Sportsbook had a major trade occurring on Thursday just before the trading deadline as the Houston Rockets sent Tracy McGrady to the New York Knicks as part of a huge three-team deal with the Sacramento Kings.
McGrady is the biggest name in the deal but the biggest sportsbook online winner might be the Knicks who have shed a lot of cap space for next season.
Sportsbook had McGrady and Sergio Rodriguez from the Kings going to the Knicks. The Rockets get a major shot in the arm as they get Kevin Armstrong and Hilton Armstrong from Sacramento plus Jordan Hill and Jared Jeffries from New York. Sportsbook has this as a complicated deal that also sees Houston swapping first round picks with New York in 2011. The Rockets also get New York’s 2012 first round pick. Sportsbook online had the Kings getting Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey from the Rockets plus New York’s Larry Hughes.
While the Rockets got a lot of players, the Knicks will be able to free up a ton of money that will put them more than $30 million below the salary cap this summer. Sportsbook online has that making them a major player for LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Sportsbook now has the Knicks with enough salary cap room to go after two big free agents.
Sportsbook had the Rockets and Kings agreeing on the McGrady deal late on Wednesday and the Knicks got involved on Thursday. The Knicks will be able to get McGrady’s big contract off the books this summer in addition to the big contracts of Al Harrington and Chris Duhon. The Knicks also get McGrady for this sportsbook season although it really means nothing as McGrady is just showcasing himself for another team next season. “I have tremendous respect for [owner] Leslie Alexander and have enjoyed playing for the Rockets over the last six years,” McGrady said, “It has definitely been the most profound part of my career. I’ve learned a lot about myself from various situations, both good and bad that have occurred here. It was my hope when I came to Houston that I wouldn’t leave, but I do understand this is the business side of basketball.”
The odds at the sportsbook could be impacted on all three teams. Houston could make a major sportsbook online move into playoff contention while the Knicks and Kings may just pack it in.