Hoopsworld: 4 Tmac Trade Scenarios

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The writer listed 4 Tmac trade scenarios. I personally don't like any of them too much, but if I had to choose I would go with the last one. Just kinda wanted to see what everyone else thought.

 

Trading away the player with the largest salary in the league isn't very easy because of the league's salary-matching rules, but that's exactly what GM Daryl Morey of the Houston Rockets is currently tasked with. Rather than being a distraction for the team because of undesirably low playing time, the Rockets and Tracy McGrady decided it would be best for him to be separated from the squad and train on his own while Morey tries to facilitate a trade.

With his $22.8-million salary, the challenge in trying to move McGrady is immense not only because of the sheer size of his contract but also because McGrady is coming off of microfracture surgery in his left knee. His comeback has limited him to only 45 minutes of total playing time, less than eight minutes in each of the six games he's played in thus far, which really doesn't help teams see if McGrady really has anything left in his 30-year old legs.

So will teams be willing to give up any assets in the hopes that McGrady's star will once again rise? Or has his star faded to the point of being traded for a pile of scraps in the form of summer cap relief? And what could/would Morey be willing to take back for his highest-salaried trading piece? Will teams be banking on the fact that McGrady will be itching to prove something and once again be the 21.9 career point-per-game player or teams be content with the more-recent 3.2-points per contest because he's an expiring deal?


Let the hypothetical scenarios begin ..

1) Rockets send Tracy McGrady to Bulls for Brad Miller and John Salmons. In a separate deal, Rockets send Joey Dorsey to Bulls for $881,000 trade exception (from Andres Nocioni trade).

Ever since the news that Yao Ming was going to be lost for the season because of his broken foot, the Rockets have known that they'd go into the season without a bona fide true center on their roster. Admirably, guys like Chuck Hayes, Luis Scola, and David Andersen have really stepped up, playing with the sort of energy and aggression that has helped bridge any rebounding gap for the Rockets.

But by moving McGrady in this package, the Rockets would be getting a legit center in return in Brad Miller. Miller, whose $12.3-million deal will expire in the summer, would be reunited with Rick Adelman, the coach he had played with so much success under in Sacramento in the middle of the last decade. Although Miller is by no means the player he once was, the Rockets would be getting a big man that can rebound, has a consistent mid-range shot, and who knows Adelman's motion offense and will be able to adapt quickly. Plus, with his deal expiring, he's a low-risk, high-reward type of solution to the team's clear lack of height. Miller would probably still be a back up, but the rotation down low for the rest of the season and playoff push would be significantly stronger with he, Hayes, Scola (who can now play some PF), Landry, and Andersen.


Additionally, the Rockets would be getting John Salmons, a player the Bulls may be willing to move because he's got a year left on his deal after this season. By moving Salmons, the Bulls will have a little bit more cap space and breathing room to potentially sign a major free agent in the summer. Salmons is an athletic wingman that can really compliment Trevor Ariza on both ends of the court – he can play some tough defense and his offensive game has developed nicely over the years to where he can slash or pull up for the occasional jumper. By adding Salmons, the Rockets could potentially move Shane Battier to a more comfortable sixth-man role or they can keep starting Battier and use Salmons as a nice punch off the bench, joining Carl Landry as some of the best reserves in the league.

At the same time, the Rockets would be shedding about $4.5-million in payroll, which will certainly be helpful considering the team's luxury tax bill.

While giving the Bulls some extra cap space, this deal also gives Chicago a scoring option to place between Derrick Rose and Luol Deng. If – and it's a big if – McGrady can put up 14-17 points per game, he'd significantly help take some pressure off of both Chicago cornerstones while adding a project big man to work with down low in Joey Dorsey. As the Bulls look to get back in the playoff hunt, McGrady could be a possible upgrade for the squad (especially offensively, where the aggression of Ben Gordon has yet to really be replaced). And – hey – if it doesn't work out and McGrady isn't motivated to show he's still got something left, it's all gravy if the cap space turns into Dwyane Wade.


2) Rockets send Tracy McGrady to Jazz for Carlos Boozer, Kosta Koufos, and Kyle Korver. In separate deals, Rockets send Carl Landry to Jazz for $3,000,000 trade exception (from Matt Harpring trade) and Joey Dorsey to Jazz for $881,000 trade exception (from Eric Maynor trade).

After shedding some serious salary in the Eric Maynor + Matt Harpring trade, the Jazz can finally get the other shoe to drop by making a bold move to stay in contention for a Western Conference playoff berth. Carlos Boozer is clearly not a part of the long-term plan Utah and although McGrady probably isn't either, at least the Jazz will be able to make a move that gives them better overall roster balance for the balance of this season.

Utah has resorted to starting Wesley Matthews, an undrafted rookie swingman, at times this season. Taking nothing away from Matthews, who has played surprisingly well (undrafted rookie or not), but McGrady could easily slide into a starting role at small forward for the Jazz and be productive, playing as a wonderful complimentary piece to the two-man game of Deron Williams and Paul Millsap, both of whom the Jazz have hitched their wagon to. Williams would do his part to keeping McGrady happy and involved because that's what good point guards like Williams do.

While the loss of Boozer could silence the music in Salt Lake City, picking up a great bench player like Carl Landry definitely makes up for the loss. Although Boozer averages slightly more points and rebounds per game than Landry, Landry could continue his sixth-man role and give the Jazz a ton of production behind and beside Millsap. The Jazz would also have to pick up some D-Leaguers or veterans to fill out their roster and they could look to add some depth with guys like Jared Reiner or Bennet Davis (who plays for the local Utah Flash) of the NBDL.

For the Rockets, they get a few things that they could use in this package. Boozer and Korver both have sizeable expiring deals but they've also got the on-court abilities that could help the Rockets push forward. Boozer's low-post and versatile scoring ability would give the Rockets something that they don't currently have. Ariza and Aaron Brooks would have a big man sidekick they can dump to or set up and – if the Rockets like what they see – they would have the Bird's Rights on Boozer and can bid on him during the summer to create what could be the league's scariest frontcourt duo with Yao.

The Rockets would also be getting a three-point shooting specialist in Korver. Although Battier and Chase Budinger have shown their abilities from beyond the arc, Korver would immediately help the Rockets improve their overall three-point shooting. The Rockets currently rank second-to-last in three-point attempts in the league because they don't have a dead-eye like Korver, who should be ready to return from injury very soon.

3) Rockets send Tracy McGrady to Knicks and send Jermaine Taylor to the Bucks. Bucks send Michael Redd to Rockets and Luke Ridnour to Knicks. Knicks send Larry Hughes and Al Harrington to Bucks and send Cuttino Mobley to Rockets.

The most creative of the scenarios is easily the most complex, with three teams and seven players shifting around.

Michael Redd would be headed to the Rockets and although he's got an extra year on his deal in comparison to McGrady, he'd be a lethal second option on the perimeter next season after Yao gets back. That inside-outside game would be very tough to defend as teams typically crowd and collapse on Yao when he gets the ball on the block, potentially leaving Redd wide open. With Redd, Yao, Ariza, and Brooks, the Rockets would be able to score a ton of points in a ton of different ways next season. Similar to deal #1, the Rockets would also be able to move Battier back to the bench.

Returning to Houston where it all began more than 10 years ago, would be Cuttino Mobley who is currently sitting in semi-retirement and will never play again in the NBA because of a heart condition. Despite this, Mobley's contract can still be moved – the Knicks never waived his contract and he is still actually listed on the team's official roster. A large portion of Mobley's contract is covered by insurance, so the Rockets would be saving some money in that regard, and Mobley would be able to hang up his sneakers where it all started, something he'd probably be very excited to do.

Many might be wondering why the Bucks would move arguably their best player – not only would they be getting cap space in the summer because both Harrington and Hughes have expiring deals, they'll be saving immediately because their payroll would shrink about $3-million (which also saves them tax money). On the court, though, the Bucks would probably be a better team with this deal done, too, as rookie-sensation Brandon Jennings would have a very reliable scoring buddy in Harrington. Plus, Hughes started out this season pretty well for the Knicks and showed he can still ball out there. The team would be a bit thin at point guard with Ridnour being moved out, but Charlie Bell can play backup at both guard positions and Taylor is a nice, athletic (and wingspanned), young guard project for them to develop.

And now for the Knicks – why would the Knicks even consider this? A few reasons:

- They'd be getting a star to put on Broadway. McGrady could go to the biggest of stages in New York, which is apparently a concrete jungle where dreams are made of and there's nothing you can't do – like maybe even resurrecting your professional basketball career. Again, maybe it doesn't work out, but because McGrady's deal is expiring anyway, the Knicks' free agency plans aren't nicked.

- They'd get a legitimate point guard in Luke Ridnour, who also doesn't foil their summer spending plans because he's an expiring deal. The Knicks – despite their issues – still find themselves in playoff contention. With Ridnour and McGrady, they might be able to get pushed over the top and return to the postseason.

- They'd be cutting a bit of payroll, saving precious luxury-tax dollars.

- If Harrington isn't part of the long term plan, this moves allows playing time to be devoted to Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, and Jordan Hill, all of whom are talented young players that could learn a lot in the trial by fire this season. Next season, they could be key contributors and role players for pricey summer free-agent pickups.

4) Rockets send Tracy McGrady to 76ers and send Joey Dorsey to Kings. Kings send Kenny Thomas to Rockets and send Sean May and Sergio Rodriguez to 76ers. 76ers send Samuel Dalembert to Kings and send Jason Kapono and Marreese Speights to Rockets.

And you thought scenario 3 was complicated? This megadeal involves eight players and a whole bunch of assumptions.

For example, the Rockets would pretty much have to be okay with getting back a great developing big man in Marreese Speights for McGrady. Kapono and Thomas, both of whom can still play a little bit as specialists, really wouldn't have much value to the Rockets other than in being expiring deals. They do have something to offer (Kapono – three-point shooting, Thomas – strong post-defender), though, and could definitely see some playing time in Houston's playoff push.

In Sacramento, the challenge to balance budgets and keep the team profitable gets a little bit more difficult because they'd be getting back Dalembert and another under his contract. The Kings, though, don't have a real big man behind Spencer Hawes, who really has played well this season but needs a rest now and again. Dalembert would easily be considered the best bench center in the league, but the Kings may be willing to shop a little early by swapping Thomas' expiring deal for a shot at the playoffs.

And then there's Philly, who clearly has had a rough year already. But – imagine – Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, and Andre Iguodala all on the same team. Throw in Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young, maybe McGrady can be a factor in pushing the Sixers back in the direction their fans and most experts thought they'd be headed. Now, losing Speights is incredibly tough for Philly to do, but they are getting out of Dalembert's last year. Obviously, it's a huge risk for Philadelphia, but if they can keep Iguodala and somehow still pick up McGrady and that expiring deal, it's probably a risk worth taking.

 

Thanks for the tip DD, I wasn't aware of that. Why is that?

 

Haha, it was my first time trying to make a thread. Failed attempt on my part. Sorry guys!