McGrady to Pistons not so likely?

This news rippled shock waves through the Bayou City’s basketball fan base, as two primary camps have formed over the past two weeks. On one side is a group of that is disenchanted with the postseason performances of the Yao Ming/Tracy McGrady era Rockets and ready to blow up the team for a change. On the opposing side is a faction that believes that the team, as currently assembled, has yet to hit its peak and has the potential to win and win big in the NBA, as evidence by last season’s 22-game winning streak.

But the one thing that both parties had in common was there curiosity as to what players would be obtained in a trade with Detroit. Pistons General Manager Joe Dumars has made no bones about his desire to shake up his team and has made it clear that many of his valuable assets are available for the right price. Speculation swept over Houston last week that some combination of PG Chauncey Billups, SG Richard Hamilton, SF Tayshaun Prince, and PF Rasheed Wallace could be had in exchange for McGrady.

Suddenly the group in favor of a trade with Detroit became disjointed, as different members clamored for assorted groups of Detroit players. Some hoped to receive Billups and Hamilton, while others hoped to receive Hamilton and Wallace, and the greediest of all hoped to receive all four of the aforementioned players.

Within days of the published reports, the Pistons went public by downplaying the rumors and stating that the Pistons were not “remotely” close to a deal for McGrady and that the Rockets were simply one of many teams to whom the franchise has spoken with about potential swaps.
However, with as much smoke that has surrounded this story in the last seven days, one is forced to wonder if somewhere there might exist a fire of sorts. At least that’s what one group of Rockets’ fans is thinking.

Photo: flickr user jeffbalke