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The Rockets are discussing a potential three-way trade which would send grounded Tracy McGrady to the Knicks and bring back Wizards Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, reports Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski. Washington, seeking to cut salary in order to slip under the luxury tax, would get back Knick Al Harrington for starters, and at least another player to make salaries match. Wojnarowski indicates the Wizards would also demand a draft pick.For the Knicks, the ramifications are really limited to this season, as McGrady's incredible contract expires this summer and it's unlikely the second fleeing Knick would be someone like Eddy Curry or Jared Jeffries, each of whom has a contract that extends into 2010-11. Could McGrady give the Knicks' playoff hopes a boost? Sure, if he's as physically fit as he's claimed since October. But Harrington isn't chopped liver, and New York has fallen 5-1/2 games out of the eighth seed.
It's Houston whose dreams can really come true here. Butler has struggled this season, but he is a two-time All-Star within his projected peak period. Houston could use another scorer to relieve pressure on Aaron Brooks, Luis Scola, Carl Landry and, yes, Trevor Ariza. Butler can fill that role, and while his defense is sometimes inconsistent, he wouldn't be a big drain. Haywood, of course, has a birth certificate which lists his middle name as Defense. While the Rockets are strong with Chuck Hayes in the pivot, adding Haywood up front would be simply brilliant. (His contract expires this summer; Butler is due $10.5 million in 2010-11.)
Again, for the Wizards, it's all about shrinking the luxury tax bill and cutting future salary. Bringing Darko Milicic with Harrington could save some cash if Washington can reach a quick buy-out deal -- the Wizards would save tax on any money Darko leaves on the table in addition to half of whatever Milicic signs for in Europe. (It's just about crunch time in the Old World, though; if Darko doesn't get bought out soon, it may be too late.) It's not clear Washington is willing to give up Butler only to rid his contract from their 2010-11 books, and unless Washington can get some real savings here or a pitched-in prospect, that'd be the case.
We'll see where this rumor turns next. Maybe there's a fourth team that can help get the Wizards some breathing room.
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