The biggest name to be dealt before Thursday's NBA trade deadline came and went was a guy who has played a total of 46 minutes this season: Houston's Tracy McGrady (and his expiring $22.8 million contract).
T-Mac was part of a three-way deal that saw him land in New York along with point guard Sergio Rodriguez from the Kings. Houston did well in the deal, getting stud Sacramento shooting guard Kevin Martin, 2009 Knicks' lottery pick Jordan Hill and first-round draft considerations from the Knicks in 2011 and 2012. The Kings got a bunch of junk, frankly.
Only Houston got better in this deal – bet on the Rockets' NBA futures odds at Bodog — with the Knicks and Kings doing this simply for cap reasons. New York, which hasn't been under the salary cap since 1996, now can offer two maximum deals next summer in hopes of luring LeBron James and either Chris Bosh or Dwyane Wade to play alongside Danilo Gallinari and a bunch of stiffs (David Lee will be a free agent; he might come back if New York can't sign two superstars). It's not a sure thing that McGrady ever gets on the court for New York, by the way.
The Chicago Bulls also weakened themselves for the rest of this season — albeit not too much — in trading John Salmons and Tyrus Thomas to Milwaukee and Charlotte, respectively. But now Chicago can offer a maximum deal to one player next summer, with the allure of playing alongside All-Star point guard Derrick Rose. Expect the Bulls to target Wade, a Chicago native.
And Wade might be apt to leave Miami now that the Heat struck out on acquiring both Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire and Utah's Carlos Boozer before the deadline. Miami was hoping to acquire one of those two forwards now and then re-sign him in the summer as opposed to playing the risky free agent game. If Miami were to miss the playoffs this season, which is now a possibility (especially with Wade having suffered a calf injury on Wednesday – the seriousness of which isn't yet known), then Wade could well bolt South Florida next summer.
Some teams were winners just by not making trades before the deadline, among them the Suns (Stoudemire), Jazz (Boozer) and Celtics (Ray Allen). Boston also added Nate Robinson from the Knicks to help spell All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo.
And remember when the Washington Wizards thought they could contend in the Eastern Conference heading into this season behind their trio of Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas? Now all three former All-Stars are gone, with Jamison in Cleveland, Butler in Dallas and Arenas suspended and possibly facing jail time. The Wizards, not the Nets, are now the worst team in the NBA. But at least the Wiz also will have cap room next summer.
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