Rockets' McGrady says shoulder arthritic, knee slow to heal

HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets, buzzing about the arrival of Ron Artest, already have injury concerns with Tracy McGrady.

Houston's leading scorer said Monday that his left shoulder is arthritic and will require surgery after this season. He also said his left knee is healing slower than expected from surgery in the spring.

McGrady sprained his shoulder against Sacramento on March 24, and wore padding to protect it for the rest of the season. He had surgery in May to clear loose tissue in his shoulder and knee. He said his knee is "probably 75-80 percent" healthy and will take another two months to fully heal.

McGrady said an MRI revealed the arthritis in his shoulder.

"That's something I've got to deal with again this season," said McGrady, who averaged 21.6 points last season and was selected third-team All-NBA. "My knee should be ready to go by opening night."

McGrady said the shoulder injury was not going to keep him out of practices or games, but added that, "it's going to bother me."

On Tuesday, the Rockets hold their first practice with Artest after picking him up in an August trade with Sacramento. Houston went 55-27 last season, but lost in the first round of the playoffs for the sixth straight year.

Artest adds versatility on both ends -- a lockdown defender who can match up with guards or forwards and a multidimensional scorer who should take some of the offensive burden off McGrady and Yao Ming.

Artest averaged 20.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season, but he's still known as much for his unpredictable behavior as his basketball skills. He'll never shed the notoriety as the central figure in the November 2004 brawl with fans at The Palace of Auburn Hills and he feuded with Kings management this summer before the Rockets acquired him.

Artest, 28, said Monday that he has matured, on and off the court, and will keep his emotions in check because of the golden opportunity in front of him.

"I'm grateful to be on a team that has a chance to win," he said. "It adds extra motivation, extra 'go-get-it.' I kind of thrive under those situations. I like when I have something to play for. This year, I really do have something to play for."

One of the main attractions in coming to Houston was reuniting with Rick Adelman, who coached Artest for one season in Sacramento. Artest said he has never known a player who didn't get along with Adelman or like his free-flowing offensive system.

Adelman wants to see Artest and McGrady play together, giving the Rockets scoring threats on the wings.