"Even in the event of an extended NBA lockout, don't look for Tracy McGrady to wind up playing in China this season.

There's a fresh report in circulation that a deal is "in the works" to land McGrady with Foshan of the Chinese Basketball Association. Such links come as little surprise given the immense popularity McGrady still commands in China after his years in Houston playing alongside Yao Ming. It'd naturally be a coup for any team in the CBA to sign him.

However ...

A source with knowledge of McGrady's thinking insisted Tuesday to ESPN.com that he's "not playing in China this year no matter what people read.""