Now that Tracy McGrady has been sent home by the Rockets, the team has received calls from teams that want to make a deal for the disgruntled forward who is working his way back from injury.

"Word was that the calls were to make offers the Rockets would never consider," the Houston Chronicle reports, "despite the chance to put together an impressive collection of really bad contracts."

But the Rockets may have less pressure than before to make a move to set McGrady free, now that he no longer has regular access to the media to voice his complaints.

Tracy McGrady is squarely on the trading block and Mike D'Antoni seems intrigued.

If McGrady comes back healthy, he can make an impact and help run the Knicks' offense.

"Well, you know, that's the question," D'Antoni said about the prospect of McGrady regaining some of the game that made him a perennial all-star. "If your answer to that is yes, then you go get him. If it's no, then you probably stay away. I don't think anybody knows for sure."

Most of the Knicks' roster consists of expiring contracts, which could make working out a deal more likely.

With Tracy McGrady being sent home as the Rockets look to deal him, the Bulls are one of the teams expected to call Houston.

Ten years ago, McGrady chose the Magic when the Bulls had cap room and tried to sign him as a free-agent.

"Whoever gets me is going to get a hungry player," McGrady said recently. "I don't care if I go to the moon. It doesn't matter."

The Bulls have expiring contracts in Brad Miller and Jerome James.  The team may also want to include John Salmons in a deal for McGrady.

There were two 40-plus point performances in the NBA on Tuesday night.

- Cleveland 95, Atlanta 84

The Cleveland Cavaliers (25-8) used doubled up on the Atlanta Hawks (21-9) in the fourth quarter en route to an important win. Maurice Williams had 20 points and five assists, Shaquille O?Neal posted 10 points and eight rebounds and LeBron James added 14 points, 10 dimes and eight boards. Cleveland shot 49% and turned the ball over 20 times. Jamal Crawford scored 26 points on 10-for-17 shooting, Al Horford tallied nine points and nine rebounds and Josh Smith contributed 15 points and eight boards.

- Oklahoma City 110, Washington 98

The Oklahoma City Thunder (17-14) used a big second half to defeat the Washington Wizards (10-20) at the Verizon Center. Kevin Durant starred with 35 points and 11 rebounds, Jeff Green tallied 18 points and four boards and Russell Westbrook chipped in 11 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Oklahoma City hit 54% of their shots and outrebounded Washington by seven. Antawn Jamison scored a team-high 28 points, Brendan Haywood posted 16 points and eight rebounds and Gilbert Arenas put up 24 points, eight assists and seven boards.

- New York 104, Detroit 87

The New York Knicks (12-19) dominated the Detroit Pistons (11-20) on Tuesday night. David Lee excelled with 30 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, Wilson Chandler posted 23 points and nine boards and Chris Duhon totaled 13 points and seven assists. New York shot 51% and outrebounded Detroit by eleven. Ben Gordon had 17 points, Rodney Stuckey tallied 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists and Richard Hamilton scored 15 points on 5-for-21 shooting in the loss.

- Chicago 104, Indiana 95

The Chicago Bulls (12-17) built a huge lead in the first quarter and held off the Indiana Pacers (9-21) at the United Center. Derrick Rose had 28 points, six assists and five rebounds, Luol Deng tallied 15 points and eight boards and Tyrus Thomas brought eight points and 15 rebounds off the bench. Chicago drilled 52% of their shot attempts and turned the ball over 21 times. Roy Hibbert led with 17 points and six rebounds, Luther Head scored 10 points on 4-for-10 shooting and Earl Watson added 10 points and six assists.

- Houston 108, New Orleans 100

The Houston Rockets (19-13) outscored the New Orleans Hornets (13-16) 34-18 in the fourth quarter to record a comeback win on Tuesday night. Aaron Brooks scored 27 points, Luis Scola posted 13 points and 12 rebounds and Carl Landry contributed 18 points and six boards off the bench. New Orleans shot 50%, but Houston went 12-for-23 from three-point land and attempted 12 more foul shots. David West exploded for 44 points and 12 rebounds, Emeka Okafor tallied nine points and six boards and Chris Paul stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

- San Antonio 117, Minnesota 99

The San Antonio Spurs (18-11) had a relatively easy time dispatching of the Minnesota Timberwolves (7-25). Richard Jefferson had 24 points and six rebounds, Tim Duncan tallied 17 points and 10 boards and Manu Ginobili put up 14 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds off the bench. San Antonio held Minnesota to 39% shooting and hit 12-for-24 three-pointers at home. Al Jefferson had 20 points and eight rebounds, Kevin Love posted 18 points and 12 boards and Jonny Flynn scored 17 points on 14 shots.

- L.A. Lakers 124, Golden State 118

The Los Angeles Lakers (25-6) staged a second-half comeback against the pesky Golden State Warriors (9-22). Kobe Bryant starred with 44 points and 11 assists, Pau Gasol posted 27 points and 12 boards and Lamar Odom contributed 11 points and 11 rebounds. Golden State hit 55% of their shots, but Los Angeles won the rebounding battle and attempted more free throws. Corey Maggette scored a team-high 25 points, Monta Ellis tallied 22 points and seven assists and C.J. Watson totaled 14 points and four assists in the loss.

? RealGM calculates the Floor Impact Counter using the following formula: (Points + .75 Defensive Rebounds + Offensive Rebounds + Steals + Assists + Blocks - .75 Field Goal Attempts - .375 Free Throw Attempts - Turnovers - .5 Personal Fouls)

( )'s indicate a negative FIC score.

It is also used to rank players and to determine their ?Reina Value.? Click here to view the player rankings with the Reina Value for the current season

The Rockets have granted Tracy McGrady an indefinite leave after his representatives and Houston management agreed to work together on a trade.

Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com's Marc Stein of the latest development.

Houston deactivated McGrady for the team's two weekend games after a meeting between the player and coach Rick Adelman went sour.

McGrady has been looking for more playing time, but Adelman is only willing to give him a handful of minutes per night as he returns from knee surgery.

When the topic of playing time was brought up again on Monday the Rockets didn't budge.

According to sources, Houston does not want to buy out McGrady, who has $23.2 million remaining on the final season of his contract.

The Rockets deactivated Tracy McGrady for their two weekend games and his return to the club doesn't appear close.

A pair of sources told Yahoo! Sports that after McGrady's agent, Bob Myers, and the Rockets finish talking after the next few days that the likely resolution will be McGrady leaving the team and returning to Chicago to work with renowned trainer Tim Grover.

Issues between McGrady and the organization intensified when he asked coach Rick Adelman why the team wouldn't increase his minutes. He's averaged roughly eight minutes per game since returning from knee surgery.

"I don't understand their plan," one NBA coach said Sunday. "Why bring him back at all to play eight minutes? They should send him away because it's obvious Rick doesn't want him around."

The Rockets are rumored to be willing to take back long-term contracts to rid themselves of McGrady.

Tracy McGrady has left the Rockets, but whether he ever returns to the team is a mystery.

McGrady returned to Houston on Saturday as the team finishes a brief road trip.

He is the league's highest-paid player, making $23.2 million this season, and many believe that the Rockets will try to trade him.

However, Houston general manager Daryl Morey insists that the team isn't shopping McGrady or showcasing him for a trade.

"It's just an unknown," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "And I don't have the answer for it. I just thought he was unhappy with that situation, and I was uncomfortable trying to go forward and jump-start it again.

"I don't blame any player for saying I want more, and that's basically what he wants, and right now I'm not sure how to do that."

Tracy McGrady has left the Rockets after a meeting with coach Rick Adelman. The Rockets were in New Jersey to play the Nets.

McGrady returned home on Saturday after Adelman told him that his playing time wouldn't increase.

The Rockets claim McGrady received the team's permission to fly back to Houston, in part so that be could be home for his the birthday of his son, Laymen.

Houston said the situation would be readdressed Monday after the team returns home from a back-to-back set against New Jersey and Cleveland.

"I'm a player, man," McGrady told the Houston Chronicle. "I don't make these decisions. I just abide by whatever they bring to me. That's the plan. I'm not going to argue and fight with them -- just run with it. I felt it was time [to increase the routine of playing seven to eight first-half minutes].

"I'm not going to cause any confusion or confrontations. As a player, that's what I felt. They obviously feel different. That's what I have to roll with."

Rockets star Tracy McGrady says that his first choice in free agency would be to re-sign with the team.

However, McGrady said on Wednesday that he wouldn't rule out a return to the Magic either.

"If I was to come back, I was going to rent out (cousin Vince Carter's) guest house," McGrady said before the Rockets played the Magic in Orlando.

"It is good to see him home, to keep the family in a Magic uniform. A lot of great memories here. The four years I played here were unbelievable years, some great games, great nights, a lot of memories I'll never forget."

McGrady said that winning will be a priority for him as he looks for a team.

"I'm excited about becoming a free agent, very excited about that," he said. "It's a time in my career it's all about winning. Stats and all that stuff don't really matter to me. I'm all about trying to get a chance to win a championship. My first option is definitely Houston over any team. Houston is where I want to be. My wife and kids love it there. It's home for us. But you can't ever rule out coming back."

Rockets star Tracy McGrady believes it's time for him to take on a heavier workload.

"I just try to play my role, my little cameos I make," McGrady said. "Obviously they are looking out for my best interests, trying to monitor my minutes. At the same time, I feel it's time to really increase them. I think that's what's going to happen in the next few games.

"I lace them up and at that seven-minute mark, I go in the game, I do what I got to do, and then, the second quarter I sit down and become a cheerleader. That was the plan. I agreed to that. It's cool. After so many games, I've shown I'm able to increase the minutes.

"I feel right now, it's time to really increase the minutes. I think that's what's going to happen over the next couple games. I do know my body. I feel fine. It's time to start increasing. I was cool with the plan they had me on, but I think it's time to start increasing."

In the six games since he returned from knee surgery, McGrady hasn't played more than eight minutes.

He's averaging 3.2 points on 36.8% shooting.