Allow me, good sir.
The Houston Rockets are in no rush to get seven-time all-star Tracy McGrady back on the court, which is telling for a blue-collar team that is grinding it out right now for coach Rick Adelman. There's actually nothing more to tell. The Rockets believe they're better off without him. Adelman has the Rockets competing at an admirable level every night even without Yao Ming (out for the season with an ankle injury). More importantly, Adelman finally has the locker room under control with Ron Artest off to the Lakers and McGrady, who subscribes to the Allen Iverson theory on practice, mostly persona non grata among the players while he recovers from a knee injury. And the Rockets want to keep it that way.
Enter the Knicks. They weren't prepared to deal with the baggage that Iverson brings with him, but as Donnie Walsh continues to search for ways to upgrade this season's team - which might barely eclipse 20 wins as currently constituted - catering to McGrady's diva-esque personality might be a lesser evil.
Multiple sources say the Knicks - who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday - have tried since the summer to engage the Rockets in trade talks for McGrady but have been unsuccessful. However, an opportunity could present itself after the latest episode - a reported spat with Adelman about McGrady's return schedule - that reportedly even has infuriated Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, who used to be one of McGrady's staunchest supporters.
What would it take? The Rockets would love to get a high-end young player for McGrady and also save some money, which suggests they also would look for an expiring contract or two. It will take more than one to make up McGrady's league-high $23.2-million salary this season.
The Knicks could offer Eddy Curry, who could make up for the loss of Yao and has only one more year left on his contract after this season; add an expiring contract such as Chris Duhon, Al Harrington or Larry Hughes, and toss in someone such as Wilson Chandler as a sweetener.
The Knicks might have to consider using the contract of retired guard Cuttino Mobley, however, if they really want to pique the interest of Alexander and general manager Daryl Morey.
Mobley is on the books for $9.5 million this season, but 80 percent is being paid by insurance because of his medical retirement. The NBA in the coming weeks will review and officially declare Mobley retired for medical reasons after the one-year anniversary of the discovery of the increased severity of his heart condition.
The Knicks planned to waive Mobley, which would wipe his salary off the cap. For the Rockets, who are a few million over the luxury-tax threshold, this could be a valuable savings. Alexander has never hesitated to spend for a playoff team, but it might be asking this group - as gritty as it is - to be among the top eight in April.
In Mike D'Antoni's system, the 6-8 McGrady could play as a big point guard. Like Iverson, he would come with a separate set of rules, but unlike Iverson, McGrady rarely is a problem off the court. Most of all, he would be a free agent next summer, and at 30 years old, he's on a mission to get another long-term deal.
The main concern, of course, is that he's healthy enough to be effective.
2/19/2009 1:00 AM