The Houston Rockets are in the discussion stages of a complicated, three-team trade that would send Tracy McGrady(notes) to the New York Knicks, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The centerpieces of the trade would include the Washington Wizards shipping forward Caron Butler(notes) and center Brendan Haywood(notes) to the Rockets. The Knicks would send Al Harrington(notes) to the Wizards. For the Wizards’ part, they would still need another player, as well as a draft pick and cash to make this a workable scenario, sources said.

Other players and contracts would still need to be agreed upon for a deal to come together, but there is a framework to the discussions.

The Rockets have been peddling McGrady’s expiring contract of $23 million since exiling him in late December.

Heat Making Push For Stoudemire

The Heat have emerged as a determined pursuer of Suns forward Amare Stoudemire, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Miami is proposing a number of different packages and president Pat Riley is making anyone short of Dwyane Wade available.

"Nobody is pushing harder on this than Riley," one league source said.

The Heat have proposed scenarios involving young players like Michael Beasley and expiring contracts like Jermaine O'Neal. In addition, they are willing to trade their 2010 first-round pick.

Phoenix is believed to be in talks with as many as six teams.

When asked, Lebron James and even Shaq are saying that JJ Hickson is the real deal, and will eventially be the star type piece. That with continued development he has a very high ceiling.

That makes me feel good having the history I do with JJ, but honeslty I see a high quality player in JJ, but a player that needs assisting components around him to achieve successes.

I hang on to JJ in most all the trade offerings out there. But, in the case of Iguodala, I go the extra mile and include JJ, and even a #1 if necassary.

I just feel the high level flexibility that having both Lebron and Iguodala on our roster would be very formidable for many seasons into the future.

I have serious doubts it's going to happen, though. Don't feel the consensus amongst key players and front office execs is the same as mine on this one. Hope I'm wrong.

I think we have three possible trades that could happen right this minute. But, would rather wait out the process in order to keep our options open for the best possible opportunities to eventually surface.

I believe we've got decent enough fallback options already that we could do if we so wanted. I'm pretty confident of that. Not sure how pleased most would be of them because two of the three would be seen as minor.. the other is a strong upgrade in my opinion...

To me it's clear what our hopes are right now ...I think at this point the one target that would make the team happiest to acquire would be Jamison. But, Washington is tough to read as far as intentions.

Iguodala just appears too cumbersome an ordeal to piece together. The logistics to get it done are mounting and without an extreme drive to get it done, won't happen.

It's long been known the Cavs are making a play for Atawn Jamison, Troy Murphy and Andre Iguodala.

But as the deadline nears, nothing appears imminent just yet. So what's the deal?

As Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer notes, teams, and specifically the Pacers, would like J.J. Hickson in return, but the Cavs so far have been reluctant to part with their young big man.

A source also tells Windhorst that Cleveland doesn't want to give up their first-round pick in the 2010 NBA draft, something teams are asking for in return.

Windhorst notes the team is still in talks with the 76ers and Wizards, but the "Wizards are sending out signals they want to keep Jamison."

The Cavs had hoped to have had something done before the All-Star break, but as ESPN's Chad Ford notes, he expects them to cave and make a move before the deadline.

j_crazy wrote: I'm sorry but trading Hickson for Iguodala is asinine. IMO he is at most 2 years away from being everything Iguodala is.

Keebler wrote: Anything on there really? Seems like anything on there is posted elsewhere.

devil1197 wrote:

Keebler wrote: Anything on there really? Seems like anything on there is posted elsewhere.

ESPN is probably the last place I check for information on trades.

Hb31187 wrote: As usual the Nuggets will make zero moves

j_crazy wrote: why do they want to hold onto their draft pick this year? I only ask because they've wasted 5 out of the last 7 they've made in my eyes.

devil1197 wrote: I wouldn't take this seriously, but some media guy on RCF is stating that Jamison to Cleveland will probably be completed this week

SportsAndLady wrote:

devil1197 wrote: I wouldn't take this seriously, but some media guy on RCF is stating that Jamison to Cleveland will probably be completed this week

If I had a quarter for every time I've heard this with the Cavs....

Nothing will happen, and that is perfectly fine, imo.

wes_mantooth wrote: We have Kid Congo.....we are set for the next 10 years. No need to make a move.

BlueDevil11 wrote: Wildcats,
can you do me a favor since you have an Insider account on ESPN?
Can you get the article about the Celtics being interested in Kevin Martin and copy it and paste it on here?
Thanks

We noted yesterday in this space that the C's have discussed a deal with the Bobcats that would send Glen Davis in exchange for D.J. Augustin though nothing is imminent.

Yet, Ray Allen may still be in the mix for a trade as well. The Boston Globe reports today that Danny Ainge is not actively shopping Allen, but is listening to proposals from other teams for his shooting guard. According to the paper, sources say "Ainge is not eager to move Allen and would do so only if he could get a proven scorer with a manageable contract who is considerably younger."

If that's the case, Kirk Hinrich might not be the optimum get for the Celtics, as he's more known for his defense than shooting prowess. But Kevin Martin would sure fit that description.

Yet, the Globe also reports "acquiring Martin might be contingent on accepting the contract of Andres Nocioni, who has two more years on his deal. According to Celtics sources, the organization is not interested in taking on 'bad contracts' that could hurt salary cap space."

So again: Ainge appears to be listening to offers, but unless he gets back an optimum deal for a young scorer with a reasonable contract with no strings attached, it's unlikely Allen is dealt before the deadline.

That's a sentiment echoed by ESPN's Chad Ford at the end of last week.