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.

And, again, to detach themselves from McGrady might be addition by subtraction.

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.

< back to article

YOU GIVE HOUSTON JUST ABOUT ANYTHING IT WANTS

To make this happen.

Eddy Curry + Any combination of: Lee, Nate, Chandler, Harrington, Hughes, Duhon, Mobley, the 2nd rounders we have --- any and all of it to make the financial aspect of the trade work - to turn Eddy Curry's 2011 contract into a 2010 expiring.

You just do.

Lee and Nate won't be here next year. Nate is a spaz. Lee is a doormat. Enough already with pretending they'll get it together and become superstars. They won't. Adios.
Harrington might if retained cheaply but Hughes, Duhon, Mobley clearly won't be. So, adios.
Chandler isn't going to be a superstar....a 2nd max FA is...so you cough him up for the opportunity to get that 2nd max (everyone following here?) Adios.

Get it done.

Will anyone miss Chandler??

i think the rockets would deal but it might have to be more like Mobley, Harrington and Chandler for McGrady. I don't see them taking a contract that runs past this year, especially Curry. Next year they expect Yao to be back and having Yao and Curry on the same team would be a disaster.

crzymdups wrote:the question is would they take Curry? I highly doubt it. Curry has just as much money committed as McGrady does. $11M this year and $11M next year is actually probably a more burdensome commitment than one year $23M for McGrady.

i think the rockets would deal but it might have to be more like Mobley, Harrington and Chandler for McGrady. I don't see them taking a contract that runs past this year, especially Curry. Next year they expect Yao to be back and having Yao and Curry on the same team would be a disaster.

crunch the numbers:

Curry + Cuttino = $20mm
TMac = $23.5mm
Knicks throw in $3mm
Rockets get $5.5mm from Mobely's insurance (80% of 3/4 if his remaining salary 2010)

Rockets save $12mm this year, so the trade is money is a push when you look at them adding Eddy's $11.

Also the Rockets are in the luxury tax, so the immediate savings this should be extremely attractive.

Your offering the Rockets $12mm of savings this year, getting rid of a player they dont want and giving them another player that fills an immediate and pressing need.

Sangfroid wrote:Ya know, I miss Hahn's contibutions to the boards, but if I read one more "the Knicks - who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday", I was gonna SCREAM!!

To be fair, I don't think that's his decision to stick that in there.

crzymdups wrote:

fishmike wrote:

Your offering the Rockets $12mm of savings this year, getting rid of a player they dont want and giving them another player that fills an immediate and pressing need.

i agree with that, but it also limits their flexibility in 2010-11 and creates a possible problem of having Curry and Yao on their team in 2010-11 season. it's a luxury tax savings, but not a huge one.

i agree it seems like a possible fit, and i hope it's the reason they passed on iverson because nothing else makes sense to me regarding passing on Iverson.

but the Houston GM is one of those guys who looks at all the stats and when you look at curry and see his lack of blocks, rebounds and assists and his high propensity for turnovers, not to mention his propensity for getting injured... i dunno. i don't see a smart GM wanting Curry. i bet the Rockets think they're better off with what they have at center and waiting to see if someone else offers a more attractive package for McGrady.

if we REALLY think McGrady is necessary this season we can offer a package of expirings for him that would be attractive to houston.

Lastly remember the luxury savings is in addition to the $12mm the save this year. Not sure how the luxury tax is calculated intra year, so I didnt include.

nixluva wrote:Who the heck would take on that much salary?

anybody looking to knock 23 mil off next years cap

fishmike wrote:lol.. but money talks and bad contracts walk. Bottom line is this deal saves Houston a whole lot of money.

Bottom line is Curry will help them and they lose a headache player they have no use for.

If they can do better than go for it... but the Knicks are one of the few teams that can offer them $12mm in savings this year.

Now buy me a pint, and I will finish it

Bottom line... Huston will may think about it for just expiring (Like Larry, Al, Mobley, Darko, Duhon combination).
But if Eddy or JJ will be mentiond, forget about it...

arkrud wrote:

fishmike wrote:lol.. but money talks and bad contracts walk. Bottom line is this deal saves Houston a whole lot of money.

Bottom line is Curry will help them and they lose a headache player they have no use for.

If they can do better than go for it... but the Knicks are one of the few teams that can offer them $12mm in savings this year.

Now buy me a pint, and I will finish it

Bottom line... Huston will may think about it for just expiring (Like Larry, Al, Mobley, Darko, Duhon combination).
But if Eddy or JJ will be mentiond, forget about it...