McGrady Headed To The Knicks In Three-Team Deal

The proposed three-way deal between Houston, New York, and Sacramento appears to be coming to fruition. According to ESPN’s Mark Stein, the teams have agreed in principle to a blockbuster deal that sends McGrady to New York along with Sacramento PG Sergio Rodriguez, sends Sacramento shooting guard Kevin Martin to the Rockets, and brings Houston’s Carl Landry--along with Joey Dorsey and Larry Hughes’ expiring contract (about $14 million)--to Sacramento.

Because we’re talking about the Houston Rockets and the best GM in the league, Daryl Morey, Houston also gets New York’s 2009 lottery pick, Jordan Hill, the right to swap first round picks with the Knicks in 2011, as well as taking the Knicks’ first round pick outright in 2012. Per usual, building through the draft is not one of New York’s top priorities, while Morey seems content to stockpile assets.

For Sacramento, they’ll get some much-needed help on the frontline with Landry, one of the better young big men in the league, as well as some valuable cap space when Hughes’ deal expires this spring. It comes with an expense, though: giving up Kevin Martin, the lone bright spot for Sacramento the past few years, and still one of the most talented young guards in the league.

For New York, the trade allows them to take a flier on McGrady, and potentially use his star power to lure a superstar this summer. And either way, his massive $23 million salary will come off the books this spring, clearing the way for New York to add not one, but two max contract players. They also gave up Jordan Hill, this year’s eighth overall pick. But again, these are the Knicks. Swingin’ for the fences, amirite?! Tracy McGrady was totally a superstar like five years ago!

And finally, Houston wins. God Houston wins. They traded Carl Landry, Tracy McGrady (who was inactive for them), and Joey Dorsey. So basically, they lost one player from their rotation (Landry). What did that net them? Two first round picks, a lottery pick from last year’s draft (Jordan Hill), Jared Jefferies, and one of the more effective shooting guards in the league, Kevin Martin. And again, from this year’s core, they lose only Carl Landry.

That, my friends, is a good day at the office for Darryl Morey.