For all the Tmac lovers who keep bringing up his numbers and how much he stepped up in the playoffs, the only number that matters is wins. Pretty primadonnas might sell tickets but geting out of the first round means something. The Rockets have enough talent to get to the playoffs without Tmac. Bringing Tmac along was supposed to help the Rockets get to the finals. It never materialized. Tmac has more talent than most but he doesn't have the heart to win. The heart of a champion is what you want and what you expect from a 23mil superstar. As for his recent injury-to avoid-trade-drama, make no mistake about it that's exactly what it was. You don't call S. A. Smith late one night to secretly leak an injury without telling management and your coach. Tmac had one motive and that was to stop a trade. He knows he has a good thing here with Yao. The Rockets treated him well. Hell, even as pathetic a season he has had he almost made the All-Star team. He will never make another All Star team without Yao. The problem is he never fully appreciated what Yao and the Rockets really gave him. As for his future with the Rockets it is over! Make no mistake about it Tmac will never put on a Rocket uniform Again. Already a deal with the Nets this off season is on the table. All Tmac's injury did is delay it. New Jersey absolutely wants the deal and I will tell you why. It's no secret the Nets are hot on the trail for Lebron. Carter is a less talented older carbon copy of Lebron. Having both of them on the team serves no purpose for NJ. They would love to trade him for a big with some talent and an equal salary but no takers want an aging shooting guard with an expensive contract. The next best thing is to trade for expiring contracts. JayZee has vison of sugarplums Lebron and Bosh in Brooklyn on his mind. So the nets desperately need to make a deal but who has a player with a 16 mil expiring contract that they want to dump for an aging SG. The answer is nada. Well it was nada until Tmac turned in TLady. The Rockets are the prime candidate for a deal. Why would the Rockets do it. Why not keep McGrady and let his expiring contract expire and then go after the pool of talent coming out. 2 reasons come to mind. 1- if they truly decide to do this signing Artest may have to be put on the backburner. 2. Who could they actually pick up. Forget about Lebron. He is either going to New York or NJ/Brooklyn and Brooklyn may be already a silent deal. So what about Wade. Well Miami is doing everything they can to keep him. And if for some reason he doesn't sign with them than New York is salivating at an opportunity. What about the next tier. Joe Johnson might be available. But is he really better than Carter. And even with all his upside Joe Johnson is going to want Max money. If the Rockets sign Artest to any kind of decent contract they will not have Max Money for a free agent. Depending on how much they sign Artest a Max player might have to take 10's of millions less over the course of his contract. I am certain of this. Well not absolutely. I mean if some miracle deal comes in like a sign and trade for Lebron make no mistake the Rockets will nix the NJ deal. But the fact that the Rockets have announced an interest in resigning Artest, took down the Tmac intro, and every chance Morey gets he mentions picking up another star in the off season (How can you sign Artest and pick up another star with Tmac still on the Roster... the answer-YOU CAN'T!) are pretty strong indicators. Not to mention the Vinsanity sighting a the Toyota Center. Yes it was no coincidence or simply an early visit to the Arena before a game. Come on what NBA player roams around NBA arenas in his free time. Certainly not one named Vinsanity. Carter was on a job interview and he passed with flying colors and TMac heard about it and immediately called up Stephen A. Smith to help nix the deal. Well Tmac may have helped postpone the deal but he certainly didn't end it. What he dead end is any chance of ever wearing a Rockets uniform again. Goodbye Tmac in spite of your lack of heart I still wish you the best in your recovery and your life. You did has some memorable moments as a Rocket in spite of your overall disappointing time here.
I agree with all your points, especially that T-Mac nixed the trade himself. However, this year, Carter may have been the piece to win the Championship. Do you think Carter has more successful/star years in him? He is aging..
Tracy Mc Grady is not an EX Rocket! If you think so, you are greatly mistaken. Next season is his contract year he will be back. For the better or worst I do not know but if he does, he must become a role player not a dominent decission maker as he has been!
I think the Roxs won a pretty big game last nite in very impressive fashion but I guess that doesn't matter.....
Great post. I agree with most of your points. I also think Carter are more willing than tmac to share the ball/run through screens/catch and shoot/ slash and dunk. Plus, his jump shoot looks better ( I did not check the stat) and still quite athletic.
Tmac has always been one of my top five favorite players in the league I have stood up for him at barbshops, bars, work, family reunions, etc. This is the first year I have nothing to say to protect and support him I'am really disappointed and I'm starting to understand why he gets all the hate. I wonder how he feels watching us do well without him and possibly getting out of the first round or even the conference finals how would that bother his ego. He is a great talent, but just waiting for his contract to expire to get a proven player like Wade with a ring. Hopefully with the struggling economy and NBA teams not doing well and the fact China pumps so much money into our players even Mac would lure Wade or we can dream Lebron but with his contracting expiring and the NBA lowering the cap who knows.
to the op - well articulated post. but do you know something we don't about the nj trade? you made it sound like there was a sure deal on the table, and even now it is still on the table... just curious.
This is only semi related to your thread, but I was tuning into Coast To Coast the other night, and they were talking about the trades that almost happened. They talked about Vince and how the Nets and Spurs were very close to deal, but the Spurs weren't willing to give up something like 5 players to get Vince. I can only assume the Nets and Spurs were talking AFTER talks with the Rockets died? My thoughts on TMac are all over the place. I'm kind of on both sides of the "war." I appreciate what he did and what he tried to do for this team in the past. I appreciate that he tried to play hurt this year. If his threshold for pain is lower than most, so be it. If it is indeed the case he pulled this stuff off to stop a trade involving himself, then that's pretty damn bad. Unfortunately, we may never know for sure that's the case one way or another. So we are left to speculate. I guess I'm just the type that has to know for sure one way or another before I condemn someone. I think he'll play again as a Rocket not only for his own contract, but that if the Rockets are deciding to move him they would want his value to be as high as possible. Can't seem to get lower. An expiring contract is great, but even better if you can at least get some production out of it.
