T-Mac: ‘I’m Back’; Rockets: ‘Not so Fast’

by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

According to the perennially injured Tracy McGrady, he’ll resume his star-crossed career next week (Nov. 18, when Houston pays Minny a visit.) According to GM Daryl Morey, however, T-Mac may be a bit presumptuous.

Last night, McGrady and the team that employs him sent mixed messages about Tracy’s return to action. All sorts of media outlets were used by the two sides to communicate their sides of the story.

Here’s the Houston Chronicle, attempting to make sense of things:

Tracy McGrady said Monday that he would make his season debut Nov. 18. But the Rockets said neither they nor McGrady knows when he would go through a full practice, much less a game. McGrady’s announcement was contrary to comments by Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who had said earlier Monday that there is no timetable for McGrady to play and that he would not play until he can be checked out in the Rockets’ next full practice, Nov. 23.

In his blog later, he disputed Morey’s contention that his participation in practice has been “off and on” but did not target a date for his return … But Morey had said earlier Monday that McGrady, 30, has been able only to practice sporadically and would not play until doctors and team officials consider him to be 100 percent.

Whether or not Mac feels healthy enough to play — or even, you know, practice with his teammates — is almost irrelevant at this point. He’s had way too many setbacks for the Rockets’ front office to take any more risks with their fragile asset. The ball is no longer in his court.

In the meantime, you can check out Tracy’s blog for the latest updates on his condition. Accuracy not guaranteed.