I see this playing out like the Carlos Boozer situation has in Utah. Both sides agree to work on a trade, the team is unwilling to take other teams garbage just to make it work, then the player just shuts up and waits out or plays through his contract until it expires.

I wouldn’t at all be shocked to see the deadline pass and then Tracy decides to play for The Rockets again. Not that Rick Adelman would allow that, but he would be willing.

At this point, I am happy we have Daryl Morey. Because Carroll Dawson, as much as I loved him, would probably do the Curry or Delambert trade just to get it over with.

When my friend first suggested a few weeks ago what he thought TMac for Jermaine ONeal would be the most likely landing spot for TMac, my initial thoughts were that the Rockets would never do that trade because what use do the Rockets have for a declining center with injury histories and limited mobility. His response was that we needed a big body who could match up with some of the bigger centers and we weren’t going to get anything out of TMac, and JO was expiring so why not give it a try.

On the other hand, I was holding onto the hope that TMac would be of some use for the Rockets this year. Call me a romantic, but when I think of TMac, I still have visions of him hitting for 13 points in 35 seconds and sucking the gravity out of the building, and I thought that his passing ability would be a useful skill for this Rockets team. I’m also sick of watching Trevor Ariza go 4-18 and play uninspired defense, and he doesn’t need to be playing 40 minutes a night. And in fact, in TMac’s limited playing time, I still thought TMac possessed enough skill that he could provide something for the team off the bench as a role player, but clearly Tracy’s ego and mindset is not suited for that role (although I don’t see anything wrong with playing him some in the second half, which leads me to the conspiracy theory that I’ve heard floating around that somehow the insurance policy has some sort of provision that as long as TMac plays under 8 minutes the insurance would continue to pay out…).

But now that Tracy clearly has played his last game as a Rocket, my position has reversed and it seems to me that it would be a hard sell for the Rockets to convince the Heat that they have something to gain in making a swap for TMac, but I think there’s a pitch that could be made. Even though Jermaine ONeal has actually been productive for the Heat this year (averaging 13 points on 57% shooting with 7 rebounds and a block in almost 30 minutes of work), the Heat aren’t going anywhere in the East with the team that they have. TMac and Wade worked out together in the summer with the trainer in Chicago and maybe Wade has some kind thoughts about TMac. Pat Riley has a boner for “superstars.” The Rockets throw in Dorsey so that Miami can have a guy that can mix it up down low since their backup centers are Joel Anthony and Jamaal Magloire. The Heat still aren’t going anywhere in the East, but do they say no to that deal? I don’t think there’s anyway the Rockets say no, and I don’t think it’s so unbalanced that the Heat necessarily dismiss it, but I think this seems like the most likely option.

ps: I agree that the TMac and whoever (AB or Landry or Battier or any combination of those guys) for Chris Paul and whatever bad contracts they might want to shed (Peja, MoPete, Songaila, Posey) is silly as there’s no way the Hornets trade a top three player to just start over

The Heat aren’t close to competitive with any of the Magic, Celtics, Cavs or even Hawks. It’s not close. JO for TMac would be straight up and I think you might be able to convince the Heat that there’s some upside with TMac. Maybe not, but it’s potentially “useless” for either team because neither one is doing anything this year. But I’m not so sure that TMac is a bag of garbage, and I would bet that there are some people around the league who think he may have something left.

yes he is a great PG. but how about the guy that OUTPLAYED him last night and isnt too far along himself from being a great PG also. “but he’s so good that he can set up shots for anybody”, once again, did everybody not pay attention to ABZ’s game last night. yeah his assists are not jumping off the stat sheet (b/c that is something most ppl are going to base a players game off of, and its sad) but no ones stats like that are. were not a team that a assist is gonna come from one player, we spread the floor and share the ball so the last player it touches should have a decent shot to put up. and ABZ is just as a lethal scorer as CP3 sick crossovers, layups, 3pt shot, alot of etc. AND your willing to give up landry??? who himself could turn into one the leagues best forwards….but “its fucking.chris.paul”…..please. aaron burned mr. paul many times last nigt and when it was vice versa brooks played excellent defense. i dont need everybodys individual stats of why we should do it, its not something i havent heard before or seen myself.

 but why spend money on him when we have a diamond in a rough already suited up in rockets red??? and the most sickening….“The Rockets would almost certainly have to give up Luis Scola and/or Carl Landry (and this would make me cry), but when you get a chance to acquire Chris Paul – you kinda have to sacrifice some good players to make it work.” correction, those 2, are great players and the only other post presence we have with Yao out.

T-Mac and Cook for Martin

or

TMac and Cook for Maggette and Randolph

Not sure if either teams would do it, but i really think a shooter like Martin is something we need…Maggette too is good at shooting and driving