Trading Iguodala ...
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Trading Iguodala ...
So what's it going to take to get the Houston Rockets' Tracy McGrady and his $23 million expiring contract?
It's going to take a deal involving, as its main piece, 76ers swingman Andre Iguodala.
According to a source close to the situation, the Houston Rockets have said they would only consider shipping McGrady to Philly if the Sixers "knocked the Rockets over" with the amount of talent they included in the deal.
This source said the Rockets have made it clear they will not -- in any way -- consider trading McGrady to the Sixers for power forward Elton Brand ($14-15 million this year, 3 years left after this one) and center Samuel Dalembert ($12 million, one year left after this one). According to this source, the Sixers are trying very hard to unload Dalembert (not a surprise) and Brand (not a huge surprise, either).
The problem is not many NBA teams are willing to take on money right now. This source named only three NBA teams possibly willing (Houston, Dallas, and Cleveland).
According to this source, the Rockets have expressed interest in a deal involving Iguodala, but he must be paired with better, younger talent than Dalembert. (Read: a deal involving possibly Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young, Marreese Speights, etc.).
Again, the Rockets are willing to take on money, but it'd have to be a special package and a 3rd team might even need to be involved. This source said this would be the kind of deal where both teams needed approval from ownership because of the amount of money and players involved.
The source also said that the Rockets and Sixers have not talked in "more than a week", making a deal unlikely, but said any deal involving Iguodala "has a chance."
So there's the latest on the NBA's most talked about trading chip: Tracy McGrady.
The problem with the Sixers making a deal involving Iguodala and young talent is that they'd be getting rid of some good young guys and remain with Brand and Dalembert, which is sort of the opposite of the point of making such a trade.
--Kate
I wouldn't do it if they won't accept Iguodala and Brand for McGrady and player X. Andre Iguodala has value in this league and would be a key component to a team looking for that final piece to put them over the top. While I'm all for salary dumps and expiring contracts, you have to try to be smart about these deals once in a while.— dpcoz
I'd much rather have Brand for the next five years than Iguodala. Iguodala is definitely not going to be able to get our team to the next level. He is clearly not a superstar and he is being paid like one. It is time to move on. Trading for McGrady's expiring contract will give us some good options next summer with all of the free agents that will be available...... "The problem with the Sixers making a deal involving Iguodala and young talent is that they'd be getting rid of some good young guys and remain with Brand and Dalembert, which is sort of the opposite of the point of making such a trade." Sorry Kate, but how can you watch this team and be so ignorant? We're obviously not going to win anything with the team we have now. Might as well start rebuilding now. Young and Speights are the only ones I'd try and keep, everyone else is available. I'm all for trading Dalembert but his contract expires next year and Brand has been playing much better lately. It's not his fault Eddie Jordan has no idea what he's doing having him come off the bench.— younggunna917- Tough. If they want Iguodala who would fit in nicely there, they'll have to take Dalembert along with it.— KidCole35
- Why would the Sixers take on an expiring contract like T-Mac? In all due seriousness, which player do they think they can court in the 2010 FA sweepstakes? Quite honestly, with the way the players have groused about Jordan, what UFA is going to look at Philly as a good place to play? Keep Brand, keep Iguodala. T-Mac and his microfracture surgery can ride pine.— psv
- McGrady, Brand, and Iverson would be an awesome starting lineup ... in 2002.— bklyn
Comment removed.- psv - are you serious? we need cap relief so we can actually make a deal and get someone in here who can play. Sammy D and Iggy are both well overpaid and won't carry this team. Brand is another story in itself, but no one is taking his contract from us no matter who we include.— jsavino
- Comment removed.
- So the Rockets are trying to strong arm the Sixers for a player who is being limited to less than 10 minutes a game because of microfracture surgery and a me-first attitude? The Sixers are truly the worst franchise in the league if they dish Iguodala for McGrady. Sixers are holding the cards, but I'm not sure we have a GM strong enough to play them right.— echosmyron
- Comment removed.
- rickh....bck away from the ledge. McGrady is an expiring contract. The Sixers would sign him to clear cap space and he would be a free agent the end of the season and be gone.— JonKap
- By the way, could the reporter include in the article that McGrady is an expiring contract. Maybe explain the concept as many posters don't get it? Thanks.— JonKap
- Iguodala, but not Young. Maybe Lou Will and let A.I groom him...— Ruiz the Great
- RickH--their objective is to get the expiring contract. Unfortunately, given the cap rule, the NBA is more about economics than getting "talent" in a deal.— reils
- deal would reming me of the Mashburn deal— Ruiz the Great
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
