Rockets handling McGrady situation just fine
by Tom Martin on Dec 29, 2009 1:32 AM CST
in Player Analysis
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PrintTracy McGrady was never going to finish this season as a Houston Rocket. It's time we stop kidding ourselves about an alternative, because there never was one, really.
Hindsight may be 20/20, but that's precisely why it's useful. Look at all the steps that were taken throughout this entire process. This was never about slowly bringing Tracy back into the mold. Before Tracy ever took the court, Rick Adelman sensed that there would be problems. No matter how in-shape McGrady claimed to be, it was a lost cause. It would be like betting on an aged horse fresh off of a leg injury to compete in the Kentucky Derby against nineteen lightening-fast thoroughbreads. I wouldn't do it, and neither would Rick.
Eventually, however, McGrady got to play, and for one reason and one reason only: to showcase him. At the time, Tracy's giant expiring contract was the sole reason for his trade interest. As of today, nothing has changed - he's still a giant wad of cash, rather than an NBA star. But if I'm Daryl Morey, and I have one of the more intriguing trade options rotting on my bench, why sell myself short? I'm fairly certain that I can increase his value ever so slightly, just so that teams may consider him as more than just a coupon for the 2010 Free Agent Jamboree.
In playing McGrady sparingly, the Rockets were giving teams the impression that McGrady could actually be of some use on the court. Listen, Mr. Riley, we both know that Tracy isn't close to what he once was. But he's not exactly dead air, either. Why not give us Anthony Randolph, and we'll call it even? Whoops, caught myself daydreaming there.
The confusing aspect for many people out there was the issue surrounding the limited minutes. Adrian Wojnarowski said in his most recent column that "this farce needs to end." Well, yes, yes it does. But it was never a farce, playing Tracy for eight minutes at a time. If anything, it proved to GM's that McGrady could still play, without actually proving it.
Part of it was the injury-risk factor. We know Tracy's injury history all too well. We also know how varied the recovery period of microfracture surgery patients can be. If Adelman plugged McGrady in for twenty minutes per night, who knows what could have happened? He may have gotten injured, or he may have been survived without a single complaint. In this case, ignorance to that scenario is much more comforting than having to reveal the details of T-Mac's latest MRI.
On the flip side, there's the issue of revealing too much to interested GM's. Granted, playing McGrady only eight minutes per game gave general managers a limited scope through which to gauge McGrady's health and ability. But that's the whole point, isn't it? In the same column, Wojnarowski quoted a front office executive as having the following take on McGrady's play:
The executive had watched most of those unmemorable 47 minutes, but wanted to make sure that he hadn’t missed something. The evidence was incomplete, but the conclusion unmistakable: T-Mac is no longer an impact player, just an expiring contract.
Whatever. The juicy part, however, is what the executive said next:
"That said, how am I supposed to tell anything off the minutes they were giving him?"
Aha! All of McGrady's predictablity just went out the window, or at least most of it. This is a good thing. It allows general managers out there to conceive their own opinions on McGrady, and what he is actually capable of. Some GM's might conclude that Tracy is nothing more than a contract. Others might feel differently. The fact that there could be a differing opinion is something that should excite each and every one of you.
The Rockets essentially have two options here. Either they attempt to trade for a young, expensive impact player, or they simply trade for more expiring contracts. The latter is becoming much less of a reality, unless the Knicks are just dying to trade for a ticket-seller. Whatever the case, the Rockets aren't going to buy Tracy out. That's akin to Charlie Bucket paying his life savings in order to get rid of his golden ticket.
I do expect the Rockets to honor Tracy's trade request, because keeping him around isn't going to do any good. Rumors have been flying for months now, traveling from Golden State to New York, to Toronto and to New Orleans. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.
On a final note, I hope everyone here understands that it's not Tracy's fault for wanting to play more, and for believing that he is healthy. That is human nature, especially for someone who hasn't played in six months. The Rockets did what they thought was sound in limiting his minutes. For once, the blame game should not be employed.
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Something bothering me:
The reaction so many are having is “The Rockets are tired of McGrady’s shit,” which seems, if anything, to be the opposite of what has happened, assuming Woj’s “source” is accurate:
A source with knowledge of Monday’s talks said the Rockets would have allowed McGrady to stay, but the guard thought he’d be too much of a distraction to the team.
McGrady wants more time, that isn’t going to happen here, so…
I do think, though...
That the Rockets wanted to keep their options open. The way things have panned out… it just doesn’t feel like it was ever going to work. And it’s nobody’s fault that things are that way – just the different feelings of each side.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
Are we gonna get a post analyzing all the places T-Mac can go/is likely to go?
I wouldn’t mind a trade with the Wizards if its feasible.
Perhaps...
I’ll have to do some more research on it. I’m more a fan of analyzing why something happened, rather than predicting it and then looking crazy. That’s what separates us from Bleacher Report. I don’t normally write stuff without some reported rumors first (from credible sources, of course). We’ll see what comes up tomorrow and in the following days.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
I'm looking into my crystal ball....
he will go….
oh, it’s getting hazy…
he will go to….
c’mon, work for me….
to a team….
just a little bit more….
to a team in the NBA.
Whew, that took a lot out of me. But my powers of super-analysis say that the team will not be the Lakers, Cavaliers, Magic, Celtics, Hawks, Spurs, Jazz, or Mavs.
On hindsight, I think both sides got what they wanted
with the limited minutes given to T-Mac. T-Mac got a chance to show he can still play for his next contract. And the Rockets got a chance to showcase him. It is turning out to be a savvy move by Rockets management.
I think the Rockets would have wanted to just let T-Mac’s contract expire and see if he could help out towards the run to the play-offs but T-Mac was unwilling to wait that long. And T-Mac’s impatience is a big distraction maybe not to the players, but to Coach Adelman. I’m glad that finally both sides are being professional about it.
If I were T-Mac wanting a chance to play sooner rather than later, I would agree to negotiate a buy-out of my remaining contract and start afresh with a new team. Anyway he said money is not the issue but his hunger to win.
It’s the end of the T-Mac era. We thank him for the many wonderful moments he gave us. We will always remember that he was a Rocket and wish him a satisfying career ahead of him.
I will remember him for the player that he once was
and not for the distractions that he brought to our team in the later years. It was the 22-win streak in 2007-2008 that he starred in that made me a fan of the Rockets in the first place.
Thank you, T-Mac!
trade suggestion
i did this trade on the trade machine and it checked out, how about trading T-Mac to the knicks for Larry Hughes and Al Harrington/Eddy Curry. i’m pretty sure they are all expiring contracts so that this summer we can make a run for a free agents the likes of Bosh/Wade?
Curry has a player option, and he is going to pick it up.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
and why trade for worthless expiring contracts anyway?
why make a move to bring in players who can’t crack the rotation even if they expire after the season just as MCgrady already does?
I don't get it
Maybe I’m wrong but I just don’t understand this thing with McGrady. Basically Rick prefers to keep giving time to the superstar wannabe Ariza with the GREAT!!! FG% of 37.5 (and lasts games about 20% for Christ sake!!!) than give a shot to old McGrady with some glimpse of the great player he was (well I believe he still have it). What’s the worst thing could happen? McGrady don’t work out at all and you can’t trade it (His contracts expire these years, I Think), I don’t believe any team would want him right now, because no one saw him play more than 8 minutes in a game (just 3 games played). Like said I don’t understand but then again, Rick is the coach he surely knows better.
Ariza plays better defense and fits into the system. Sure, he’s terrible offensively but he can still develop into an excellent role player.
You are right, Ariza is still young and he can improve his offense and be a good role player but never a star. In the mean time wouldn’t hurt the team to stop shooting so much, the guy has 6.2 3pt attempts per game. Only five players in the nba tries more 3s than him (Granger, Gallinari, Rashard Lewis and Peja all with better FG%). The guy has too much pressure. Someone should talk to him…
if for no other reason than...
Ariza will be on the rockets for many season to come. The Rockets have a long-term interest in seeing him develop, whereas McGrady will be gone no matter what.
INJURY is the word here
right now the Rockets can trade and get some good players or a good player from a team that has no chance at the playoffs and want to clear room for the 2010 FA. If we play him and he gets hurt we lose that chance.
Right now the Rockets can control what they want. During the off season trade, the competition will be to high with so many teams offering a lot more money than the Rockets. I think the Rockets (D. Morey) is playing his hand like an experienced Vegas pro.
In Monrey I Trust! 100%
McGrady deserves it
It is time he gets a dose of his own medicine. McGrady ditched the Raptors thinking he was a greater player for the Raptors market which had Vince Carter also at the same time. Now he is just like another Iverson (may be not as old) but with declining skills and agility. His current contract will be the last fat paycheque he is going to get. By the way, you will realise if you see enough of his playmaking that he is also a ball hog. Without the ball, he is not creative. Yes McGrady has some good moves but is it still there after the injury?
How can we know if they don’t let him play?. At least make the trade happen fast so he can prove us wrong or right by playing
Enough ... it's over
Houston is trading T-Mac, period! You will get to see how T-Mac today can play on another team.
Hey guys I'm a Wizards fan
On the Wizards board we’ve been contemplating whether to rebuild the team and it’s almost a definite yes. Our team is 10-19 and December was suppose to be the easy month of our schedule. Antwan Jamison and Mike Miller for Tracy McGrady? We get the expiring contract to go after Chris Bosh next year and the Rockets get Jamison at 11 million the next 3 years and Miller is 9 million expiring this season. Mike Miller is injured right now, but he’s a very good player still. He hustles and can be a contributer for you guys this season. Jamison plays no defense, but he can get 25 points and 8 boards a game easily. You think any other team could offer something better?
Chris Webber & Tracy McGrady
I heard a guy from Sacramento that was subbing for Rome talk about how Adleman has been through this situation before with Chris Webber. He had micro fracture knee surgery. While he was out the Kings were on a roll. When Webber was ready to play again, Adleman threw him back in with starters minutes and the team collapsed.
Thought it was interesting.
yeah, but
chris webber said himself on NBA Game time that he came back after 6 months, which is like, the earliest you can return, Tracy had his surgery the end of Feb., and he was always WAY ahead of schedule, im not saying he shouldve been playing at the beginning of the season, but obviously the MRI’s showed nothing, so it was never a health issue
yeah, I am done
I think I am done doing “FU McGrady” posts now… as I consider him no longer a Rocket.
Now it’s time to focus on getting Trevor Ariza to stop playing like a taller/lankier Rafer.
big mistake...
Come on, where are true Rockets fans hiding?
All everyone here is talking about is money, salary cap, lousy trades and all that…
Are you playing a fantasy league or are you cheering for your team?? Why isn’t anyone sad to see a great player go?
To me, it seems that an era is ending, and that we should be paying tribute to a great Rockets player departing. Judging from the comments, it seems that nobody here reallly wanted to give TMac a chance -and as a result we don’t really deserve to have him on the team.
Trouble is, without him returning to form the Rockets simply won’t be a title contender. By letting him go we are doing the Lakers a big favour. Right now their fans are rejoicing.
The NBA is about championship rings. I don’t care about February, trade limits, salary cap calculations…
By refusing to give TMac an opportunity to come back, we are saying goodbye to any real hopes of contending for the title, period. I am not saying it would work out with him, but I am saying it definitely won’t work out if we don’t try and give it a chance.
If the front office and head coach are not prepared to play the game with the cards they have in hand, when will they ever be ready to play? This is no game of Monopoly or poker, this is BASKETBALL. Let the players play! See what they truly have in them!
Ruling TMac out because he’s 30 and returning from a big injury is a big mistake; that everyone is looking at him only in terms of dollars and cap room makes me sick. As a fan, I cheer for the players, for a team, not for bank accounts and the GMs who handle them.
I wish Tracy the best of luck with a new team, where hopefully he will find more appreciative fans than this bunch – no matter how his body allows him to perform.
I admire your passion
But let’s be realistic here, pal.
Trouble is, without him returning to form the Rockets simply won’t be a title contender.
Do you REALLY think that Tracy will ever be the difference between a title contender and a first round exit? Especially at this stage in his career? The reason why we discuss the salary aspect of T-Mac is because it’s really the only thing that makes him attractive to other teams.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
I rest my case
I did say it was a gamble, but this is about making the most of the present season with what we’ve got. Even with Yao out, the Rockets are a play-off team – with or without T-Mac. They would still be a play-off team even if they played him more minutes than he’s currently worth, in an attempt to return him to performing shape.
As things stand, the 2009-2010 Rockets are an early-playoff-exit team and yes, to change that they need another high profile scoring threat in the rotation, which T-Mac could still be. In fact he’s our best shot at one.
Get rid of him in a lousy trade after you’ve shown obvious lack of confidence in him, what are you gonna get in return? Nothing.
So I say, take a chance, play him, keep your fingers crossed and you might still be in with a chance THIS year. In this scenario, the worst that can happen is that it doesn’t work out, and next year you have his salary come off the cap and Yao back.
Or wait a minute, are they going to do the same with Yao when he returns to health? Just keep him on the bench until he’s past his sell-by date because his return might hurt the team’s chemistry?
To me it suggests that the coach doesn’t have the balls to do HIS job. If Adelman and the front office can’t handle a player because of attitude “problems” derived from understandable frustration, they’re not as smart as you hold them to be.
Hakeem and Clyde weren’t exactly young prospects when they took us to the title. Their age forced the team to aim straight for the title; right now we’re back to playing next year and to me that’s giving up too soon, before you’ve even checked what T-Mac might still have in him. A big mistake, just my opinion.
February
What if no one wants to trade for t-mac? Or the trades offer do not benefit the rockets in the slightest bit. would we bring back from exile?
I just wish he could have been happy with his little role that he had. He isnt in top form, we all know that. And getting in shape while playing games(large amount of minutes) is way less than ideal. We didnt do it with francis, and we werent going to do it for him. He kept them both at limited minutes… But then again it didnt work for francis either.
Morey
I’m sure Morey prepared a plan B (or plan A, we cannot know) just in case. I’m almost certain that Morey would never have activated McGrady before making sure that whatever happens, the Rockets get the best of it. So: that won’t happen. That would be extremely lame for an average GM. For Morey, it’s simply zero possibility.
bummer
its actually kinda sad, i think it couldve worked out if they REALLY wanted it to, i consider myself a rockets fan, but im a t-mac fan first, i hope he goes somewhere decent and i hope the rockets get something in return for him, someone who can actually help the team, i think thats gonna be the biggest factor in getting the trade to actually happen, the rockets arent in it to rid themselves of this “cancer”, if they were, they would go with the NY trade that everyone has been ranting about for the past few months, this situation isnt as bad as most have portrayed it to be, it couldve been alot worse (see Stephen Jackson pg. 314), the rockets were always overachievers, all the first round exits, look at how they matched up with the other teams (Dallas/Utah), no one can honestly say the rockets had a better team, both teams were and are deeper, but all of that doesnt matter anymore! cause ITS SO HARRRRRRRRRRRRD TO SAY GOODBYYYYYYYE TO YESTERDAAAAAAAAAY (adore my high notes)
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