This years trade deadline was the most erratic of all-time as numerous teams scrambled to make last minute moves, jocking for better positions in the playoffs, creating more cap space and preparing for the future of their franchise. There were at least 10 different trades that went on right before the deadline but many of them involved players that have absolutely no value and future draft picks that won’t be relevant for many years to come. So in my breakdown of what went on before the deadline I’m only going to discuss the trades of the teams that really improved with some of the moves that were made.
New York Knicks: Chauncey Billups & Carmello Anthony
Denver Nuggets: Danilo Gallinari, Ray Felton, Timofey Mosgov, Wilson Chandler
This is obviously the blockbuster trade that made all the headlines as it brought arguably the best scorer in the NBA to an already potent offense. The question that was being raised was “are the Knicks giving up too much?” In my opinion I don’t think they did, with the team they had during the trade there was no way they could compete with the likes of the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls or Boston Celtics this year or in the near future. Now with two superstars like Amare and Melo the Knicks become much harder to stop offensively. Some people in the basketball world started to mention the Knicks as a championship contender, lets be serious! They’re going to have to get down and play some defense before that can become a serious contender. Neither Amare or Melo have a history of being great defenders but if the Knicks don’t make some moves to become a better team they are just going to be a team that makes noise in the playoffs but can never get past great defensive teams like Miami or Orlando. Regardless, New York has gotten what it finally wanted, a superstar in Carmello Anthony. Now lets see if management is smart enough to put the right players around this offensive force to really be in the “contender” conversation.
Boston Celtics: Jeff Green & Nenad Kristic
OKC Thunder: Kendrick Perkins & Nate Robinson
This trade was undoubtedly the most shocking of this year. The questions were raised, why would the Celtics get rid of Perk now? This team is getting old, why wouldn’t you give it one more year with your core group? Rumors were that Perkins was not willing to re-sign and neither was Jeff Green down in OKC. In defense of Danny Ainge, if there was a move to make for Perkins this was definitely the best one. Although his toughness doesn’t match that of Perkins, Nenad Kristic is still a big body at 7-feet and he is better offensively. If Shaq is healthy during the playoffs, the Celtics got better as they now have a piece to build upon in the future with Jeff Green. Do the Celtics go 5 out motion offense with Jeff Green at the PF and KG at C when Shaq is out? Is that good enough to counter the best teams in the league?The Thunder really got better by picking up Perk and next year I think they will be one of the top two teams in the West and possibly the whole league. They finally got what they needed which was a tough center in the middle to be an enforcer in the paint. With Perk, Ibaka, Harden, Durant and Westbrook the Thunder will have the youngest and most talented starting five in the league for years to come!
NJ Nets: Deron Williams
Utah Jazz: Derrick Favors
, Devin Harris
, 2011 1st round pick & 2012 1st round pick
I didn’t really understand this move but I’m guessing it had to do with the whole Jerry Sloan and Deron Williams issue that caused Sloan to step down as coach. Williams was obviously not happy in Utah and didn’t feel like he had a real chance to be a contender any longer. I also think that William was looking for a bigger, more vibrant market where he could expand his brand so Utah got rid of him while they could to get some value rather than wait until he was a free agent and get nothing. I’m not sure if Williams will stay with the Nets that will cause more free agent talk within the next couple of years but Utah definitely got a potential star in Derrick Favors. They also picked up the Nets 1st round pick in this years NBA draft, which will be a lottery pick and also a 1st round pick in the 2011 NBA draft which will probably be a lottery pick too. I’m excited to see what Utah does to rebuild their franchise since it has lost its best team and player since the Malone and Stockton era. As far as New Jersey lets see if Jay-Z and his Russian partner can persuade the best PG in the league to stick around. If they add another star and keep Avery Johnson as head coach the Nets could possibly make some noise in the future.
Atlanta Hawks: Kirk Hinrich & Hilton Armstrong
Washington Wizards: Mo Evans, Jordan Crawford and 2011 Draft Pick
This was strictly a move for the playoffs. Atlanta needed a true point guard and more importantly a great defender. Kirk Hinrich gives you both as he can knock down the 3 just as good as Mike Bibby and he gives you more size. Hinrich is tough and is known for taking the challenge of defending some of the best guards in the league like D.Wade and more. He does a great job on D.Wade specifically but I don’t think this move makes Atlanta go any further in the playoffs past the 2nd round, depending on who they’re playing in the 1st and if they even make it out. Atlanta still needs a real center as Al Horford is undersized and naturally plays the power forward position. For the Wizards, the John Wall and Jordan Crawford backcourt could be scary but I doubt Crawford sticks around with Nick Young at the SG unless they bring one of them off the bench.
Portland Blazers: Gerald Wallace
Charlotte Bobcats: Dante Cunningham
, Joel Przybilla
, 2011 1st round pick and 2013 1st round & Cash
Next to the Thunder picking up Kendrick Perkins, I think the Blazers getting Gerald Wallace is one of the best moves that a team made before the trade deadline. He is a long, athletic and defensive wing that is going to fit great with Roy, Miller, Fernandez, Batum and Matthews. With the Western Conference getting smaller (besides the Lakers and Thunder) Wallace could even play the four next to Marcus Camby at times. Not to mention they basically got him for nothing!
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