NBA Trade Deadline

*Knicks aquire Tracy McGrady. Scroll down for more.*

Donnie Walsh is looking to shake up this current Knicks roster, but more importantly, indirectly affecting the offseason situation.

Let's recap yesterday's events:

The Knicks traded guard Nate Robinson to Boston for guards Eddie House, J.R. Giddens, and a 2nd round draft pick. This trade is yet to be announced.

Hours later, the Knicks acquired forward Brian Cardinal for the T-Wolves for outcast center Darko Milicic. This deal is official, and Cardinal is likely to be waived to create roster space for upcoming trades.

The Knicks have been in constant talks with Houston revolving around guard Tracy McGrady. Late Wednesday night, talks stalled mainly due to disputes over the protection of Houston's incoming picks, and Houston switched their attention over to Sacramento to now pursue the player they've coveted the most, guard Kevin Martin.

Early Thursday morning, a deal was agreed to in principal sending McGrady, forwards Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey to Sacramento for Martin, forwards Kenny Thomas and Hilton Armstrong, and guard Sergio Rodriguez. There is still a possibility that the Knicks can join in this deal to make it a three-team trade and acquire McGrady, which will cause the swap to most likely go down to the wire and require most of the time allowed to complete (about three more hours).

Talks arose early Thursday morning that the Knicks were interested in Chicago forward Tyrus Thomas and sending forward Al Harrington to the Bulls in return. But hours later, talks fizzled and this particular trade is now seen as "a long shot now" according to league sources cited by Yahoo! Sports.

*Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that a deal has been agreed to between the Bulls and Bobcats sending Flip Murray, Acie Law, and a future first round pick to Chicago for Thomas.

The McGrady trade is leaving me confused as to what the Rockets' interests really are. A deal with the Knicks was reportedly in place, with the only haggling point being the protection of the picks. I couldn't imagine this being the deal-breaker for Houston; something else had to have been up in the air.

As for the trade that has gone down with Sacramento, I'm still in confusion. Kevin Martin is a very good basketball player, potentially an all-star; but the man is fragile. The oft-injured Martin has averaged to miss over 20 games each season of his career which is in its sixth season. He has four years remaining on his contract at a steep price for any budget, and will likely handcuff the Rockets for years. But I'm not the one running the team.

This deal will get done, as it helps Walsh's beloved 2010 plan far too much for him to pass up. The Knicks have been dealing with the Rockets, who wanted zero protection on both incoming picks. But as of right now, Tracy McGrady is property of the Kings, who may have different interests than Houston-meaning the deal with Sacramento may be less dependent on the picks. Just an opinion from the outside.

• UPDATE: 12:44 P.M: The Nate Robinson deal has been tentatively agreed to, sending Nate Robinson and a second player to Boston for Eddie House, J.R. Giddens, and Bill Walker. The second Knick involved is not immediately clear, according to ESPN's Chris Sheridan.

• UPDATE: 12:58 P.M: The Kings are asking for David Lee from the Knicks in order to take on the steep price of Jared Jeffries, Yahoo! Sports reports. Personal opinion: if Walsh wants to sign 2 max contracts, there will be no cap space left to re-sign Lee this offseason. So if, and only if, it is necessary, a trade involving Lee is tolerable.

• UPDATE: 1:05 P.M: ESPN's Chris Broussard reports that even if no deal is agreed upon to send McGrady to New York, he will likely be bought out and signed by the Knicks.

• UPDATE: 1:15 P.M: According to Marc Stein of ESPN, a deal has been agreed to by the Kings, Knicks, and Rockets, sending McGrady and point guard Sergio Rodriguez to the Knicks, Kevin Martin, forward Jared Jeffries, the Knicks 2012 first round pick, and the right the swap first round picks in 2011 all go to Houston, and Kings receive forwards Joey Dorsey and Carl Landry, and guard Larry Hughes.

McGrady to Knicks deal:

New York Receives:

• Point Guard Sergio Rodriguez (from SAC)
• Shooting Guard Tracy McGrady (from HOU)

Houston Recieves:

• Shooting Guard Kevin Martin (from SAC)
• Forward/Center Hilton Armstrong (from SAC)
• Forward Jared Jeffries (from NYK)
• Forward Jordan Hill (from NYK)
• The right to swap 2011 first round draft picks with New York in 2011
• New York 2012 first round draft pick

*According to ESPN's Chad Ford, the 2011 pick is Top-1 protected (Knicks keep if they have the first overall pick), and the 2012 pick is Top-5 protected (Knicks keep if the pick is 1st-5th overall).

Sacramento Recieves:

• Forward Carl Landry (from HOU)
• Forward/Center Joey Dorsey (from HOU)
• Guard Larry Hughes (from NYK)

The shedding of Jeffries and Hill means that the only players that the Knicks have under contract past this offseason are Eddy Curry, Danilo Gallinari, Toney Douglas, and Wilson Chandler. Assuming all Bird Rights and Qualifying Offers are waived on June 30th, the Knicks will have approximately $32 million in cap space this summer, which will be enough to afford two maximum contracts this offseason.

The Nate Robinson deal is also finished. Robinson and G Marcus Landry to Boston for guardsEddie House, J.R. Giddens, and Bill Walker. No picks involved.

• UPDATE: 2:37 P.M: Maybe not completely finished: F Shelden Williams may replace Bill Walker in the deal, according to Newsday's Alan Hahn.

• UPDATE: 3:23 P.M: The Robinson deal is official, and includes Walker, not Williams, according to Hahn.

Knicks Making Moves

*Scroll down for updated information.

Thursday's 3 P.M. EST NBA trade deadline is approaching, and the Knicks look to be active.

Multiple reports (here, here, and here) have the Knicks nearing a deal with Boston shipping out Nate Robinson, with the Knicks potentially receiving Eddie House and picks. Robinson did not make the trip with Chicago with the team last night due to the "flu".

At about 2 P.M. Wednesday, Robinson ironically tweeted the Eminem lyrics, "N wen I'm gone just carry on don't mourn rejoice every time u hear da sound of my voice(word aapp)"

Energy. That's what Nate Robinson brings to his basketball team. Now when this energy runs out, he returns to being a very pedestrian, mediocre player. That's when his coach needs to realize the opposing team can gain momentum off his bad shots and turnover-prone basketball, and sub him out.

There's no question Nate can be a huge part of a winning team; but the risk of playing him 40+ minutes outweighs the reward. In most cases, Nate's spark burns out after a few possessions, and just as fast as he ignites the team, he takes them right out of the game. Which is why he can't and probably never will be able to be a starting point guard in the league. But, if used in moderation, he can be a game-changing asset on a playoff team.

Nate Robinson on top of his game, being correctly coached, and with a good surrounding cast, puts both his team and himself in a win-win situation. Nate gets his time to energize the team, and when that time runs out, he's relieved with a less explosive, but more consistent point guard-Rajon Rondo fits the bill.

But Donnie Walsh isn't finished.

The Knicks are simultaneously in conversations with the Houston Rockets regarding Tracy McGrady. McGrady has played in just 6 games this season and is receiving the "Marbury treatment" from the Rockets. Newsday's Alan Hahn has said the deal will "go down to the wire". Depending on the players departing on the New York side, the swap could presumably able the Knicks to sign two maximum contracts this upcoming offseason. Jared Jefferies, who is due to make $6.9 million next season, Larry Hughes, rookie Jordan Hill, and multiple draft picks are reportedly involved in the deal.

The main sticking point of this trade seems to be the draft picks involved. The two teams will reportedly swap first round picks in 2011, with Houston receiving the Knicks' first rounder in 2012. The protection of the picks is what is, again reportedly, holding the trade up.

• UPDATE: 6:01 P.M: The Bulls are no longer in the running for McGrady and Houston has turned their full attention to Walsh and the Knicks, according to sources that have spoken with Yahoo! Sports.

• UPDATE: 6:13 P.M: The Knicks have traded Center Darko Milicic, who has played in just eight games this season, to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Forward Brian Cardinal and cash. Both contracts are expiring.

• UPDATE: 7:03 P.M: MSG reports that the Knicks will also receive J.R. Giddens, assuming the trade goes official. His contract expires following this season.

• UPDATE: 7:44 P.M: The Knicks are interested in sending Al Harrington to Chicago, with him possibly being re-routed to a third team, ESPN's Chris Sheridan reports. Chicago has told veteran swingman John Salmons to stay home instead of accompanying the Bulls on their trip to New York Wednesday, with a trade imminent. Salmons has a player option worth $5.8 million for next season, meaning an acquisition of him by the Knicks would essentially cancel out (salary-wise) ridding themselves of Jared Jefferies.

• UPDATE: 8:20 P.M. The Milicic-Cardinal deal is now official, and the Knicks will likely waive Cardinal to make room for other moves to happen, Alan Hahn reports.

• UPDATE: 9:15 P.M: John Salmons has been traded from the Bulls to the Bucks for the expiring contracts of Kurt Thomas and Francisco Elson.

• UPDATE: 9:48 P.M: Rockets trying to revive trade talks with the Bulls by recruiting the Kings to be involved in a three-team deal now that John Salmons won't be in the package being sent to Houston, according to Yahoo! Sports.]

• UPDATE: 10:42 P.M: Knicks and Bulls discussing Tyrus Thomas for Al Harrington.

• UPDATE: 12:29 A.M: The New York Times reports all players are set for McGrady trade (Jared Jeffries, Larry Hughes and Jordan Hill to Houston in exchange for McGrady, Brian Cook and Joey Dorsey). Houston wants both incoming draft picks to be unprotected-meaning no matter how the Knicks finish the season (playoffs, lottery, etc) Houston will receive both picks. Donnie Walsh is "hopeful" that some of not all of the Knicks' deals will get done.

• UPDATE: 1:49 A.M: T-Mac to the Knicks is dead, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, saying that the Rockets are now pursuing the player they've coveted the most, Kevin Martin of the Kings.

• UPDATE: 1:58 A.M: Deal with Knicks may not be dead after all, as a three-team deal involving the Kings, Knicks, and Rockets may be brewing, Adrian Wojnarowski reports. My head hurts...

• UPDATE: 2:06 A.M (Story also here): To clear all the confusion: The Rockets and Kings have agreed to a trade sending Tracy McGrady, Carl Laundry and Joey Dorsey from Houston to Sacramento for Kevin Martin, Kenny Thomas, Hilton Armstrong and Sergio Rodriguez. This trade is all but official and has been acknowledged by Kevin Martin, saying ""I appreciate them letting me go to a playoff caliber team at this time of my career." All this according to Yahoo! Sports. The deal, however, may still include New York as Sacramento has not yet decided if they will keep McGrady or ship him to New York.

Time to Wake Up

When last we spoke about the New York Islanders, things couldn't have felt much better. This was less than two weeks ago. They sat just barely out of a playoff spot; it seemed to good to be true.

Well guess what, maybe it was. A mere 13 days ago, the Isles were playing inspired, energetic hockey. Over the past 2 weeks, they have dropped 5 games in a row, and they have been ugly. If they haven't been blown out, they've been plagued by a seemingly anemic offense. A hockey team playing tired is the last thing anybody wants to watch. The games have been very unexciting, which is certainly not this team's style. They seem to be playing sluggish, which is not entirely unexpected from a young team.

The Islanders need to use the upcoming Olympic Break to their advantage. They have only one Olympian on their squad, Mark Streit. The rest of the players (especially the young ones) need to take a few days off to relax, and regroup. Once it's time to get back to business, they will be ready. They have proven that they can contend with the NHL's best, and that isn't just something a team can suddenly lose. So fear not, Islanders fans. While it may seem dim at the moment, this team has showed multiple times, they can turn it around in a New York minute.