Knicks get McGrady, eye a run at James
The Cleveland Cavaliers took another step toward keeping LeBron James, but New York, Chicago, Washington and Sacramento cleared the decks to make a run at him as the NBA's trade deadline passed yesterday afternoon.
The Cleveland Cavaliers took another step toward keeping LeBron James, but New York, Chicago, Washington and Sacramento cleared the decks to make a run at him as the NBA's trade deadline passed yesterday afternoon.
The Knicks acquired Tracy McGrady in a three-team swap with the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings, a source said.
The deal left New York on the verge of being able to offer two maximum salary contracts to the 2010 free-agent class that could be headlined by James.
The Knicks can afford a run at James, and perhaps someone else in a free-agent class that could include Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
By including Jared Jeffries in the deal for McGrady, whose $22.5 million contract expires after this season, the Knicks removed $6.9 million from next season's payroll and left themselves with about $32 million in salary cap space. Those top free agents would earn a little more than $16.5 million in the first season of a max deal.
The Knicks also dealt Nate Robinson and Marcus Landry to Boston for Eddie House, J.R. Giddens, Bill Walker and a future conditional second-round pick.
McGrady has played only six games this season after returning from knee surgery. To get him, the Knicks sent Jeffries and Jordan Hill to Houston with 2011 and 2012 draft considerations.
The Rockets got guard Kevin Martin and forward Hilton Armstrong from Sacramento, while the Kings received former 76er Larry Hughes from the Knicks, and Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey from Houston. They sent guard Sergio Rodriguez to New York.
The Bulls were busy, too, trading power forward Tyrus Thomas to Charlotte for a future protected first-round pick and the expiring contracts of guards Flip Murray and Acie Law.
Chicago also sent Plymouth Whitemarsh High graduate John Salmons to Milwaukee for Hakim Warrick and Joe Alexander, whose contracts are expiring.
The Wizards and the Los Angeles Clippers also shed salary and joined the Knicks, the Bulls, the New Jersey Nets and the Miami Heat as the teams with the most money available.
Washington sent swingman Dominic McGuire and cash to Sacramento for a protected 2010 second-round pick.
Utah sent shooting guard Ronnie Brewer to the Memphis Grizzlies for a future first-round draft pick, and San Antonio sent former 76ers forward Theo Ratliff to Charlotte for a second-round pick.
Nets head for Newark. The New Jersey Nets reached a deal with the state to move their regular-season games to Newark's Prudential Center for two years until their arena is built in Brooklyn.
Under the deal, the Nets will pay a $4 million penalty over two years to get out of their lease at the Izod Center in the Meadowlands.