the Rockets. The Knicks would send Al Harrington to the Wizards. For the Wizards’ part, they would still need another player, as well as a draft pick and cash to make this a workable scenario, sources said.

I reckon it's a great deal for the Rockets if they can get it done. Whatever McGrady might have left in the tank, they're clearly not interested in making use of him and turning him into Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood is better value than I figured they'd get for him, even as an expiring contract. Not a bad move by New York either as worst case scenario his contract comes off the books at the end of the year which fits right in with their current offseason plans. If he brings some excitement to the team and demonstrates that he can still play the game at a high level, so much the better; perhaps they'll keep him around on a smaller deal, especially if some of their free agent plans fall through. As for the Wizards, they'll lower their payroll and from the looks of things get a draft pick out of the deal if it is to go through, which is a solid move for a rebuilding team.

If this deal really come through, it'll be a great deal for the Rockets. They get a go-to guy in Butler and a solid center in Haywood that can make a presence in the post and close out the gap in the middle while Yao makes his comeback. Get it done Morey.

If taking Caron Butler is what you need to do in order to get Brendan Haywood, then why not?

Haywood - Landry/Scola - Battier/Butler - Ariza - Brooks

That's pretty good.

I reckon they might start Butler alongside Battier and bring Ariza off the bench if the deal goes through.

I Don't know about the Wizards deal..
They get a PF/SF,though they have Jamison,they send they're second best guy away.
Does Harrington's contract ends this summer?

Yes, Harrington is in the last year of his contract.

Yes.

Makes a bit sense for the Wizards trade.

If that trade happens the Rockets could boast the top shot-chucking duo in the league in Butler/Ariza. That would also be Butler's fourth team in seven years.

They'd still have parsecs to go to catch up to Rip and Stuckey:

Player	Team	TS%	Usg%	FG%	FGA per 36
Caron Butler	WAS	.506	21.9	.422	13.5
Trevor Ariza	HOU	.464	22.1	.378	14.3
Richard Hamilton	DET	.475	27.4*	.395	16.7
Rodney Stuckey	DET	.473	26.8*	.403	16.4

* = a top 20 usage rate

It'd be a great move for Houston. I'm not saying McGrady is nothing, but the Rockets aren't using him, and if they get Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, they're two great players for someone you don't use anymore.

Good move for the Rockets. It's sad to see T-Mac leave Houston, but the Rockets will get in return a go-to-guy in Butler and an inside presence in Haywood. Houston won't have problems inside now, if the deal pushes through. This can be a start for the run to the playoffs.

C'mon GM Morey, get it done!

*what's shot-chucking?

Another washed-up, injury-prone player past his prime - typical Knicks.

This franchise is a f*n joke, man.

This might definitely be seen as a trade involving only "has been" or "could have been", but I'm positive Tracy McGrady will prove those doubters wrong.

They'd still have parsecs to go to catch up to Rip and Stuckey:

Player	Team	TS%	Usg%	FG%	FGA per 36
Caron Butler	WAS	.506	21.9	.422	13.5
Trevor Ariza	HOU	.464	22.1	.378	14.3
Richard Hamilton	DET	.475	27.4*	.395	16.7
Rodney Stuckey	DET	.473	26.8*	.403	16.4

* = a top 20 usage rate

You forgot Ben Gordon.

This might definitely be seen as a trade involving only "has been" or "could have been", but I'm positive Tracy McGrady will prove those doubters wrong.

If by prove you mean play a conservative jump shooting game because of his lack of lift and athleticism, you're right. 14ppg MAX if he's a Knick.

*what's shot-chucking?

Shooting, a lot. Similar to the JR Smith style of basketball.

This might definitely be seen as a trade involving only "has been" or "could have been", but I'm positive Tracy McGrady will prove those doubters wrong.

If by prove you mean play a conservative jump shooting game because of his lack of lift and athleticism, you're right. 14ppg MAX if he's a Knick.

14.4ppg max avg? Why did you say so?

*what's shot-chucking?

Shooting, a lot. Similar to the JR Smith style of basketball.

Artest is also like that, right?

Another washed-up, injury-prone player past his prime - typical Knicks.

This franchise is a f*n joke, man.

On the bright side, it's more about his expiring contract than anything else. Surely they won't pay top dollar to keep him around, even if their other plans fall through and they have to scramble for a Plan B or C.

14.4ppg max avg? Why did you say so?

Well he was only shooting right around 40% with two knees and now with his surgery(s?) he will be playing with less athleticism, meaning he will rely on more jump shots and less on the athleticism. His aggressive play has also gone down in recent years, as shown by his free throw attempts per game (7 in 05-06 to 5 in 07-08 his last semi-healthy year).

I just don't see him really being THAT great with all that his body has gone through, maybe something like Jason Richardson now-a-days (in jump shooting style, not dunking).

Artest is also like that, right?

At times in his career. Von Wafer is actually a good example of it too

You forgot Ben Gordon.

No, I didn't. He's a third player making it a "trio" and he's nowhere near the chucker those two are since he actually makes shots.

His aggressive play has also gone down in recent years, as shown by his free throw attempts per game (7 in 05-06 to 5 in 07-08 his last semi-healthy year).

Cherrypicking slightly.

2007-08 is a down year, he draws fouls at 11%. This is off his 2003-07 of 12-13% yes, BUT his inside attempts didn't change. 2003-07 his inside attempts are 20-23%, in 2007-08 it is also 20%.

But what about last season? 22% and 12%. (And in his 46 minutes this season he's at 26% and 14%, similar to his 2002-03.)

maybe something like Jason Richardson now-a-days (in jump shooting style, not dunking).

If McGrady plays like Richardson, the Knicks will be ecstatic.

14.4ppg max avg? Why did you say so?

Well he was only shooting right around 40% with two knees and now with his surgery(s?) he will be playing with less athleticism, meaning he will rely on more jump shots and less on the athleticism. His aggressive play has also gone down in recent years, as shown by his free throw attempts per game (7 in 05-06 to 5 in 07-08 his last semi-healthy year).

I just don't see him really being THAT great with all that his body has gone through, maybe something like Jason Richardson now-a-days (in jump shooting style, not dunking).

Yeah, I also noticed J-Rich isn't that explosive going inside now.. Did he already had a knee injury?

Artest is also like that, right?

At times in his career. Von Wafer is actually a good example of it too

Nah, Wafer isn't like that.

If this deal happne, I was the first to say McGrady will end up in NY! I'll find the post and prove it! I knew NY was going to try to get McGrady. They not going to win and focusing on selling tickets up there at this point makes most sense. But I also said NY has a history of distroying people's career. Most recent players that got traded into NY, never heard from again...

But I also said NY has a history of distroying people's career. Most recent players that got traded into NY, never heard from again...

This is correlation, not causation.

There's another, more obvious reason.

Furthermore, I don't think T-Mac's career could actually reach a lower point than it's at already.

Furthermore, I don't think T-Mac's career could actually reach a lower point than it's at already.

Sure hope so. I also don't think he'll be anywhere near his prime days shape, but at least I think he deserves a shot to prove himself. That's why I dislike what Rockets did with him.