ESPN: Changing Places -- players who changed teams this year

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Tracy McGrady, Rockets

2004 Stats: 19.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 5.2 apg on 42 percent shooting
2003 Stats: 28 ppg, 6 rpg, 5.5 apg on 42 percent shooting

The skinny: Unhappy with the direction the Magic appeared to be headed, McGrady threatened to opt out of his contract this summer if he wasn't traded. New GM John Weisbrod wasn't a T-Mac fan anyway and happily obliged. McGrady handpicked the Rockets, in part, because he wanted to play with a dominant big man. So far the results have been mixed. Playing with Yao takes the ball out of McGrady's hands more than he'd like and despite our early prognostications – Yao isn't quite the dominant big man, yet, that we've made him out to be. Factor in a controlling, defensive minded head coach, no point guard and a razor-thin bench and the experiment, so far, hasn't panned out the way many thought it would.

McGrady's return to Orlando: Jan. 20

Cuttino Mobley, Magic

2004 Stats: 13.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.8 apg on 40 percent shooting

The skinny: Mobley's numbers are never going to compare to McGrady's, but that's only part of the story . . . the trade shipped McGrady and Juwan Howard to the Rockets for Steve Francis, Mobley and Kelvin Cato. You've got to look at the other big swap – Francis for Ward at point guard before you make the final judgements.

Francis (3) and Mobley have taken to this new kind of Magic.

Steve Francis, Magic

2004 Stats: 19.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 5.7 apg on 39 percent shooting
2003 Stats: 16.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 6.2 apg on 40 percent shooting

The skinny: Francis has a chip on his shoulder and it shows. He believes that the Rockets, and Van Gundy specifically, gave up on him too early. After putting up career low numbers in Van Gundy's system, Francis is back with a vengeance. His scoring is up and his rebounding tops many power forwards in either conference. A few more assists and a few more shots dropping would be nice, but Francis is unquestionably having a fantastic season so far for the 4-3 Magic.

Francis' return to Houston: Jan. 24

Charlie Ward, Rockets

2004 Stats: 7.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.3 apg on 36 percent shooting

The skinny: Here's where the trade comparisons start to break down. Stripped of a real starting point guard, the Rockets were forced to bring in Ward, a serviceable, but aging point guard to replace Francis. Ward has struggled to get the offense going which has lead to a lot of standing around and few easy buckets on offense. He has hit a few big shots for the Rockets, but for the most part McGrady has had to take over the position - taking away some of the other things he does so well. Factor in that Cato for Howard has been a wash so far and, in the early going at least, it appears that the Magic may have come out ahead in the trade.

ADVANTAGE: FRANCIS AND MOBLEY

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Remember, this is Chad Ford.