Tracy McGrady is officially on the market and the Knicks are officially intrigued.
McGrady, 30, has taken a leave of absence from the Houston Rockets while the team shops him and his $23 million expiring contract for suitable trade partners.
At 12-19, the Knicks are on the periphery of the Eastern Conference playoff race and a player like McGrady, despite his recent history of injuries, could vault them into the postseason.
“I think you always have to be intrigued with somebody the stature of Tracy McGrady,” Knicks Coach Mike D’Antoni told The New York Times on Tuesday when the Knicks beat the Detroit Pistons.
McGrady has averaged 21.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists over his career but has played in only 101 games over the last two years.
He had microfracture surgery in February and Houston coach Rick Adelman was limiting his minutes in his return this season.
A seven-time NBA All-Star, McGrady was reportedly unhappy with his diminished role.
How much could he give the Knicks or any team he lands with?
“I think those are all questions that need to be asked and answered as best you can,” D’Antoni told The Times. “You don’t have a crystal ball, so you don’t know all that. You just try to make the best decision you can make and hope it’s the right one and go with it.”
The Knicks could offer the expiring contracts of Larry Hughes ($13 million) and Al Harrington ($10 million) or a package that includes Harrington and rookie forward Jordan Hill, whom the Knicks took with the No. 8 pick in the 2009 Draft. Hill is due $2.5 million this season and $2.7 next.
Both the Knicks and Rockets are trying to clear cap space for the summer of 2010, when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh become free agents.
Thus the bloated contracts of Eddy Curry, who is due $11.3 million next season, and Jared Jeffries ($6.9 million), would not be palatable to Rockets GM Daryl Morey.
(Photo courtesy AP)
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