The NBA trade deadline came and went with a blur. Trade rumors and star drama ran rampant as the NBA’s annual soap opera took center stage. Despite various blockbuster rumors, most of the movement didn’t involve the league’s elite players. However, the sheer volume of last-minute deals and the drama of those that never happened made for an exciting spectacle.
Dwight Howard plays fool
The biggest story of the week was Dwight Howard’s game of “look at me now.” All eyes were on the Magic’s uber-talented big man and his on-again, off-again trade demands.
Howard previously stated he would not re-sign in Orlando and requested a trade to the Nets, Lakers or Mavericks and refused to sign an extension with any other team.
With the restrictive request and public knowledge of his discontent, it’s doubtful any team offered the Magic more than a pack of Mango Melon Now & Laters and the first-season of Khloe and Lamar on DVD.
Howard reportedly shot down a deal with the Bulls. When Magic brass pleaded with Howard to stay, he wanted out. Once they started fielding calls, he wanted to stay. Finally team officials tired of begging their star to stay and gave him an ultimatum: Waive your opt-out rights or be dealt for the best offer. First he said he would, then said he wouldn’t and finally he did.
In his apology over the media circus, Howard made the understatement of the year, “I have gotten some bad advice.”
Impactful deals
Lakers trade Luke Walton, Jason Kapono and this year’s first round pick to the Cavs for Ramon Sessions and Christian Eyenga. The Lakers also dealt Derek Fisher to Houston for Jordan Hill.
Analysis: Laker fans were divided on Fisher’s departure. Some recognized Fisher’s inability to defend speedy guards or make shots at a decent percentage while others defended his leadership and clutch shot-making ability. Sessions is an upgrade, but not as much as the pro-trade Lakers fans would suggest. His energy and speed will be welcome in LA but I’m not convinced he’s the final piece to the puzzle. Also the oft-rumored deal for T-Wolves forward Michael Beasley never materialized. Neither did any of the gazillion Pau Gasol rumors.
Nuggets trade Nene to Wizards; Wizards trade JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf to Nuggets and Nick Young to the Clippers; and the Clippers trade Brian Cook to Nuggets and a 2015 second-round pick (from Hornets) to Wizards.
Analysis: Nuggets Got rid of a talented, but oft-injured big man for a younger, durable and talented big man. Clippers came out like bandits by receiving a talented scorer for a 2015 second-round pick and a bench warmer. Can’t ask for a better deal. I don’t really understand the Wizards’ thinking in dealing for an older, higher-paid, injury prone player and giving away a quality guard for nothing to make the cap numbers work.
Warriors trade Monta Ellis, Epke Udoh and Kwame Brown to the Bucks for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson.
Analysis: Golden State gets the quality center it has long been searching for, but one with problems staying on the court. Bogut doesn’t fit the Warriors’ uptempo style but maybe they are looking to change the tempo. Jackson was later dealt to the Spurs for Richard Jefferson which is a head-scratcher. Meanwhile Bucks get a stud shooting guard and a promising young forward. If nothing else the team’s backcourt duo of Ellis and Brandon Jennings will be fun to watch.
Blazers trade Marcus Camby to the Rockets for Hashim Thabeet, Johnny Flynn and a second-round pick. The Blazers also traded Gerald Wallace to the Nets for Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams and a first-round pick.
Analysis: Portland fired head coach Nate McMillian and are blowing it all up and rebuilding. They weren’t going to win with the team they had, so they’re looking to free up cap space and accumulate draft picks. Seems like they could’ve gotten a better deal for Wallace. The Nets presumably brought in Wallace as a scorer to entice Deron Williams to re-sign at the end of the year, but after Orlando convinced Howard to stay, those chances are slim.
Raptors trade Leandro Barbosa to the Pacers for Anthony Carter and a second-round pick.
Analysis: The Raptors are terrible. They moved Barbosa to gain cap space, plain and simple. Barbosa will add a nice scoring punch to the playoff-bound Pacers.
Grizzlies trade Sam Young to the Sixers for the rights to Ricky Sanchez.
Analysis: Ricky Sanchez is a foreign-prospect who isn’t expected to play in the NBA. Young got no burn in Memphis and asked for a deal. The Grizzlies obliged.
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