The Rockets have agreed to trade injury-plagued star Tracy McGrady, according to the Houston Chronicle.
McGrady has been granted an indefinite leave of absence from the team while a deal is struck.
McGrady’s expiring contract is worth $23 million, a hot commodity considering the free agent Class of 2010.
Expect Knicks president Donnie Walsh to reach out to Rockets’ GM Daryl Morey to see if a deal can be worked out. Despite a 1-9 start, the Knicks are on the periphery of the Eastern Conference playoff race and a player like McGrady could help vault them into the postseason.
As Alan Hahn of Newsday points out, Larry Hughes’ contract is worth $13 million and Al Harrington’s is $10 million, but the Knicks may have to throw in something more valuable, like rookie Jordan Hill, to strike a deal.
NATE FINED $25K FOR REMARKS
The NBA on Monday fined Knicks guard Nate Robinson $25,000 for “public statements detrimental to the NBA.”
Robinson actually didn’t make the statements himself. His agent, Aaron Goodwin, requested Dec. 19 that his client be traded and then went public with his request.
“Players are not permitted to make trade requests publicly and are responsible for public statements relating to them made by their representatives,” NBA spokesman Tim Frank told the AP.
After averaging a career-best 17.2 points last season, Robinson has not played in 12 straight games.
“I want to play the game of basketball,” Robinson said Dec. 20. “I want to be a Knick. I want to stay here. This is here I want to be. And I want to play. I want to help this team win. I think I can do that. I expend energy. I do all the little things and I just feel I haven’t got that privilege to play the way that I like to play.”
(Photos courtesy Getty Images)
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