Don't Count On McGrady
The 76ers have investigated the availability of Tracy McGrady, but a deal for the Houston Rockets' one-time star seems highly unlikely.
Don't Count On McGrady
Let's get this out of the way before the 76ers face the Sacramento Kings tonight:
The Sixers have spoken with Houston Rockets' executives about Tracy McGrady, rehabbing from major knee surgery. More than once.
The Rockets didn't seem interested in a deal involving Samuel Dalembert, and they still aren't. They wanted no part of Dalembert's 15 percent trade kicker, and they still don't.
At the same time, even though McGrady ($23 million salary) and the Rockets have agreed to part ways, there's no law that says the Rockets have to trade him. They could just let his $23 million contract expire at the end of this season and deduct it from their payroll.
Sixers president/general manager Ed Stefanski says what you expect him to say: "We talk to all the teams on a regular basis, but I won't talk about players and trades. We are looking at any and all options that might improve the team.''
Who knows what any other team might be offering for McGrady? But there is this from Rockets coach Rick Adelman, to Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle: "The thing people want to write about is who (McGrady) was two years ago. He isn't that right now. We have a whole team. It's not just about what he wants or what he was going to want. It was about what can he do to help us win.''
Bottom line: The Sixers are exploring ways to improve their team.
So are the Rockets.
But don't count on them doing business with each other.
Comments (53)
nobody wants sam
Just what we need. Another high priced, injured former star who can no longer play at a high level. Don't we have enough of these with Brand, Iverson. When was the last time the Sixers actually had a legitamit current All Star.— Ascher- The earth is rumbling and the trade winds are blowing from south to northeast...mark it down, a McGrady/Scola package for Brand, Iggy and Williams AND possibly our #1(1st pick protected)to faciltiate this monster. Like I said on the previous website I've been a hardcore fan since 81' and have contacts throughout the country..happy holidays to all to all a good"trade"night!— sixerjones
- Sam by himself? No way. However, Sam and Brand together works from a $$ perspective. Houston has only one player (David Anderson, 6'11, from Australia...avg's 14 mpg) over 6'9 on the team. This is why Luis Scola (a true PF), at 6'9, effectively plays C for the Rockets. Since Yao is out for this season and, possibly, some of next season, Sam makes perfect sense down there. His contract runs through 2011. That said, Houston clearly is going to want more for McGrady's expiring deal than Sam. So, my recommendation (which is almost certainly better than what Stefanski will accomplish via his track record to date) is to package Sam, Brand, and a 2012 #1 draft pick for McGrady and Houston's choice of either Carl Landry (PF / SF) or Luis Scola (both are very good Fs, but both contracts expire at the end of this season...Rockets aren't keeping them both). From a personnel standpoint, Houston gains Brand for 3 1/2 seasons and Sam for 1 1/2 seasons, while only losing 1/2 season of either Landry or Scola, depending on which guy they let walk. Obviously, this deal completely rests on Brand's continued improving play. If Elton continues to uptick, Houston does this deal, especially if the Sixers sweeten it with the 2012 1st rounder. In terms of benefit for the Sixers, they rid themselves of both Sam and Brand's contracts (Speights will be more productive cumulatively over the next 3.5 seasons anyway than Elton Brand) and will shed approx. $28M off of their cap figure going forward with McGrady expiring at the end of the season. That would leave them effectively $15-$20M under the cap for the 2010-11 season, which they could then effectively use in combination with the draft to upgrade the team's C position, improve outside shooting, and to re-sign Scola / Landry if it makes sense. It also gives them much greater flexibility going forward re: trade scenarios to upgrade the team.— Dean1
- If the Portland momentum doesnt keep up, I would include Brand IF they would take Dalembert too. They need some size but have Yao coming back next year (when Sammy contract will become an "expiring contract" and more of an asset that Houston could trade). Yao and Brand would be tough with Battier and Aaron Brooks. We could throw Lou Williams or Willie Green if they want a "2" and have some contract they wanna dump back on us For just McGrady...let his contract expire. Id even release him the day after we get him...its just for the cap room, Ascher.— shova
- com'on. What sense would that make? That trade would mean giving up on the season. We just spent all that money on all three of those players and now we are gonna give them away. The only way this would do anything good is if it opens up room for the 2010 hoopla that is going to happen this summer. We are the sixers, dammit!!!! Lakers and celtics are back on top, now it time for us to join them. We are all linked together. So, maybe if we can open up cap room, we might be able to get a big free agent.— radicaleaglesfan
- SixerJones - I agree that they should be able to swing the TMac deal, but not with Iggs. There is no way that they essentially deal both Elton and Iggs for an expiring (TMAC) and another expiring (Scola) that could very well leave. No, Iggs doesn't go unless you get something of major value (other than cap relief) in return. He's one of the better all-around players in the league...just because he has very little support here doesn't mean that you dump him for nothing. Every good team in the NBA would love to have him as their "Scottie" to complement the team's current star. No way.— Dean1
- Ok, the 76ers are a franchise without any direction right now. The coach is mediocre and can't figure out which guys on the roster can play and can't play, and the GM has put these second-rate players together as a team without actually thinking of the system. I don;t think that there is a single player on this team who should be untouchable (although there are some players with nice, but not star, upside). So, maybe the Sixers should blow the whole thing up. It's not like anyone is coming to the games this year anyway. Do not offer draft picks, but offer guys that might fit the Houston system. Iguodala likely wouldn't fit because the Rockets have and like Trevor Ariza (who is also much cheaper). Wow, looking at the 76ers' roster shows just how many bad contracts they have on the books.— The700Level
- Why in the world would the Sixers do that deal......I guess it would open up some serious cap room. How many years left on McGrady's contract? 1?— Bthuff80
- The article says three times that the Rockets have no interest in this so why is it even an article????— CBent1
- Or Houston could just take its cap space into the great free agent market that is coming. Come on, Houston doos not even take Stefanski's calls past the secretary.— JonKap
Comment removed.
Dalemberts agent was a genius to get him that contract. Clearly he's not worth it. Never was. anyone know how long we are shackled to him? i guess its too much to just release his dead, foul prone behind.- Comment removed.
- Philly is a major market and if they had money for next year they could entice one of those big 3. Next year is loaded with FA's. Everyone talks about LeBron, Wade and Bosh but you also have Yao, Nowitzki, Joe Johnson, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Brad Miller, Josh Howard, Marcus Camby, Micheal Redd, AL Harrington, Richard Jefferson, Carlos Boozer, and Amare Stoudemire. A team can completely reload based off of those FA's.— Nothing but the truth
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About this blog
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
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