Tracy McGrady done for the year

[adidas11]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3914888&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

He's looking at microfracture knee surgery.

[adidas11]

The season has been a major disappointment for Tracy McGrady and the Houston Rockets. It might have just gotten worse.

The forward told ESPN.com's Stephen A. Smith on Tuesday that his troublesome left knee will end his season and that he will undergo microfracture surgery. McGrady made a public announcement Wednesday on his Web site.

Rockets spokesman Nelson Luis said Wednesday morning that the team had no comment. But Luis said McGrady met with a doctor in New York on Tuesday and had another out-of-state doctor's appointment scheduled Wednesday.

McGrady's name had come up earlier Tuesday in reported trade discussions between the Rockets and New Jersey Nets. The Nets were leery of McGrady's contract and health in discussions involving Nets forward Vince Carter.

McGrady had arthroscopic surgery on the knee last May and has been slow to recover. The seven-time All-Star missed much of January trying to get the knee back in shape and had an MRI last week to try to discover why it was still bothering him.

"The last couple of games, I've regressed," McGrady said during halftime of last Wednesday's game. "I've felt pain."

McGrady's numbers are down across the board this season. He is the Rockets' third-leading scorer at 15.6 points per game and is averaging 4.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per contest. He is shooting a career-worst 39 percent from the field.

After trading for Ron Artest in the offseason to create a triple threat with McGrady and Yao Ming, the Rockets were expected to challenge for one of the top spots in the Western Conference. But all three players have missed time due to injuries and Houston sits in fifth in the conference, with only two games separating it from the eighth and final spot.

Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire is an example of the tough road that comes with microfracture surgery. His procedure ultimately cost him all but three games of the 2005-06 season. He returned the next season, however, to play in 82 games and regained his All-Star form.



Stephen A. Smith is a columnist for ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[Rogue]

I heard rockets are seeking for a trade that can remove tmac from their team, and the companion they are likely to make their deal with is just the clippers. 610 said early today that rockets have brought tmac into negotiation with clippers, clippers are also searching for a trade that may help them get rid of Baron Davis's contract that is years longer than tmac's garbage contract. personnally I think it's a good trade for both teams, though clippers would also have to give up camby or kaman to make this deal done.

for rockets: rockets have been devastated by tmac since he was moved to houston, and they don't want to tolerate him any more. plus, tmac is out for this season, and he also requires a microfracture which will definitely abort the rest of this season for him. It's surely a bad news for rockets who are dreaming to break into the second round if tmac really is done this season, and it is very likely to be true. tmac has already pushed himself into the situation that stephon marbury faced last season, crying for a surgery which is not that necessary, absend games with bullshit reasons... but the rockets team is not knicks, they are still among the playoff range and still wish to make a difference in the first round. So it's always a good trade for them only if it can send tmac for whoever can play basketball.

clippers: clippers ate a couple of big contracts last summer with the ambition of doing something this season, but they failed and have already considered rebuilding absolutely. bdavis's 5yr contract certainly is a big burdan on that frail team, which is also the only reason why they want to make this deal with rockets even at the expense of losing Kaman.

[DaDakota]

And Tmac punked our organization by basically announcing it on his own blog before telling the coach/GM.

Such Class, without the first two letters.

DD

[SenorSpur]

Should anyone really be surprised about this news?

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

This is shocking. What's next? Yao going down with foot problems? :lol

[mookie2001]

about as shocking as manus weakass ankles

[WalterBenitez]

T Mac bad news, in the other hand Rockets could handle to reach playoffs 2nd round :D

[KaiRMD1]

This could be a blessing in disguise. As long as the rest of the team stays healthy, the Rockets could be just fine with a constant roster rather than a rotating one.

[duncan228]

McGrady: I’m done; Rockets not so sure (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/McGrady_Im_done_Rockets_not_so_sure.html)
Jonathan Feigen - Houston Chronicle

HOUSTON — Tracy McGrady left little doubt. The Rockets, however, aren’t sure.

Forced to hear of McGrady’s decision to have season-ending and career-threatening surgery on ESPN and then to read about it on his Web site, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey emphasized that no decision has been made regarding an operation to repair McGrady’s troublesome left knee, either by the Rockets or McGrady.

“We’re still waiting on second opinions, and then we’re going to decide which direction we’re going to go,” Morey said at Wednesday’s Tux & Tennies Charity Gala. “That was the plan originally, and that’s still the plan. I just talked to his agent (Arn Tellem).

“Tracy hasn’t seen the doctor who would likely perform whatever procedure he ends up doing. The decision on the next step is still to be determined. Obviously, the most important person in the decision is Tracy. We think it’s best he hears all options before deciding on the final course of action.”

As far as McGrady is concerned, the decision is made.

When an MRI last week showed no change in his condition, McGrady said he was not even considering surgery. But after Tuesday’s tests in New York with a more advanced T-2 MRI, one of just two in the nation, he said he would need microfracture surgery.

“My knee hasn’t been right all year, and we can’t seem to get the pain to go away,” McGrady wrote on t-mac.com. "We’ve tried just playing through it, taking back-to-backs off, and extended periods of rest, but none of it has really been effective in limiting the discomfort and allowing me to just go out there and play.”

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Seriously, what a tragic tragic story. This guy, along with Paul Peirce and Kolby Bryant were chosen as the "Next Jordan Candidates" back in 2002. And it's ironic because McGrady started tearing it up after 2002.

[WalterBenitez]

Seriously, what a tragic tragic story. This guy, along with Paul Peirce and Kolby Bryant were chosen as the "Next Jordan Candidates" back in 2002. And it's ironic because McGrady started tearing it up after 2002.

Ego's issue is also disadvantage, Pierce is better team player, lately KB has learnt the lesson.