I first found out by Henry Abbott of TrueHoop that the Houston Rockets may consider trading All-Star shooting guard Tracy McGrady to the New York Knicks for Darko Milicic and Eddy Curry. With this trade, Houston will reduce their luxury tax payments, in which they’re desperately in need of reducing, and will save $10M this season.
It’d be the right move for Houston I think. With Yao Ming out for the season, the Rockets have a very strong chance of not making the playoffs this season. I don’t think they can find anyone to help them for rebounding the ball. Luis Scola is their best man and I don’t think he’ll be much of help all by himself.
But with the injuries running around T-Mac for the past few years, it’d be best if Houston could trade him. Also, they’ll add more help for the big men on the court if they acquired Darko and Curry. The help in rebounding would be positive and beneficial. I don’t see why they do not want to do this transaction. It’d be half-witted of them as well.
Here’s how both teams would fair if they actually did this exchange.
Houston Rockets
But with T-Mac out, I think Ariza would most probably move to T-Mac’s place at shooting guard while Battier starts at Ariza’s spot for the small forward. It would fit perfectly. Here’s what the depth chart would look like with Curry and Milicic in the picture:
PG: Aaron Brooks/Kyle Lowry
SG: Trevor Ariza/Jermaine Taylor
SF: Shane Battier/Brent Barry
PF: Luis Scola/Darko Milicic/Carl Landry/Chuck Hayes
C: Eddy Curry/David Andersen/Joey Dorsey/Brian Cook/Yao Ming*
*Out for season
After seeing some great play of Aaron Brooks during last year’s NBA playoffs, he has earned the starting point guard role. Kyle Lowry also showed signs of improvement as he’ll be backing him up in the rotation.
As I said before, the shooting guard and small forward spots will be changed drastically. With Trevor Ariza starting at shooting guard, it moves Brent Barry to small forward as he’ll be backing up Shane Battier while Jermaine Taylor backs up Ariza.
Darko Milicic will move to power forward, backing up Luis Scola, while Eddy Curry maintains the starting role at center. David Andersen might make some surprises and Carl Landry and Chuck Hayes look to be impressive. Joey Dorsey and Brian Cook may make some moves in the rotation while Yao Ming will be sitting on the bench with his severe injury.
Overall, the Rockets will look better than before with this and might have a much better chance for the playoffs. So that’s how the Rockets will look after this trade, let’s see how the Knicks do.
New York Knicks
Okay, I think we all know we won’t be seeing playoffs for NY, but it won’t be all bad with T-Mac in the picture, right? With the talent they have currently, and with Chris Hunter and Joe Crawford waived, their depth chart will probably look like this:
PG: Nate Robinson/Chris Duhon/Toney Douglas
SG: Tracy McGrady/Larry Hughes/Cuttino Mobley
SF: Wilson Chandler/Marcus Landry
PF: David Lee/Danilo Gallinari
C: Al Harrington/Jared Jeffries/Jordan Hill
I think Krypto-Nate will be playing a much more substantial act at point guard with Chris Duhon and Toney Douglas complimenting him. Tracy McGrady is in the house, leading the Knicks in the shooting guard position and probably points for this season with Larry Hughes and Cuttino Mobley assisting him.
Wilson Chandler will be moved small forward along with Marcus Landry. Landry has been playing very hard in training camp, and I think he’ll be playing exceptionally well this season. David Lee is a no-brainer at power forward and Danilo Gallinari will be a nice alternate.
At center, Al Harrington will be the starter while Jared Jeffries will substitute him. Newcomer Jordan Hill will look to spark in his rookie year with his mentors. I think the Knicks have a stronger chance of making the playoffs.
But like I said earlier, I really don’t think he’ll make it. But Nate Robinson suggests that they will. But even though I say that they won’t make the playoffs, it doesn’t mean they’ll be bad as they’re capable of.
Both of these would make a smart deal if this thing would ever to happen. I think it will though. With the NBA regular season just days away, it’s going to be fun. And with this transaction to occur, it’d be very entertaining.
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