New York Knicks Trade for Tracy McGrady

Trade

I am going to make myself very clear, I am a HUGE New York Knicks fan. Only HUGE in all caps is still an understatement. As a Knicks fan, I have obviously lived through a lot, particularly the dark ages of “he who must not be named.” But he is gone and Donnie Walsh has taken control as General Manager and has done a great job of clearing cap space for the highly anticipated summer of 2010. This past trade deadline, Walsh traded for Tracy McGrady and his expiring contract of almost $23 million. When asked what I thought about the trade, it’s a question that has no answer now, but will have a very distinct one in just a few months.

McGrady

Speaking in the here and now, the trade for McGrady was very smart because it gets people into the seats at the greatest stadium in the world, 
MSG. Although T-Mac hasn’t played a whole lot this season for the Rockets, less than 50 minutes, and has been ached by injuries over the past few seasons, he still seems to have a lot in him and a lot of motivation to keep playing. For one thing, he will also be a part of the free agency summer of 2010. Even though he shouldn’t be looking for a max. contract, he still wants to keep playing and should be able to take advantage of the fact that he is not rotting at the end of Houston’s bench.

Sergio Rodriguez

In addition, the Knicks also got point guard Sergio Rodriguez from the Sacramento Kings in the same trade. I have to admit that at the time of the trade, I knew next to nothing about Rodriquez. He had played sparingly for the Kings this season as the third string point guard, behind starting rookie Tyreke Evans and backup Beno Udrih, and before that played 3 years in Portland where he never averaged more than 15 minutes a game. At first, I thought he was just a throw in to match up the salaries, but then I saw him come of the bench in his debut with the Knicks, and then start in his second game, and I was amazed. Sergio is the point guard that D’Antoni dreamt Duhon would someday be for the Knicks. I know this writing piece seemed to be solely on T-Mac, but I can’t resist talking about Sergio and he deserves more attention. Some of you in reading this part may have gone to look up Rodriguez’s stats, but let me save you from time if you haven’t. His numbers are not going to blow you away. He doesn’t get many points and he doesn’t get double digit assists very often, but if Bill Simmons’ “The Book of Basketball” teaches you anything, it’s that basketball success isn’t all about stats. Just watch him play and you’ll understand. Rodriguez may not be gifted physically, but he more than makes up for it with his smarts. He is an unbelievably intelligent point guard who loves to run the fast break, can hit the open man, and can pull up and hit the 3 ball. He may not be the guy you want taking the last shot in a game, but he almost definitely want the ball in his hands so he can create for someone else (or give the ball to a teammate who can create for someone else a.k.a. a hockey assist, something that a stat book doesn’t put into account). And one last thing, one of the best parts of his game is that he doesn’t pick up his dribble. This is such a common mistake among point guards at all levels that can lead to a lot of trouble, however, Sergio knows to maintain his dribble until he sees something to do with the ball. I can’t emphasize how important this fact is, just trust me. But enough about the present, this trade wasn’t for the now, it was for the later.

Negative Side

Thanks to this 3-team trade, the Knicks have only 4 players that will be under contract once we get to July 1, 2010, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Toney Douglas, and (gulp) Eddy Curry. Depending on the salary cap set by the league, the Knicks should have about $30 million to spend this offseason, enough to sign 2 maximum contracts. Once free agency starts, the Knicks can go 1 of 2 ways, they either going to become title contenders right away (much like the 2007-2008 Boston Celtics after they traded for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen) or they are going to be the same old Knicks they have been the last decade. This all depends on who signs this summer. If they are able to sign 2 star players, they can complete the team with role players and become title contenders, but then there is the other side. If they are unable to lure any top free agents to New York, then it’s going to be another decade before they can pose a threat in the NBA. In the McGrady trade, the Knicks were forced to give up rookie power forward Jordan Hill (their 8th overall pick in the 2009 draft) and potentially 2 future first round picks, the Rockets have the option to swap picks with the Knicks in 2011 and receive the Knicks 2012 pick (top 5 protected). Add this to the fact that they don’t have a first round pick this year (thanks to the Marbury trade) and traded last year’s (Jordan Hill), that’s essentially 4 straight years we don’t have a first round pick (Douglas was a 1st round pick last year but the pick was bought from the Lakers on draft day so I don’t count him as a Knicks for round pick).

Positive Side

But let’s be optimistic. The Knicks are going to sign 2 free agent studs this summer and be immediate title contenders. But who are they going to sign? In my opinion, Lebron isn’t going anywhere, he just wants to milk this free agent attention for all it’s worth. Wade is either going to stay in Miami or go to his hometown of Chicago, but the ball is in Pat Riley’s court. If Miami can sign a legitimate big man (i.e. Amar’e Stoudemire or Carlos Boozer) then I think Wade will stay, but if they don’t I believe he is off to the Bulls. That leaves potential Knicks to be Chris Bosh, Amar’e Stoudemire (provided he opts of his current contract), and Joe Johnson. In my perfect world, they sign Joe Johnson (the most underrated player in the league and an unrealized superstar), and one of the big men. Chris Bosh is having the best season of his career this year, but if he wants to be the main scoring option, pairing him with Joe Johnson may not be the right thing to do. That leaves us with Joe and Amar’e playing home games in MSG, 2 signings that I have been praying for for a long time.