Hooped Up

McGrady could be allowed to sit on the bench in uniform tonight when the Rockets face the Hawks or Saturday at Toyota Center, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said in an e-mail, “We will get new info on Mac Monday.”

Morey had no comment on McGrady choosing to dress for the game Wednesday. But McGrady’s patience has seemed to have worn as thin as the cartilage that had to be replaced by the knee microfracture surgery.

I’m dying,” said McGrady, a 6-8 guard/forward. “Just sitting there is tough. Last year, I did it because I had no choice. I couldn’t play. I was hurting.

“Now, after putting in all the work this summer, I’m so eager to get back out there. I’m hungry. I’m so ready to play, man, it’s not even funny. It’s tearing me apart to sit here and watch my guys go out and playing and I can’t do anything but watch.”
Houston Chronicle

NBA players’ association director Billy Hunter plans another negotiating session soon with commissioner David Stern, and here’s something that might come up. The union says total player compensation will fall this season, which would be only the second drop in the salary cap era that began in the 1984-85 season.

The amount of the drop can’t be determined yet, since more deals will be signed during the season. Nor is it particularly surprising given the economic difficulties some teams have faced.

The league warned clubs during the summer of an impending drop in next season’s salary cap, and some were careful with their spending. Veterans such as Allen Iverson found limited to no interest, while restricted free agents such as New York’s David Lee and Nate Robinson, and Charlotte’s Raymond Felton couldn’t even get an offer from anyone beyond their own teams.
ESPN

D’Antoni fears the Knicks’ roster might not be better than its horrible 2-9 start and is concerned a 20-win season would scare away LeBron James. At one point yesterday, D’Antoni referred to the Knicks as “dead in the water,” but he quickly corrected himself.

If Iverson sparkles and warrants a new contract, he could turn into a lure for James. Leon Rose is the agent for both James and Iverson, who has the Knicks on top of his list.

“We just don’t want to be rash about anything,” D’Antoni said. “We want to try to make a good decision, make sure everybody is on board, make sure this is a positive move. It takes a little bit of time. We played 11 games so we have 71 left, so be it if it’s 68 or 66.”
NY Post