T-Mac—Deal or No Deal?
As the trade deadline continues to approach, it doesn’t seem likely that T-Mac will be trade. The Rockets have had a few conversations with some teams but nothing has materialized of them. As the Rockets hope that they can bring some help to their small line-up.
The teams that seem the most likely to make a trade for Tracy McGrady are the Washington Wizards, New York Knicks, or the Chicago Bulls. The Knicks and the Bulls are looking forward to simply one thing and that is cap space. As for the Wizards they are looking to blow up their team and begin rebuilding. For the Rockets to help any of these teams it would most likely be the Wizards.
The idea of possibly snagging Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood would undoubtedly improve the Rockets and give them some nice pieces to work with come playoff time. Furthermore, having Haywood to fortify the frontcourt once Yao Ming returns from injury next season would do wonders for this squad. In order for this to work, the Rockets would have to probably give up a first round draft pick or two to help the Wizards begin to rebuild.
Earlier this week is reported that there was a three-way deal in the works between the Rockets, Knicks and Wizards. To no one’s surprise the names being mentioned were McGrady going to the Big Apple, Haywood and Butler heading to H-Town and Al Harrington’s expiring deal being shipped to Washington. Obviously there would be some more pieces that would have to be involved in order to satisfy the requirements for a trade to pass through the league office.
It’s good to see the that Rockets are being opportunistic and aggressive in seeing what they can do to compete both for the here and now as well as the future. If the Rockets were able to swing a deal and land Butler and Haywood, that would be a home-run-of-a-deal.
I wouldn’t get your hopes up that a three-way deal is going to happen because history tells us that these deals are hard to consummate. If for no other reason, you have three (rather than two) parties that could back-out at any given time.
The Rockets also have the option to hold onto T-Mac in hopes of getting a sign-and-trade deal done this summer. Stay tuned Red Nation as the trade deadline nears. There is always plenty of bark but not much bite when it comes to rumors and whispers of deals so please take anything you hear for face value without getting too excited—after all 90% of deals never happen because of a certain technicality, etc. Let’s just be pleased that we have a management that is actively seeking to improve this team. That’s more than a lot of other organizations can say for themselves.
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