MANHATTAN — Tracy McGrady could make his Madison Square Garden debut for the Knicks as early as Saturday night.
The Knicks acquired the former All-Star on Thursday as part of a three-team deal involving the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings. The deal not only brings a potential star to the Garden, it frees up salary cap space for the Knicks to pursue a big-name free agent this offseason such as LeBron James, Dewayne Wade or Chris Bosh.
The Oklahoma City Thunder come to Manhattan Saturday. Knick fans could see McGrady and the Knicks' other trade pickups on the court for the game if they all pass physicals, the New York Post reported.
"I had somebody go and look at him and they said he can play," team president Donnie Walsh told the Post, referring to McGrady. "He's a great player and he didn't lose that. We'll have to see what his physical condition is. But I've been told that he's playing against guys both in Chicago [and] Houston, and that's what they're saying -- he's playing."
McGrady, 30, had been banished from the Rockets months ago and in the interim was training with a renowned trainer in Chicago, the Post reported.
In the deal, New York sent rookie Jordan Hill, forward Jared Jeffries and its 2012 first round draft pick to the Rockets. Houston also gets the right to swap 2011 first round picks with the Knicks as long as it's not the top overall pick in the draft, ESPN reported. New York's pick is top-5 protected in 2012.
The Knicks will also ship Larry Hughes to Sacramento for Sergio Rodriguez from the Kings, the Post reported.
Moving Jeffries was key for the Knicks, as shedding his contract helped free up over $30 million in cap space. All eyes in Manhattan will be fixed on LeBron James' every move.
"I don't think too much or get too involved in teams trying to clear cap space," James said, according to the Daily News. "It all depends on what (each team's) plan is for that summer."
Also on Thursday the Knicks traded fan favorite and three-time slam dunk contest champion Nate Robinson to the Boston Celtics.
"I wanna say thanks from the bottom of my heart to all of the ny knick fan that supported me through the year I was a knick I played for yall," Robinson wrote on Twitter. "If u can make it there u can make it anywhere! I made it in NYC and I'm make n it out of NYC love all my fans."
In return for Robinson and backup Marcus Landry, the Knicks acquired Eddie House, J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker, ESPN reported.
