NBA Trade Deadline Deals

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and after the dust settled most stars stayed put as deals fell through or even reversed in one case. The contenders loaded up for the stretch run and playoffs, non playoff teams unloaded, and every team was concerned about cap room.

The biggest deal at the deadline was the 3 team, 7 player trade which saw Chicago end up with former All Star C Brad Miller and G John Salmons and Sacramento with gritty forward Andre Nocioni and F Drew Gooden along with Michael Ruffin and Cedric Simmons. In turn the Kings sent Ruffin to Portland for F Ike Diogu and cash, which may turn out to be the most impactful component of this trade in the long run. While Ike Diogu has languished on the bench for the Trail Blazers, he is a promising young forward who was once the 9th overall pick out of the 2005 NBA draft. Diogu has been derailed by a lack of playing time and injuries for the past few seasons, but he is still only 25 years old with a 7'4 wingspan and was once drafted ahead of players like Andrew Bynum, Danny Granger, Nate Robinson, and David Lee. The Bulls do obtain a two time All Star center who can pass and shoot very well along with a perimeter player who is averaging a career high 18.3 ppg. The Kings get a little more cap room, along with a few good bench players as well as Diogu, who may determine the ultimate verdict on the deal.

The Magic signed a short term replacement for the injured Jameer Nelson, trading for PG Rafer Alston while sending F Brian Cook to the Rockets. Also in the deal, Orlando sent a first round pick to Memphis while the Grizzlies then turned around and sent PG Kyle Lowry to Houston. Once again, Rafer Alston is merely a short term stop gap solution for the Magic, and the true impact of the deal may come with first round pick the Grizzlies now possess. The Rockets do not experience a large drop off between Alston and their new tandem of Aaron Brooks and Lowry at the point, and Memphis gains a little cap room as well as that potentially valuable first round pick.

The Knicks get their coveted point guard, trading for G Larry Hughes while sending F Tim Thomas and seldom used reserves C Jerome James and G Anthony Roberson to Chicago. Hughes' deal expires just in time for the 2010 off season, and the Knicks receive the veteran guard they needed, as well as unloading the salaries of Thomas and James. Meanwhile, the Bulls add another skilled big man who can shoot in Tim Thomas and ship out the large contract and disgruntled attitude of Larry Hughes.

OTHER DEALS
The Knicks also unloaded F/C Malik Allen to the OKC Thunder for F/C Chris Wilcox. Call this the dealing one overpaid, undersized big man for another, except that Wilcox can play. An Amare Stoudamire lite, don't laugh, Wilcox is only 26 years old and can score around the basket. Malik Allen on the other hand gets murdered on D, and hasn't shot over 40% since 2004-2005. Both contracts expire after this season, so its safe to agree the Thunder got HOSED on this deal.

The Bulls were the busiest team this off season, and traded young, athletic F Thabo Sefelosha to the Thunder for a first round pick in this year's draft. The pick will likely be either Denver's first round pick or the Suns' pick, both of which the Thunder own. The Thunder get another cheap, athletic wing player with great potential, while the Bulls make room for their new acquisitions while also getting a potentially trade vindicating draft pick in this year's deep draft.

The Wolves sent G Rashard McCants and C Calvin Booth to Sacramento for F Shelden Williams and G Bobby Brown. In a trade of former lottery picks, McCants and Williams, both teams benefit as Minnesota ships out the disgruntled McCants and the Kings continue to unload salary. Both teams acquire salary cap relief from the deal, and the lottery "busts" get fresh starts with increased opportunities to play and develop their potential into results on the court. McCants has proven he can score off the bench, averaging 14.9 ppg off the bench last season, while Williams, the 5th overall pick in the 2006 draft, receives a chance to make good on the vast potential he showed at Duke. With the injuries to Kevin Love and Al Jefferson, Williams will get playing time and a chance to develop into the low post scorer the Hawks envisioned when they drafted him above such illuminaries such as Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, and Randy Foye.

Vince Carter did not get moved. Nor did Shaq or Antawn Jamison or any of the other big names kicked around up to the trade deadline. With the Suns newly energized by a return to the SSOL mentality which made them the most entertaining team in the NBA the past few seasons, they refused to part with their All Star center, and while former All Stars Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, and Amare Stoudamire all were mentioned in potential deals, they all remained with their current squads. In these recession times, NBA teams have cut back on spending and salary relief reigned in this season's deadline deals.