Does Tracy McGrady have a future in Houston?

June 16 09

Breaking news mixed with analysis …

Their News: "Houston also seems to be very active in trade talks, particularly trying to move Tracy McGrady we’re told. McGrady will be out for the first 20-30 games of the regualr seasons, but there is some thought he might be able to help a playoff team down the stretch." Draftexpress

Our Quick Analysis: Finally, they get it.

For years, Houston built their team on the hope Tracy McGrady would reach his potential and become a superstar. As a result, the swing enjoyed carte blanche status within the organization. Teammates had to accept T-Mac’s tendency to dominate the ball, while coaches and the front office had no choice but to tolerate his lackadaisical work ethic.

The Rockets gambled –and lost. They bet that their ‘2-3’ would realize his talent and deliver in the post-season. Instead, with McGrady injured, a blue-collar crew won the club’s first playoff series in years before pushing the champion Lakers to seven games in the west semi-finals.

The lesson was obvious: good chemistry beats unfulfilled talent. So Houston is now exploring trade options for their fallen superstar. A few points worth noting:

First, the money matters. Teams hoping to be active in the great free agent chase of 2010 could have interest in trading for the final year of McGrady’s 20 million dollar contract. All expiring contracts have value, especially ‘max’ deals.

Second, there are mixed opinions on McGrady’s future. On the one hand, his supporters believe, because he’s in a contract year, he’ll rehab his micro-fractured knee over the summer and perform in 2008-09.

On the other hand, his detractors point to Kenyon Martin and Chris Webber’s struggles after micro-fracture surgery. ‘K-Mart’ is only just returning to form, while ‘C-Webb’ never fully recovered. They argue such a serious procedure will rob McGrady, a perimeter player, of whatever quickness he has left in his brittle frame.

After years of heartbreak and disappointment, it’s becoming clear the Rockets are moving in a different direction. With McGrady, it seems Houston finally gets it.

What should Houston do with T-Mac? Get at us in the comment box below and come back to HoopsVibe The Blog for further NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of Keith Allison.

23 Comments: Does Tracy McGrady have a future in Houston?

Posted by
Meg
on 07.21.2009

stats wont win you a championship you gotta be a team player .

Posted by
Tmac go hard
on 06.30.2009

tmac is the reason i started playing and proggressed my level on the court i wanted to play like him more then anything..i dont know hiM but thats my dog i dont care what no one says he comin back raw then ever and i been a houston fan forever but if he leaves then i leave .

Posted by
the magnetz
on 06.27.2009

i agree with the comment below .

Posted by
TMONEY1230
on 06.25.2009

IN THE LAST 4 SEASONS WITH THE ROCKETS BESIDES BEING HURT MCGRADY AVERAGED 24 POINTS , 6 REB , 6 ASST.... HE PLAYED IN EVERY HOUSTON ROCKET PLAYOFF EXCEPT THIS YEAR WHICH HE ELEVATED HIS GAME AND AVERAGED 28 POINTS , 7 REB , 7 ASST , ..... THIS WAS IN THREE PLAYOFF SERIES WITH THE ROCKETS WHICH MOSTLY ALL WENT TO SEVEN GAMES EXCEPT ONE WHICH WENT TO SIX... THIS MEANS MCGRADY IS PUTTING UP THESE NUMBERS CONSISTENTLY.... DO U REALLY THINK HE IS THE PROBLEM.... I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK AT YAO WHO CHOKES IN LATE GAME PLAYOFF SITUATIONS.... AND PEOPLE SAY MAC IS ALWAYS HURT LOOK AT YAO... HE EVEN GOT HURT THIS YEAR WHEN THE ROCKETS NEEDED HIM MOST ... SMH THINK ABOUT THAT ! .

Posted by
Doc_Manahattan
on 06.22.2009

I think its way too early to write off Tracy McGrady just because he’s undergone microfracture surgery. This is not the same microfracture surgery that started 10 yrs ago with Penny Hardaway. Its not the same area of the knee that was operated on in Kenyon Martin or Chris Webber’s case to my knowledge and the surgery and rehab itself is more advanced that it was even 2 yrs ago when Amare had to undergo the procedure. From all the reports I’ve heard, Tracy’s knee looked good before they operated on it and they predict a full recovery. He’s rehabing with Tim Grover and he’s one of the best If not the best sports trainer in Basketball, so I doubt that whatever hop, step or speed that Tracy may lose will be minimal and more indicative because he’s now 30 and has played 12 + yrs in the league. The kid came into the league running a 4.5 with a higher than 42 inch vertical and was considered one of the more superior athletic players in the league...to me that’s a god given talent that only " father time " can take away entirely. Once you advance past 30 as a player in the NBA its more about basketball IQ and less about who can jump the highest and who can run the fastest. So what If Tracy isnt throwing down tomahawks like he was in Orlando. At 70 percent he still commands a double team and can score and pa-------with the best of em. .

Posted by
Chicago_773
on 06.22.2009

The problem with Houston and Tracy McGrady is the same as it was with him in Orlando. The Magic spent more time waiting for Grant Hill to make it back to the court instead of seriously upgrading the team to make them into serious contenders. Tracy wasted his talents and youth playing on a less than average team that really wasnt that good to begin with and resulted in him getting bounced out of the first round every yr because they were a bottom 7th/8th seed having to face a true championship contender (Detroit) In Houston it was more of the same. While the organization was waiting on Yao to achieve his potential (in between the injuries) Tracy was relied upon to win games and help a average team with a weak supporting cast remain competitive in the toughest division in the league and even more tougher Western Conference. Its no wonder his body started to break down. Look at Wade this yr with the Heat and tell me it doesnt remind you of TMAC in Orlando. If Wade doesnt play at least 40 min per game and score 30 + pts and averages 5 + dimes...the team loses and even then the team barely wins when it faces off against the better teams in the league. Now the Rockets have a better supporting cast and Yao is finally playing up to his potential, Great, but in Tracy’s case its a little late . Where was Yao and the support in 04 when they played Dallas ? Where was Yao and the support in 07 & 08 when they were going up against Utah ? I’m not saying the Rockets shouldn’t do what’s in the teams best interest, whether that be trade Tracy or keep him. All I’m saying is don’t make it seem like this kid is the reason the Rockets havent been winning all these yrs or that he’s holding them back. He’s sacrificed just as much as he’s earned in this league. There are ALOT of guys who make over $15 Million who arent even capable of getting their team into the playoff’s let alone pa-------the first round. .

Posted by
juke
on 06.20.2009

I love how everyone kicks mcgrady when he’s down. when the rockets did go to the playoffs when he wasn’t injured, thier team wasn’t good enough. and when he’s hurt, and the rockets damn near take out the lakers, u say they don’t need him? here’s a thought: if tracy & yao were playing, lakers are done for. period! when the rockets needed a big time scorer down the stretch, no one could step up... except for mcgrady. you hatas can say what you want, but the numbers in the playoffs don’t lie. for someone that elevates thier play in the playoffs, I think the rockets should jus wait until this next year out and see what happens. .

Posted by
jerone willaims, big rone
on 06.18.2009

I think you all are foolish for these absurd comments its retarded of yall to make ambiguous statements like this he’s a good player at times they went deep without him if he was there they was gonna be out the first damn round yall talking as if he meant the same to rockets as hakeem the dream olajuwon did,please stop smoking whatever yall are smoking om im from houston and that is not the case .

Posted by

on 06.18.2009

T-mac what can be said this man is amazing, even though he has never made it anywere he aint a hog 7.5 assist almost each f-----season? more than aaron brooks or kyle laundry ever done, this man took Rockets to playoffs but not this deep. Im tellingg you T-mac needs to be deat with Oklahoma or s---team were he can be a true leader. Nuff said! .

Posted by
t-mac fan
on 06.18.2009

bruh yall crazy yall just hatin he 2 cold just wait now kobe thats somebody that suk he 2 cocky and lebron would bone him! get it strate antbody score 13 points in 35 seconds?..... thought so $\1$ .

Posted by
jerone willaims, big rone
on 06.18.2009

This is the same bomb a-------twac that has never madi it pa-------the first round he has the skill with no heart he don’t workout right and I would have gotten candace parker for twac that’s how wack he is you twac ban wagon riders yall should get that sorry a-------name tatted on yall backs he suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .

Posted by
tmac fan till my head falls off
on 06.18.2009

yall must be crazywhy count him out lets be serious would you pa-------up a tmac at 75 percent. what bout nyoa he gets hurt every season to. come to remember the year before last year when yao was hurt tmac lead them to 55 wins with a wacker team. yao and artest only lead them to 53. his numbers in the playoffs are ridiculous. if the rockets do trade him i cant wait to see when he plays them. keep him and see how he turns out give him a break he has been in the league for well more than ten years now. tmac ^^^^ .

Posted by
jerone willaims, big rone
on 06.18.2009

I think trading for t-mac which I consider to say t-wac it was the dumbest trade to ever do for the houston rockets. With the young nucleus of francis,mobley and yao they would have atleast smelled the western conference finals or maybe the finals right about now,I think its future with houston should have been dead because his career been dead,because the mental toughness of his heart is dead and that’s what you need to do anything, tmac has not made or done anything for the houston rockets to set the record straight........ .

Posted by
40inchleaper
on 06.18.2009

T-Mac’s prime is gone. He should be a complementary player to his "team-first" Rockets .

Posted by
melo boy
on 06.17.2009

why is everyone counting him out? he took this season off and now hes no good?? tmac can destroy when hes on!! he made houston everything it is! so maybe he has chink eyes! but he gives carmelo, lebron and pierce each a run for thir money!! i cant wait until he gets his game back so all of u realize ur wrong .

Posted by
Kobe over T-Wack
on 06.17.2009

Maybe in 2002 he could. McGrady isn’t close to Kobe’s level. Hasn’t been for a while no-name poster, please .

Posted by

on 06.17.2009

tmac all day, if you guys think about it long n hard, youll realize tmac can do almost everything kobe can do. .

Posted by
tmacangel
on 06.17.2009

T-mac has carried that team for many years. Are they going to trade Yao as well? He gets injured all the time. T-Mac never had the talent around him that the Rox have now. If I was him I would want out og H-Town. Everyone is treating him very unfair. My believe, he will be at least 90% after rehab. That is good enough for me , considering his skills and value. I agree with mac fan, if Tracy goes so will I and I am sure many more mac fans.tmacangel .

Posted by
JD
on 06.17.2009

T-Mac a------- is through!!!!!!!! .

Posted by

on 06.17.2009

If the Rockets are serious about money ball they could let his cotnract expire and then let him leave at year end. Still, he, like wirter says, is on borrowed time in Houston .

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Does Tracy McGrady have a future in Houston?

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