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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

McGrady agrees to deal with the Detroit Pistons

Tracy McGrady will look to resurrect his career with the Detroit Pistons.

The seven-time All-Star has reached an agreement on a one-year deal with the Pistons for the veteran’s minimum ($1.35 million) according to sources close to the situation. The source requested not to be named because the deal hasn’t been signed.

Last season, McGrady averaged 8.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 30 games for the Knicks and Rockets.

McGrady, 31, is a former two-time NBA scoring champ, but has battled knee and back problems. McGrady can play both shooting guard and small forward, but joins a Pistons squad deep at both positions with Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Gordon, Jonas Jerebko, Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers and Rodney Stuckey already on the roster.

Coming off microfracture surgery on his left knee during the 2008-09 season, McGrady played just six games for the Rockets last season before they shut him down and attempted to trade him. McGrady was traded to New York in a three-team deal at the trade deadline.

In his debut for the Knicks, McGrady had 26 points, five assists and four rebounds. But it would be just one of three times McGrady scored more than 20 points for the Knicks.

McGrady played in 24 of the Knicks’ final 29 games, starting all 24 and averaging 9.4 points, 3.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 26.1 minutes per game.

The Knicks were not interested in bringing McGrady back, leaving McGrady looking for a new team. McGrady had a well-publicized tryout with the Chicago Bulls, but the Bulls elected not to sign McGrady.