Rockets should call McGrady's bluff

By John McMullen, NBA Editor

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - If you think about any argument with the benefit of hindsight, you will quickly realize there are three sides, your's, the opposition's and the "right side," which usually lies somewhere in between the polar opposites you might be debating.

Compromise is generally a good thing. When you are battling your wife, it's always a good idea to sacrifice a point now and again, especially if you don't want to find yourself sleeping on the couch. When debating health care, it would be nice if our politicians were a little more practiced in the art of give-and-take.

But, when it comes to the Houston Rockets and Tracy McGrady, I'm advocating that Rockets general manager Daryl Morey play the stubborn card.

McGrady, a seven-time All-Star, finally made his return to the hardwood earlier this month following an extensive rehabilitation after serious microfracture knee surgery.

The former two-time scoring champ made cameos during six straight games before missing the last two. Upset with his lack of playing time, McGrady pressed Rockets mentor Rick Adelman but the coach informed his former superstar that his minutes weren't about to increase any time soon.

With the writing on the wall in indelible ink, TMac requested and was given permission to fly home to Houston before the team's road game against the New Jersey Nets over the weekend.

I can see both sides of this issue.

Understandably McGrady, who is in the last year of a massive contract, wants his workload increased. After all, he needs to get back in basketball shape and show the rest of the league he has something left if another significant contract is at the end of his rainbow.

On the other hand, the Rockets have been pleasantly surprised by the way they have held up without All-Star center Yao Ming, like their young players and know McGrady isn't a part of their future. So why take minutes away from key contributors to placate a former star's ego?

The Rockets and McGrady's agent, Bob Myers, are expected to discuss the swingman's future soon with most expecting the logical conclusion to be a formal request for a trade.

Morey claims that the eight minutes a game TMac was getting is strictly a coaching decision, not a showcase for other teams and I believe him.

After all, McGrady may be only 30 but he entered the NBA as a teenager and has played a ton of minutes. In other words, he's lost plenty of tread off the tire. His skills, no matter how prolific, are not a lure for any NBA general manager.  His contract, however, will have plenty of franchises salivating.

McGrady is the highest-paid player in the NBA this season with an expiring deal valued at $23.2 million, a bargaining chip that would be incredibly valuable for any team looking to clear salary cap space for a significant free-agent signing this summer.

And that's why Morey should call McGrady's bluff. His expiring contract is every bit as valuable to Houston when it comes off the books.

So, take the small hit on the public relations front and understand a few less tickets and jerseys might be moved if McGrady sits at the end of the bench and pops off every now and again.

In this case the end game could very well justify the means.

While the Rockets have been a great story and possess one of the league's top five coaches in Adelman, the team is not a significant title threat without Yao.  A return by the All-Star center in 2010-11, along with a significant addition thanks to McGrady's expiring deal just might change that.