The New York Knicks wanted Tracy McGrady, and McGrady wanted to play at Madison Square Garden. Both sides appear to have gotten their wish.
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the trade that sent McGrady to the Sacramento Kings for Kevin Martin early Thursday morning has been expanded to include the Knicks.
In the revised deal, agreed upon early Thursday afternoon, the Knicks will receive McGrady and Kings point guard Sergio Rodriguez, although the primary benefit to Mike D’Antoni’s Knicks will be the plethora of contracts they shed.
The Rockets will acquire Martin from the Kings as planned, and also will get a bounty of players and picks from New York. First-round pick Jordan Hill and Jared Jeffries will head to Houston, and Rockets GM Daryl Morey reportedly also will have the right to swap 2011 first-rounders with the Knicks, and to control their 2012 first-rounder. It’s unknown if the picks are protected in any way.
Sacramento will obtain Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey from the Rockets, plus Larry Hughes from the Knicks. Although that is not an impressive return for the coveted 27-year-old Martin, the rebuilding Kings likely hope that the deal will eventually amount to addition by subtraction.
In terms of present and future value gained, the Rockets appear to be the big winners in this trade, although some of that hinges on whether the draft picks they will receive from the Knicks are conditional.
The Knicks’ end is the most intriguing, though, as they now figure to have room for two expiring contracts during the coming offseason — an obvious boost to their hopes of reeling in the top prize, LeBron James.
