NEW YORK, February 18, 2010 New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that the team has acquired seven-time All-Star swingman Tracy McGrady from the Houston Rockets and guard Sergio Rodriguez from the Sacramento Kings, as part of a three-team trade. New York traded guard Larry Hughes to Sacramento and forwards Jordan Hill and Jared Jeffries to Houston, as well as a protected 2012 first round pick and the Rockets have the option to exchange first round draft selections in 2011. Sacramento acquired forwards Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey from Houston and Houston acquired guard Kevin Martin and forward/center Hilton Armstrong from Sacramento.
"Tracy McGrady has been one of the premiere players in our league over the past decade and we have every indication that he is healthy and committed to re-establishing himself as one of the best in our game. We also added Sergio, who should immediately help us," Walsh said. "This trade improves our position to achieve our long-term goals, while also keeping us competitive for the remainder of the season."
McGrady, 6-8, 223-pounds, has career averages of 21.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 34.4 minutes in 790 career games (640 starts) in 13 NBA seasons with Toronto, Orlando and Houston. The Bartow, FL-native has been named an NBA All-Star seven times and won back-to-back scoring titles in 2003 and 2004. He also has been named All-NBA seven times, including First Team All-NBA in 2002 and 2003. Originally selected by Toronto with the ninth overall selection in the 1997 NBA Draft out of Mount Zion Christian Academy High School in North Carolina, McGrady played his first three NBA seasons for the Raptors before being dealt to Orlando in a sign and trade deal on August 3, 2000. McGrady enjoyed four All-Star seasons with Magic while leading Orlando to three playoff appearances and also was named the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2001. He was traded to Houston following the 2003-04 campaign in a seven-player deal and has spent the last six seasons with the Rockets. In limited action this season following his return from knee surgery, McGrady has averages of 3.2 points and 7.7 minutes in six games off the bench.
Rodriguez, 6-3, 176-pounds, has career averages of 3.9 points, 2.9 assists and 13.3 minutes in 258 career games (14 starts) over four NBA seasons with Portland and Sacramento. Originally drafted by Phoenix with the 27th overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft, Rodriguez had his draft rights acquired by Portland on Jun. 26, 2006. In three seasons with Portland, Rodriguez averaged 3.6 points, 2.9 assists and 12.4 minutes in 219 games. The Tenerife, Spain-native was traded by Portland along with the draft rights to Jon Brockman to Sacramento in exchange for the draft rights to Jeff Pendergraph on Jun. 25, 2009 and averaged 6.0 points, 3.1 assists and 13.3 minutes in 39 games with the Kings this season.
Hughes, 6-5, 185-pounds, has averaged 14.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 704 career games (507 starts) over 12 NBA seasons with Philadelphia, Golden State, Washington, Cleveland, Chicago and New York. The St. Louis, MO-native was acquired by New York on Feb. 19, 2009 from Chicago in exchange for Tim Thomas, Jerome James and Anthony Roberson. Hughes averaged 10.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 56 games with the Knicks (28 starts) over the last two seasons. Originally drafted by Philadelphia with the eighth overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, Hughes is averaging 9.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 31 games this season.
Jeffries, 6-11, 240-pounds, has career averages of 5.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 492 career games (322 starts) over eight NBA seasons with Washington and New York. Originally selected by Washington with the 11th overall selection in the 2002 NBA Draft following his freshman year at Indiana, Jeffries signed with New York as a free agent on Aug. 8, 2006, and averaged 4.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 236 games (135 starts) as a Knick.
Hill, 6-10, 235-pounds, was selected by New York with the eighth overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft out of the University of Arizona and has averaged 4.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 10.5 minutes in 24 games off the bench during his rookie campaign with the Knicks.
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