Tracy Mcgrady spoke with FOX26 in Chicago where he is currently training and this is what he had to say:

McGrady Expects Return to Elite Status

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Updated: Thursday, 30 Jul 2009, 10:05 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 30 Jul 2009, 9:24 PM CDT

• MARK BERMAN

HOUSTON - Houston Rockets star Tracy McGrady guarantees he will return to the Rockets for the 2009-2010 season and that he will be a major factor.

McGrady had microfracture surgery five months ago on his left knee and there is speculation he would miss most of, if not all of the upcoming season, and that his career could be in jeopardy.

McGrady spoke with FOX 26 Sports from Chicago where he is working out.

"It's really no comparison to how I feel now and I how felt trying to play all of last season," McGrady said. "My knee is feeling extremely strong. The most important thing is I'm confident in it. You guys just stay tuned. I'm out here grinding in Chicago, trying to get back right, but yes I will be playing for the Rockets in the '09-10 season.

"I will be in uniform for the Rockets this upcoming season, I guarantee you that, and I will be a lot better than I was last year. I will be back to the player that I once was.

"I will guarantee you that."

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[editors note:  remainder of contents of article removed.  Use the link below.  We respect copyright law here, gang.  Don't post entire articles in a cut/paste mode.]

This is a link to the article and actual interview with FOX Sports and Tracy. Have a look:

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/nba/090730_mcgrady_expects_return_elite_status

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What do the Raptors gain and what do they lose?

By making this deal the Raptors acquire another solid SG who is a very potent scorer. Belinelli has a great feel for the game on offense and is a very pure shooter. He is always very poised with the basketball and makes smart decisions.  His shooting range is phenomenal and he will spread the floor for the Raptors. This means Jarrett Jack does not have to play SG and can stay at his natural position at PG. Marco is 9 years younger than Devean and averaged higher numbers in every statistic except rebounding.

The Raptors will lose championship experience and tough defence by trading away George. He was with the Lakers during their 3 peat championship run and has had playoff experience with the Mavericks. He has shown he can be a good defender on a playoff team and can hit timely three’s. 

What do the Warriors gain and what do they lose?

With George the Warriors gain playoff experience and defence as I stated in the Raptors losses but more importantly they gain more minutes for their many young guards. Monta Ellis and Stephen Jackson look to be the starting guards. To back them up you have Stephon Curry, Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Morrow, C.J Watson and Acie Law who all need minutes to develop. Losing Belinelli is not as big of a loss for the Warriors as it is a gain for the Raptors. This just provides more minutes to a guard heavy team. 

The Warriors will miss Belinelli because he was a fan favourite and a young guard full of potential but to them he is expendable. Getting George for Belinelli was a bigger loss for the Warriors as Marco is worth more than an old injury riddled role player. If I were the Warriors I would have liked Antoine Wright or at least Joey Graham. Yes Devean George brings playoff experience and perimeter defence to the Warriors but the problem is the Warriors aren’t making the playoffs and they play no defence. Don’t be surprised to see George ride the bench for the year.

Who got the better deal?

It is very clear the Raptors got the better end of this deal. Belinelli will be a key piece to the Raptors success and has a bright future. Devean George will not see much playing time and may retire sooner rather than later. Kudos to Bryan Colangelo.

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When reviewing great guards in the NBA they all seem to have one common denominator and that is their ability to get to the rim. Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Paul, and Iverson, just to name a few, all have an uncanny ability to drive to the hoop and this is what seperates them from the rest. 

From watching Tyreke Evans play at the University of Memphis and summer league recently it is clear he can drive. He is listed as a point guard but with his 6'6, 225 pound frame he seems to be more of a combo guard. Tyreke has all the makings of a bonafide superstar in this league. He has a great handle on the ball, nice touch when finishing at the rim, has shown he can shoot outside and is very quick. Aside from the skills he possesses he is very physically gifted and has that killer instinct to drive every chance he gets. Evans is a ball dominant player and people have questioned his passing ability. We must remember he is 19 years old and basketball IQ and awarness increases with tme and experience. He has proven he can find the open man especially when hes on the move. Getting drafted by the Kings gives Evans a great opportunity to be a leader on a very young team. Tyreke reminds me alot of Dwayne Wade they way he contorts his body and shifts his positioning while driving. He has a knack for drawing fouls which will make defenses collapse in the paint and create open looks for his teammates. He is a very versatile guard who will fill up the stat sheets night in and night out. Look for Evans to take over games in the 4th quarter by consintently getting to the hoop. Evans has also shown in pre draft workout as well as summer league that he has a nice pullup that is very unpredictable and quick.

As Evans matures as a player and begins to understand the NBA game better the sky is the limit for his success. Evans will need to work on his shot as he can be inconsistent at times but again this will come with time. Obviously Tyreke is no Kobe or Lebron yet but give him 5 years and he has the potential to be an elite player in this league. I can see him being a 25points 7 assists 7 rebounds type player. Kudos to the Kings management for passing on Rubio and picking Evans because he is going to be a franchise player one day.

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 When reflecting on the Raptors campaign last season the word "disappointing" would be an understatement. Players, coaches, and Raptor fans alike had high hopes after acquiring Jermaine O'Neal from the Pacers. It was just about 20 games into the season when the Raps lost by almost 40 points to the Denver Nuggets and people began pointing fingers. The first victim was Sam Mitchell who seemed to be getting out coached every other game. O'Neal was not living up to his expectation and Toronto Fans began to get anxious. This is when the Raptors organization elected to fire Sam Mitchell, which seemed a little pre-mature, but was bound to happen. As if the Raptors and their fans hadnt already been through enough at this point when newly acquired Jermaine O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat for Marcus Banks, and  Shawn Marion and the whirlwind of Bosh trade rumors began. This seemed to take its toll on the Raps who could not find a way to play consistent until late in the season. The Toronto Raptors experienced a dark, gloomy season last year but dont worry Raps fans because there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Lets start with the Raptors draft pick DeMar Derozan. As a basketball player he is very raw and needs experience and work but he is a tremendous athlete and has a good head on his shoulders. For a freshman out of college i was surprised to hear how well spoken and humble he was. When asked about next season he stated he wants to play hard and learn from Bosh and others to help the team win. When asked about playing in Toronto he did not complain about the cold like some players he simplied was thankful for the opportunity to play in the NBA and grateful of Toronto for drafting him. Derozan is just what the doctor ordered for the Raps. He is a big, athletic 2 guard who is a tremendous slasher and finisher. He needs to work on his perimeter shot but this will come with time. He will provide the Raps with energy and scoring and will give fans plenty to cheer about with his high flying dunks. Jay Triano has said he plans on starting DeMar which i feel is a great call, not only does it give DeMar confidence but he is the best shooting guard on the Raptors. Toronto is going to embrace DeMar Derozan in a similar way to a young Vince Carter.

The signing of Hedo Turkoglu will make the Raptors a playoff team next season. He will provide another ballhandler and playmaker to relieve some pressure off Calderon. The greatest benefit to the Turkoglu signing is not his scoring but his ability to run the pick and roll. Instead of running the pick and roll with Dwight Howard he will be able to run it with Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh who are both exceptional perimeter shooters. This will space the floor for Bosh and Derozan and allow them to drive easier. Toronto will cause severe matchup problems for the eastern conference bigs who are not mobile, primarily Shaq and Dwight. Centers will have problems guarding bargnani on the 3 point line. Besides the pick and roll Turkoglu scores 17 points and game and can shoot over shorter small forwards because of his 6'10 frame.

Signing Jarrett jack was a great addition for the Raptors because he gives you a legitimate backup point gaurd who is not a liabiltiy on the court like Ukic who is still developing. Jack can also play a 2 guard with Calderon when Toronto wants to go small or want shooters on the floor. I also like the trade for Reggie Evans. Yes you had to give away Kapono but he really wasnt living up to his hype and is a horrendous defender. Evans will provide important toughness and rebounding off the bench.

Bosh has stated on his twitter several times he is excited for next season and a chance to play with Turkoglu. This is a very positive sign for Toronto because with the economy at its current state and the salary cap likely to decrease again next season Bosh may elect to stay put in Toronto, especially if they have a good season.

So be optimistic Raptor fans because the team looks poised to have a bounce back season and return to the playoffs.

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The Houston Rockets and Tracy Mcgrady have gone through some ups and many downs together. From the infamous 13 points in 33 seconds to him blowing a wide open layup against the Raptors last year. The injury riddled Mcgrady has shown signs of greatness but has also showed signs of disinterest with his team. After he elected to cut his season short and have risky microfracture halfway through last season has he pulled his last straw in Houston?

After trade rumors galore for the last year about Mcgrady going here or Mcgrady going there he looks to be staying put in Houston. Now this may frustrate many Houston fans who are done with Mcgrady but this also gives T-Mac one more chance to save face. Two months ago Tracy appeared on the Dan Patrick show and assured everyone his re-hab was going great and he is shooting to be back for training camp. This may be wishful thinking on Mcgrady's part but optimism is better than pessimism i suppose. He seemed very eager to return to a previous T-Mac, whatever that may be, and prove to people he is still a star. Although Rockets fan are finished with the T-Mac era he may have one more chance to prove to Houston hes not a complete waste of talent and money.

With Ming likely out for next season Mcgrady is set to return next year for a good chunk of the season. Houston's current roster consists of a lot of very good role players, they just lack one thing, a star. Can Mcgrady be that star is a very good question. We must remember that Mcgrady led the Rockets during the second half of the 22 game win streak so we all know it is possible. Will it happen is the real question.

This is a good opportunity for Tracy Mcgrady to prove his worth. If he can help the Rockets make the playoffs next season it will help his chances during next years free agency.

So Rockets fans does T-Mac have a chance to redeem himself or not? Ill let you be the judge.

For all your NBA news, rumors and speculation visit TheNBAScoop on twitter at: http://twitter.com/TheNBAScoop

Now please hear me out before you jump to conclusions

The Thunder elected to select James Harden with the 3rd overall pick. I was shocked when i heard they passed on Rubio but after analyzing the situation more it seems like a good call. Harden will fit nicely into the vacant 2 guard spot. He is a very mature player and has a high basketball IQ. He knows how to run an offense and will be a facilitator to Durant and Westbrook. There are two keys to the Thunders success next season. The first is the maturation of Kevin Durant. He made a 5 point scoring jump from his rookie to sophmore season and will likely increase it this season. But more important than scoring will be his ability to lead his team. He must find ways to keep the Thunder in ball games until the 4th quarter where he can take over and he must keep his young players focused on winning and not the other thrills of NBA life. If Durant is able to keep his team focused and stay healthy the Thunder can potentially be a force to be reckoned with. The Second key to the Thunders season is the center position. No Knock against Krstic but he is a backup at best. They drafted B.J. Mullens who will be a good role player one day but is still too raw. If the Thunder can acquire a center who can play defense i can honestly see them slipping into the 8th seed. Centers seem like a rarity these days but one possibility is Tyson Chandler who has been in trade talks for a while. The Thunder need someone who will protect the paint and grab rebounds.

If Yao Ming was healthy i would say the Thunder have no shot at making playoffs but the Rockets are likely going to be a lottery team next year. The Suns will be decent next year but  with Nash another year older and Amare confused on where he wants to be i think they have to many internal issues. Another team that will not be as formidable next year is the Jazz. All the Boozer trade talk along with the Millsap drama leaves the rest of the Jaz players uncertain of who their teamates will be next year.

PG- Westbrook- must take good shots and run the offense which he has been doing very well in summer league. MUST BE CONSISTENT.

SG- James Harden- he needs to find his role on the team and play it well. Create shots for Durant  and Green.

SF- Kevin Durant- He needs to be a top 5 scorer who requires double teams and must keep his team focused.

PF- Jeff Green- Green must rebound and defend the inside well. On offense he has to make other bigs guard him on the perimeter and utilize his exceptional passing ability.

C- Krstic- With Krstic at center OKC is not a playoff team but if theycan find a defensive center they have a shot.

Look for the Thunder to move up in the standings this year and maybe possibly slip into the 8th spot if everything goes their way. Even if they do not make the playoffs they are going to be extremely fun to watch and I believe when Durants career is over he will be one of the greatest scorers of all time.

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For all your NBA news, rumors and speculation visit TheNBAScoop on twitter at: http://twitter.com/TheNBAScoop