Peter Cosgrove / AP

The Magic's Tracy McGrady says he wants to play for the Mavericks alongside Shaquille O'Neal next season.

Apparently, Tracy McGrady not only plays for the Orlando Magic, he is also the team's general manager.

McGrady told Florida Today on Saturday that he and Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal are trying to get themselves traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where they can play together for deep-pocketed owner Mark Cuban.

McGrady and O'Neal are neighbors in suburban Orlando during the offseason and are also friends. McGrady says the two have discussed a plan that would unite them in Dallas.

"We talk all the time about it," McGrady told Florida Today. "Me and the Big Fella are trying to get to Dallas together now."

But how likely is such a scenario? O’Neal is owed $27.7 million next year and $30.6 million the following year. McGrady is due $14.4 million.

Under NBA rules the Mavericks would have to trade away players with contracts within 15 percent of O'Neal's and McGrady's. The Mavs have several high-priced players like Antoine Walker ($14.6 million), Michael Finley ($14.6 million) and Dirk Nowitzki ($12.5 million) but it is unknown if the Magic or Lakers would be interested in any of them.

Cuban told USA Today via email on Saturday night that he knew nothing about any trade talks.

"It's news to me," Cuban wrote. "I can only hope."

What is known is that McGrady and O'Neal are both unhappy with the current situations with their teams.

Orlando general manager John Weisbrod said Saturday the Magic are still in contract discussions with McGrady, even though the star player has reportedly told the team he wants out.

“I certainly will not confirm that T-Mac is going to be traded,” Weisbrod said. “I’m going to continue to say on T-Mac what I have said for the last month, which is that Arn (Tellem, McGrady’s agent) and I are in discussions.”

McGrady can opt out of his seven-year, $93 million contract after next season, and has said he will unless Orlando improves dramatically from the 21-61 record this past season. But the Magic have vowed to trade him, rather than letting the four-time All Star leave without any compensation — like Shaquille O’Neal did eight years ago.

O’Neal has told the Lakers he wants to be traded. He is under contract for another two years, but can opt out after next season.

“I would expect that I’m going to hear from (Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak) on that, since I think when people talk about Shaq moving I think they know in his mind and his heart that this would be the obvious place he’d want to go,” Weisbrod said. “But, when you look at the financial piece of that, it’s almost an impossibility.”

McGrady told the Orlando Sentinel on Sunday that he expects the Magic to trade him within days, but that it would not be announced until after the NBA draft on Thursday.

"I can't let my tricks out of the bag," he told the paper. "I don't have any comment."

In various media reports, McGrady has said he is also interested in the Houston Rockets, and some unnamed sources have linked him to the Indiana Pacers.

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