Marc J. Spears and Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports

The Houston Rockets continued to hold substantive talks with the New
York Knicks and Chicago Bulls about exiled guard Tracy McGrady(notes),
with sources close to the negotiations saying the Rockets had yet to
finalize their decision.

The Bulls spent late Tuesday gathering information on McGrady, evidence they at least thought they remained in the bidding. Still, some league executives say they think the Rockets ultimately hope to strike a deal with the Knicks and are using the Bulls as leverage to get New York to firm up its offer.

As for McGrady’s wishes?

“I’m ready to play for whoever,” McGrady said in an email Tuesday night.

As Yahoo! Sports first reported on Monday, the framework of the deal between the Rockets and Knicks would have Houston sending McGrady, Brian Cook(notes) and Joey Dorsey(notes) to New York for guard Larry Hughes(notes), Jordan Hill(notes) and Jared Jeffries(notes). The two teams also would swap first-round picks in 2011 and the Knicks would send the Rockets their first-round selection in 2012.

In addition to persuading the Knicks to include Hill, the draft picks also have been haggling points. The Rockets have so far asked a hefty price for taking on the contract of Jeffries, who will make $6.9 million next season. Removing Jeffries – and Hill – from their payroll could allow the Knicks to try to sign two top-tier free agents this summer in a class that includes LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh(notes).

The Bulls’ package for McGrady includes Tyrus Thomas, Brad Miller and either John Salmons or Kirk Hinrich. Chicago has tried to attach Salmons to packages involving Thomas, which has tempered the demand for him.

The Spurs are still intrigued by Thomas. They’ve had talks about moving Antonio McDyess and the remaining $7.5 million on his contract after this season to open minutes and create flexibility to possibly re-sign Thomas in the summer. Having to also take on Salmons, however, would likely be a deal-breaker. The two teams talked on Tuesday, but Chicago wasn’t in position to make a deal with Thomas until resolving negotiations with the Rockets.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AoG7Ds8eqQRZtDW2Hc5ExGG8vLYF?slug=ys-mcgradyrockets021710&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

The New York Knicks are getting closer to reaching the Houston Rockets’
demands for Tracy McGrady(notes) and his $23 million expiring contract,
league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The Knicks and Rockets have designed the framework of a deal that would
unload New York’s Jared Jeffries(notes), Jordan Hill(notes) and either
Al Harrington(notes) or Larry Hughes(notes) for McGrady, Joey
Dorsey(notes) and Brian Cook(notes).

As talks stood on Monday, the price of dumping the burdensome contract of Jeffries – who is owed $6.9 million next season – comes with the Knicks and Rockets exchanging 2011 first-round picks and the Knicks’ 2012 first-round choice going to Houston. New York also might include a 2010 second-round pick.

The Utah Jazz own the Knicks’ first-round pick in 2010.

The discussion on potential draft picks changing hands remains fluid.

The completion of the deal isn’t imminent, but sources involved in the discussions are increasingly confident that after months of back and forth, which intensified over All-Star weekend, an agreement is within reach. TNT’s David Aldridge first reported that talks between the teams had picked up.

One of the hang-ups in the deal, sources said, could be the Knicks’ inclusion of either Harrington or Hughes. There are slight variations of the trade that would change depending on which of the two veteran Knicks’ expiring contracts are included. With Harrington over Hughes in the deal, the Rockets wouldn’t need to include Cook.

For the Knicks, the trade would accomplish two important things: First, it would get Jeffries’ salary cleared out, something general manager Donnie Walsh has tried to do since taking the job. This would give the Knicks even more flexibility to be a major player in this summer’s free-agent market. Also, the Knicks want to take a good look at McGrady and let him play as much of a role as he can handle the rest of the season. They may consider re-signing him for next season, based on his performance.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AtnYWLqrSYsgb4ziym_lfYK8vLYF?slug=ys-knicksrocketstrade021510&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

HOWARD BECK

Four days before the N.B.A.’s trading deadline, the Knicks have renewed
efforts to acquire the former All-Star Tracy McGrady from the Houston
Rockets, according to two people close to the talks.

There were substantive discussions on Sunday between the Knicks’
president, Donnie Walsh; Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey; and
McGrady’s agent, Arn Tellem, according to the people, who did not want
to be identified discussing the negotiations.

The Knicks and the Rockets are trying to make the trade without the assistance of a third team, but the Knicks may not have the pieces necessary. There is also the challenge of matching McGrady’s $23 million salary.

Any deal for McGrady would involve some combination of Knicks with expiring contracts — Al Harrington, Larry Hughes, Darko Milicic or the retired Cuttino Mobley — and a young player, possibly Jordan Hill, the Knicks’ 2009 lottery pick.

The Knicks would prefer to unload Jared Jeffries or Eddy Curry to clear more salary-cap space this summer, but the Rockets are also protective of their cap room and have no interest in either player.

McGrady, 30, played in only six games this season before the Rockets decided to send him away and announced they would try to trade him. McGrady, who is trying to come back from major knee surgery, complained in December that he needed more playing time, a request the Rockets were unwilling to meet. A seven-time All-Star, McGrady has averaged 21.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 13 seasons. However, he has played only 107 games over the last three years because of injuries.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/15/sports/basketball/15mcgrady.html

Knicks president Donnie Walsh said a misperception exists that his
interest in the Rockets’ Tracy McGrady is solely as a rental to inject
life into a dying season.

"There’s reasons other than that," Walsh told The Post.

Walsh declined to specify, but a source said the Knicks would like to
see if McGrady is someone to consider re-signing in July. At least
they’d have a fallback candidate if McGrady excels and they are unable
to land one of the top free agents, LeBron James or Dwyane Wade.

The other four top free-agent candidates are Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer and Amar’e Stoudemire. McGrady once was considered in those players’ class before microfracture surgery on his left knee last year.

"I think he’s a very good player," Walsh said. "The microfracture surgery is a concern for everybody. But he’s a good player. . . . I’ve been realistic about these first two years and I’m not doing this for immediate satisfaction."

Walsh said the rumors of serious talks between the Rockets, Knicks and Wizards on a three-team trade have been inflated. Walsh said he first heard the three-team scenario through a media report. Since then, Walsh has contacted the Wizards and Rockets to find out if they were speaking about a potential three-way deal.

In addition, Walsh said he has other irons in the fire. The club is exploring Nate Robinson’s trade value. If the Knicks trade Robinson, they would open playing time for rookie Toney Douglas if they go to a youth movement.

Another source said the Rockets are talking to several teams, but nothing is close to being done on any front. The source said Al Harrington is the lone lock in a three-way deal and he would wind up in Washington.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/walsh_not_just_flirting_with_mac_m0ymGRrcGedh42ZwTx3uAL

McGrady is on leave from the Houston Rockets and working out in Chicago
with trainer Tim Grover, hoping for a trade. The Bulls have some
interest, but only if they can increase their cap space for next
summer. McGrady has an expiring contract worth $23 million.

Any Houston trade would most likely wait until the Feb. 18 trade deadline with all NBA teams exploring their options in the meantime. There is no chance the Bulls would give up Joakim Noah in such a deal. A more likely package would be John Salmons, Brad Miller and Jerome James for McGrady and some filler.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=350726&src=150

Houston is looking to deal McGrady and his expiring $23 million contract by the Feb. 19 trade deadline.

An ESPN.com story Tuesday claimed the Sixers "hinted at a package of (Andre) Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert for McGrady," though the source said the Sixers "didn’t hint."

"Houston is going through the league" seeking the best offer, according to the source. "Nothing is hot."

The ESPN.com story also said "the Sixers have not completely ruled out a Tracy McGrady-for-Andre Iguodala deal. The Sixers are contemplating a fire sale if their losing persists."

The source indicated that may be off-base.

McGrady, the league’s highest-paid player in 2009-10, had microfracture knee surgery last Feb. 24 but is healthy now.

The Rockets are believed to have interest in packages from teams such as the Bulls (Joakim Noah) and Wizards (Caron Butler), among others.

The salaries of Iguodala ($12.2 million this season) and Dalembert ($11.5 million) match McGrady’s within the allowable 25 percent trade differential. But Houston would have to be willing to pay Iguodala and Dalembert a combined $68.5 million beyond next summer.

Such a swap would take the Sixers from a $65 million payroll in 2010-11, which exceeds the expected salary cap of roughly $55 million, to about $14 million under the cap.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/126/2010/january/13/source-sixers-rockets-talking-trade-1.html

"One-hundred percent ready to go and he’s been ready," Grover told The
Post from his Chicago athletic compound where he’s been working with
McGrady since Christmas. "No limitations, no anything."

Many teams are concerned about McGrady coming back from microfracture knee surgery. Plus, a deal to obtain his $23 million expiring contract without the Rockets taking long-term money back is highly complex.

The Knicks have a legit shot at T-Mac if they are willing to send either of their rookies, Jordan Hill or Toney Douglas, to Houston, according to a source briefed on trade discussions. They have enough other expiring pacts to flesh out a package.

McGrady is working with Grover daily, doing drills and scrimmaging with Bonzi Wells, among others, at Grover’s Attack Center on Chicago’s West side.

"Any team who wants to come down to Chicago, to come look at it, I don’t pull any punches," said Grover, who made a career of training Michael Jordan and took on Kobe Bryant last season. "Put him through anything they want him to put him through. Whether it’s a trade or buyout, he’s ready to go."

Daryl Morey, the Rockets general manager, told The Post he has seven teams interested with various proposals and expects to get something done by the Feb. 18 trading deadline. If a deal is not consummated, the Rockets could buy McGrady out.

⇒ It seems like David Lee has the vote of Thunder coach Scott Brooks, who will get his reserves ballot for the All-Star game in less than two weeks.

"He’s as good as a power forward in the league right now with the way he’s playing," Brooks said before the Thunder’s 106-88 victory over the Knicks last night. "He’s a 20, 10 guy. Watching him play this year he’s handling the ball more. . . . He’s good with either hand, he has a great spin dribble and he passes the ball well for a big guy."

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/trainer_mcgrady_is_ready_PB8Y6fxhLNgbtntTA0oBdO

You know who you are.

The local Monte Halls would love to see the Bucks neatly wrap up Michael Redd, place a bow on top and ship him off to Houston for McGrady in a tidy holiday exchange of highly paid, high-profile, high-scoring veterans who are both coming off serious injuries.

The reality, though, is that it’s highly unlikely such a trade will ever take place.

After all, is it realistic to think the Rockets would trade McGrady and his coveted expiring $22.5 million contract and take back Redd, who after this season has one more on his contract at a hefty $18.3 million?

Nope.

The Rockets, who have won this season without McGrady, have said they would entertain offers for him, but they also could decide to just hang onto him and ride out the season – and then wipe his huge salary off the books.

Or, if they did find an appropriate suitor, the Rockets could pick up a nice combination of young assets, attractive draft picks or expiring contracts in a trade.

The bottom line is the Bucks would have to offer a heck of a lot more than Redd for McGrady, since McGrady’s contract is expiring and Redd’s is not. But if the Bucks started throwing draft picks and prospects into a deal, it would crumble any foundation that general manager John Hammond and coach Scott Skiles have tried to lay down since taking over the operation.

Also, although Redd appears to be healthy, some teams might be hesitant to deal for a player coming off a major knee injury.

You never say never in the NBA, but Redd just does not seem to be a logical piece to attract McGrady and his contract in a trade.

The Bucks do not comment on trade speculation.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/80515377.html

If the 76ers want Houston Rockets forward Tracy McGrady and his
expiring $23 million contract, it will take a package deal built around
Sixers swingman Andre Iguodala.

According to a source close to the situation, the Houston Rockets have said they would only consider shipping McGrady to the Sixers if the Sixers "knocked the Rockets over" with the amount of young talent included in the deal.

The source said that the teams have not spoken in "more than a week," but that a deal involving Iguodala "has a chance."

The Rockets, one of only a handful of NBA teams willing to take on salary, would have to be overwhelmed by the talent included – perhaps power forward Thaddeus Young, point guard Lou Williams, or center Marreese Speights – to take on contracts for McGrady’s expiring deal.

The same source said the Rockets were unwilling to trade McGrady for Sixers center Samuel Dalembert and power forward Elton Brand, although the source confirmed that the Sixers have been trying to unload both players.

Iguodala, 25, is averaging 19.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists a game. Iguodala signed a six-year, $80 million contract on Aug. 17, 2008.

McGrady, 30, has played only 35 games since the 2007-08 season, having undergone microfracture surgery on his left knee in February 2009. He has not played an NBA game since then.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20100101_Sixers_Notes___Iguodala_would_be_price_of_obtaining_McGrady.html

Where was Tracy McGrady when you need him?

The Knicks could have used T-Mac in last night’s stinker in the Swamp,
losing to the pathetic Nets, 104-95, and showing they probably need a
boost if they are serious about staying in a playoff race.

But if the Knicks do get McGrady, it might not be for a long while.

According to a source, the Rockets plan to talk to many teams and the McGrady sweepstakes could drag on. Ultimately, the Knicks’ best chance of landing McGrady is not by trade but if he eventually agrees to a Rockets’ buyout after all trade options are exhausted.

This could take a while," the source said. "The Rockets want to talk to a lot of teams."

Back from Japan where he spent the last 10 days, agent Arn Tellem began his marketing of Tracy McGrady, saying T-Mac is healthy, willing and able.

"Tracy is now healthy and is looking forward to contributing to a team this season," Tellem stated in an e-mail. "He is an incredible talent and a relentless competitor. Any team will be most fortunate to have him."

Because McGrady’s expiring contract is worth $23.2 million and the Rockets won’t take any bad contracts that eat into their 2010 cap space, a trade to match T-Mac’s salary would be very difficult.

According to a source, the Knicks and Rockets have had "limited" conversations so far about a McGrady deal but things should pick up next week. While in Japan, Tellem’s conversations were limited to the Rockets and McGrady, on a leave of absence.

It is why a buyout might be the solution once Rockets GM Daryl Morey researches all scenarios. It could be a win-win. The Knicks still have their $6 million mid-level exception and can use a portion to sign a free agent. So McGrady could agree to a buyout for a pro-rated $3 million less, saving the Rockets money and ridding them of a headache while the Knicks sign him to a pro-rated $3 million deal.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/mac_deal_not_on_horizon_FvCkYwATeFjIwcIGyyjwHN#ixzz0bPRGYcEi