Revisiting McGrady, Considering Bibby

In mid-Dec I blogged

McGrady is on the block and IMO this would be a nice acquisition assuming we give up what we want to give up and not youth.

McGrady is on the downside of his career and is no longer in the superstar category. Nor will he help our defense. but what he is good for is moving some of our bottlenecks out. And Houston could get some nice, playoff push talent back. A win-win trade.

Here's my Christmas wish trade.

Crawford, Rose, James, and Jeffries for McGrady, James and Snyder. We gain a roster spot, McGrady at the two or three. James gives us another PG candidate (maybe more 'D') , Snyder gets one more chance to show something or be cut outright.

Crawford and Rose go to a contender, Jeffries and James can a chance play on a winner. They are no worse than Snyder and James.

Just thinking aloud.

I still like that trade. Jones and Mike James take over the point position, Marbury slides to the two as a power guard, McGrady shares SF with Keith Van Horn (who fills that extra roster spot, becomes an instant fan favorite and has some fun), and we talk about the rest of the front court later. Snyder's contract is a nice further trade chip.

Roster-wise, we open up the team to lots of interesting possibilities.

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On a whole 'nuther note, Artest may be untouchable in Sacto but Bibby is in play. Let's speculate. Bibby is being bundled with Kenny Thomas. That means we're shipping Malik Rose, Sacto gains a year of relief there in a swap of carbon copy players. That leaves the rest of the trade to be worked out.

I come up with Crawford, Rose, Jerome James, Nate and Collins for Bibby, Thomas, and Garcia.

Sacto gains some nice young talent in Collins, Nate, and Crawford (Crawford replacing Bibby) and they clear out some expensive contracts for shorter and smaller contracts.

The Knicks get that elusive PG, a young SG in Garcia, and Kenny Thomas who either thrives or becomes a garbage time PF. Again, the Knicks open up the roster a bit, lose some young talent but hopefully gain some chemistry and balance.

Key to any good Knick trade will be Isiah's willingness to see beyond his personal relationships with Crawford and Nate to transform the under-performing Knicks.