Rockets Make Their Move

The Tracy McGrady era of Rockets basketball is officially over, it would appear. Here is the basic sum up of the deal:

• Knicks get: Tracy McGrady from Houston;  Sergio Rodriguez from Sacramento
• Kings get: Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey from Houston; Larry Hughes from New York
• Rockets get: Kevin Martin and Hilton Armstrong from Sacramento; Jordan Hill, Jared Jeffries, and the rights to swap first round picks in 2011 and take the 2012 first round pick from New York
  

For the Knicks: This is what they wanted. They basically get a free audition with Tracy McGrady for the last months of the season, to see if they would be interested in potentially bringing him back next year. But most importantly, they clear the cap space that would be needed to pursue one or more of the top tier free agents this summer. However, I think that the only two that could possibly do better in New York would be Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Wade still has very little around him after their championship year with Shaq, and I would love to see what he would do in Mike D'Antoni's system. The same goes for Bosh, who I think is in a similar spot that Kevin Garnett was in with the Timberwolves. He's a great talent on a mediocre team that just can't win. The parallels would continue if he were to go to the Knicks this summer along with another big free agent talent. Just don't necessarily expect a title, unless that other man is the one known as LeBron.

For the Kings: They get rid of Kevin Martin's contract, and pick up one of the best young talents in Carl Landry. This worked out well for the Kings, being a late player in these trade talks. Sacramento fans should be excited about the young talent they have in Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi, and Landry. One of the surprise teams in the West should continue to rise in the coming years, especially if they are able to hold onto Landry. Larry Hughes is an add-on whose contract is up at the end of the year.

For the Rockets: T-Mac is gone, but Sixth Man of the Year candidate Landry was caught in the crossfire. But despair not! Landry's contract also expires at the end of the year, so there is a possibility that he could return to Houston if he so pleases. If he chooses not, the Rockets picked up New York's first round pick last year, Jordan Hill, and Jared Jeffries, both long forwards. The Rockets also finally have a go-to scorer other than Aaron Brooks in Kevin Martin, who, before an injury and Tyreke Evans happened, was thought to be the future of the Sacramento franchise. Jeffries can also provide some minutes off the bench in the post if needed. Hilton Armstrong was inserted in order to make the numbers work.

Ultimately, this looks to work out pretty well for everyone involved. But if you are looking for a winner, I think that Daryl Morey worked up another gem. The Rockets rid themselves of McGrady, picked up the best player in the trade (who also plays a position that Houston was lacking in), bolstered the front court depth (along with making it bigger), and essentially picked up New York's 2009, 2011, and 2012 first round picks. All of this while losing two expiring contracts and a D-League All-Star. But again, add in the potential that Landry could come back next year, and this deal becomes that much better. The Knicks and Kings also got what they wanted, though, but most of their value is invested in the future. For the Knicks, they needed this trade to really open things up for this summer, but whether they can actually get something out of it obviously remains to be seen. The Kings could really make this work if they are able to sign Landry for multiple years, which they are able to do with Martin's contract out of the way.

According to NBA Trade Machine, this deal increased Sacramento's projected win total by 8, while decreasing New York's by 2 and Houston's by 6. But like I said, this deal will ultimately be brought to fruition in the future, but it will definitely have impact on this season for the Rockets. We'll just have to wait and see.