Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own site, Hoops Haven.
The soap opera between the Houston Rockets and Tracy McGrady just keeps getting better. Last week, McGrady showed up for a team shoot around, dressed in his game uniform apparently without head coach Rick Adelman’s knowledge. He proceeded to go through all of the team drills in preparation of playing in that night’s game. There was only one problem……….the GM and team doctors haven’t cleared McGrady to play.
Once Adelman approached McGrady and informed him that he still wasn’t yet on the team’s active roster, McGrady became infuriated and reportedly forced Adelman inside of an unoccupied training room, after which a heated shouting match ensued which all of the players could hear out on the hardwood. It has been reported that the Rockets are in no hurry to activate McGrady since because of an insurance policy, they are collecting money back for each game he misses this season. Apparently they are a little bitter over having to pay more than $65+ million over the last three seasons to the former scoring champion who has only played in 101 games in that span.
The most recent rumor is that the NY Knicks have some interest in his services and have for some time. The Knicks recently refused to make an offer to Allen Iverson because of his excess baggage and unwillingness to spend even a small amount for the future Hall of Famer siting that Iverson would disrupt team chemistry and slow their younger players’ development. Let’s be honest. They didn’t want to put up with his BS either. Now they are willing to take on an even bigger contract, even if it is only for one season. McGrady also is legendary for not wanting to practice and has had major issues with coaches and management that rival Iverson.
For arguments sake, let’s see if the Knicks even could do the deal on paper. With McGrady making roughly $23 million this season, NY would have to send back a number of players to match that salary. The teams would essentially have to swap McGrady for Eddy Curry’s huge contract along with another expiring contract like Larry Hughes, Al Harrington, or Chris Duhon. To get the Rockets to take the deal, they would probably have to add one of their younger players like Wilson Chandler or Jordan Hill. They also have an ace up their sleave with the expiring contract of the now retired Cuttino Mobley to offer as well.
Imagine the possibilities for the Rockets. Adding Curry to Scola up front would give them a shot blocking center in place of the injured Yao Ming. Since Houston is offensively challenged, surely they would ask for Harrington or Hughes, both of which can score. Chandler is actually a very impressive 2nd year player who averaged 15 ppg last season. Add in the possibility that Ming could return before the season is over and the Rockets could suddenly be a force come playoff time. Would the Rockets want to upset the apple cart, so to speak, by altering a lineup that has been one of the surprises of the league this season? Or would they rather rest on their laurels and collect on the insurance?
