NBA trade deadline rundown

by UK American Sports Fans

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Now that the dust has settled on what was a frantic trade deadline day, we analyse all the movement that materialized. While weeks of endless trade chatter involving Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Deron Williams never amounted to a blockbuster deal, there were several trades that upgraded sides in the middle of this lock-out shortened season.

Lakers end hunt with Sessions

Lakers Receive:

  • Ramon Sessions
  • Christian Eyenga
  • Rights to swap Heat’s 2013 first-round draft pick

Cavaliers Receive:

  • Luke Walton
  • Jason Kapono
  • 2012 first-round pick (lottery-protected)

Trade Analysis

After their failure to land Chris Paul in the off-season the Los Angeles Lakers have finally addressed the need for a fast, young point guard who can run the offence. With Derek Fisher only getting older and Steve Blake not producing the way L.A. had hoped, Sessions will move into the starting PG spot immediately and add a spark that coach Mike Brown has been calling out for all season. The Lakers will also be happy to clear the cap space that Luke Walton has held for almost nine years. For Cleveland, this trade represents the future. With a high amount of talent expected to enter next season’s draft, the Cavs are looking to add more youth to their already young side.

Fisher’s golden era ends with the purple and gold

Lakers Receive:

  • Jordan Hill

Rockets Receive:

  • Derek Fisher
  • 2012 first round pick

Trade Analysis

The addition of Ramon Sessions was always going to mean that the Lakers traded away a point guard from their own arsenal. With many expecting Steve Blake to pack up his suitcase and move on, it was surprisingly Derek Fisher who headed to Houston. Drawing to a close an illustrious relationship with the club that has seen them win five NBA titles in his time in LA, D-Fish will also be parting from his teammate and long-time friend Kobe Bryant. Although Fisher is now somewhat of a liability when guarding young, quick guards, it is his leadership the Rockets will be happy to have acquired, helping develop the young Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic. While Houston also acquires the 2012 first-round pick that LA took from Dallas in the Lamar Odom trade, they also gave up the firepower of Jordan Hill. Mike Brown’s side have lacked production off the bench this season following the loss of reigning sixth man of the year, Odom, but the addition of Hill is sure to boost the bench scoring.

Nene parts ways with Nuggets.

Nuggets Receive:

  • JaVale McGee
  • Ronny Turiaf

Wizards Receive:

  • Nene
  • Brian Cook
  • Future second-round pick

Clippers Receive:

  • Nick Young

Trade Analysis

In a deal that raises more questions than it answers, the Nuggets have decided to offload their starting centre along with his five-year, $67 million contract. Losing their front-court offence as well as the maturity of Nene, Denver has acquired JaVale McGee and all his athletic ability. The Clippers meanwhile have sent Forward Brian Cook and future draft picks to Washington in exchange for Nick Young in a move that they hope can replace the scoring of Chauncey Billups. For the Wizards, it appears as though the inconsistency of McGee and Young had become too much for a team that holds a 10-32 record this season. For all sides this trade represents a risk. Denver may enjoy the development of McGee in the future but he has failed to add maturity to his game so far and has the potential to disrupt an organised Nuggets offence. Washington have added the veteran leadership of Nene but with his regular injury problems, court time for Nene may be the biggest battle. While the Clippers may have added an inconsistent defender to their side, the addition of Young adds an imperative offensive boost to the team and means they come away as the winners of this trade.

Portland continues clear-out

Rockets Receive:

  • Marcus Camby

Blazers Receive:

  • Hasheem Thabeet
  • Jonny Flynn
  • 2012 second-round draft pick

Trade Analysis

For the Portland Trail Blazers this trade represents their continued clear-out. In what appears to be a full makeover, the Blazers traded away Camby and Gerald Wallace on deadline day as well as losing head coach Nate McMillan. Gaining very little quality in return, the future for Portland fans is not bright. Meanwhile, the Rockets will be very content. Trading away the three-year $20 million contract of Hasheem Thabeet is a success and while they lost Flynn, the veteran leadership they now own in Camby and Fisher is sure to help Houston’s Playoff push.

Nets looking to build

Nets Receive:

  • Gerald Wallace

Blazers Receive:

  • Mehmet Okur
  • Shawne Williams
  • Protected first-round pick

Trade Analysis

For the New Jersey Nets this trade is another attempt to convince Deron Williams that he should sign with the team long term. After Dwight Howard signed a one-year extension to his Orlando contract the team decided to turn to a different athletic scorer, this time in the shape of Gerald Wallace. Averaging 13.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game this season, Wallace could become an integral part of the side following their move to Brooklyn this summer. The Blazers meanwhile have added Shawne Williams and the the hefty contract of Mehmet Okur who, having suffered a number of back injuries, has only played seventeen games this season. With only one season left on his $10 million-a-year contract, Portland are likely to let Okur go this off-season, freeing up cap space in their plan to rebuild.

Pacers pick up Playoff boost

Pacers Receive:

  • Leandro Barbosa
  • Anthony Carter

Raptors Receive:

  • Second-round draft pick

Trade Analysis

In their hunt for Playoff success the Indiana Pacers added the backcourt scoring presence they required in Leandro Barbosa. While some are already questioning whether Barbosa can fit well into the bench rotation of the Pacers, with $14 million in available cap space Frank Vogel was practical to add another scoring threat to the side as we enter the final third of the regular season. Although the addition of 36-year old Anthony Carter is not going to add anything special, the loss of a second-round draft pick equals value for money in Indiana. The Raptors meanwhile, are clearing out the spare pieces ahead of this off-season. With Barbosa and Carter now gone the side will have around $10 million in available cap space come summer time.

Jackson finds his way back home

Warriors Receive:

  • Richard Jefferson
  • T.J. Ford
  • Protected 2012 first-round pick

Spurs Receive:

  • Stephen Jackson

Trade Analysis

Stephen Jackson must feel like he’s been driving the DeLorean this week. Following a turbulent time in Milwaukee, the thirty-three year-old was traded to his former team, the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. Without playing a game for Mark Jackson’s side, he was dealt to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday trade deadline, returning to the side where he won the 2003 NBA Championship. Reuniting with a close mentor and the Spurs head coach, Gregg Popovich, Jackson’s return is likely to add a more consistent defender and scorer than they had in Jefferson. For Richard Jefferson his time in San Antonio is over. After performing well below expectations for the Spurs, Jefferson now has the chance to start again in Golden State. A more fluid offence is likely to help Jefferson’s scoring but without the newly-acquired Andrew Bogut in the side through injuries, the team is going to struggle to find form.

Shrewd Sixers get Sam Young

76ers Receive:

  • Sam Young

Grizzlies Receive:

  • Future considerations
  • Rights to Ricky Sanchez

Trade Analysis

A very smart move for the Philadelphia76ers who added an athletic defender in Sam Young while moving on a player who has never played a minute of NBA basketball. While many people felt the Sixers didn’t need to make any sort of move before the deadline, this was an under-the-radar move that might well be a difference maker come Playoff time in Philidelphia. The Grizzlies meanwhile, have lost Young for a player who by his own estimations should be ready for the NBA in “Two years.” So while the 76ers enjoy the continued development of Young, the Grizzlies are left with nothing. Well… nothing immediate that is.