One of those teams looking to make a big splash is the New York Knicks (19–34).
With a .358 winning percentage, the Knicks weren’t thinking of landing free agents to help them make a push for the postseason. Instead, they were looking to clear as much cap space as they could in order to land the big fish for next season—and that is exactly what they did.
As part of a three-way trade, the Knicks, Houston Rockets, and Sacramento Kings swapped players that sent forwards Jared Jeffries, Jordan Hill, and draft considerations in 2011 and 2012 from New York to Houston in exchange for seven-time All-Star guard Tracy McGrady, 30, and his expiring $23 million contract.
The Knicks also sent guard Larry Hughes to Sacramento for guard Sergio Rodriguez.
Rounding out the deal, the Kings sent guard Kevin Martin and forward/center Hilton Armstrong to Houston for forwards Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey.
Coupled with the moves they made earlier in the week, trading center Darko Milicic to the Minnesota Timberwolves for power forward Brian Cardinal, and guard Nate Robinson and forward Marcus Landry to the Boston Celtics for guards Eddie House, J.R. Giddens, and forward Bill Walker, the Knicks enabled themselves to clear over $9 million off the salary cap.
With McGrady’s health as uncertain, averaging only 3.2 points and 7.7 minutes in six games off the bench since knee surgery last February, the focus of this deal for New York was getting enough cap space to hopefully land James—a player who could transform the Knicks from a laughingstock into an Eastern Conference contender.
However, if McGrady can stay healthy, he gives the Knicks a solid addition at guard.
Selected ninth overall in the 1997 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors, the 6’8” swingman amassed a career average of 21.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, and also won scoring titles in 2003 and 2004.
Leaving Toronto after three years, McGrady earned All-Star status with the Orlando Magic for the next four seasons and helped them advance to the playoffs three times.
Knicks GM Donnie Walsh commented on the deal, "Tracy McGrady has been one of the premiere players in our league over the past decade and we have every indication that he is healthy and committed to reestablishing himself as one of the best in our game.”
“This trade improves our position to achieve our long-term goals, while also keeping us competitive for the remainder of the season.” he said as reported on www.nba.com
After years of cap mismanagement, New York is finally fiscally fit. And they couldn’t have done it at a better time.
If the Knicks can manage to lure Cleveland All-Star LeBron James to the bright lights of Broadway, it would be among the biggest, recent free agent moves in basketball since the Lakers acquired Shaquille O’Neal in 1996 from the Orlando Magic.
James would have a chance to shoot his celebrity-status beyond the moon and the Knicks would get a player who could bring instant recognition to a franchise that hasn’t had much to cheer for in over a decade.
