| 04 March 2011
BUT this was one of the most interesting and eventful ttrade deadlines in some time. We factored in some unhappy players, impending contract terminations, LeBron/Bosh's destruction of their teams in the off-season prior, and an upcoming CBA which could alter the state of play dramatically and in hindsight it's no wonder we saw what we did.
So here are my winners and losers in no particular order:
- Portland and Charlotte deal: Portland... and Charlotte.
Yep I think both team will win out of this; one long term, and the other short term.
Portland just became a NOW team with LMA, B-Roy, Miller, Camby, Wallace, Batum, and Matthews combining for one of the most versatile 7 man rotations in the league.
And the bonus - now B-Roy can focus on what he does best which is closing out games, and not have to play 40 mins. This team all of a sudden became a first round team the top 4 want to avoid.
Charlotte - well they hit reset but they actually hit it properly this time and, if Charlotte fans can be patient, this is when teams reload the best. Just imagines cap space plus some serious lottery picks (and I expect S-Jax to be traded this off-season for a first round pick) and you have a Clippers like scenario... hopefully.
- Boston and OKC deal: I have to say OKC more that Boston.
But I still don't see this as a loss for Boston as they effectively just got Ray Allen for Kendrick Perkins: NICE!
Perk is one of the few hard noses left in the league so he is a big loss but I suspected something else awry, so I wasn't surprised to see Murphy pop in for the remainder of the season.
Boston can now really spread the floor and make Miami vulnerable down low so in that sense, good move. Oh and Jeff Green is a nice 6th man on any roster.
OKC, like Portland, just became a now team.
Centres: Mohammad and Perkins CHECK.
Power forwards? Ibaka CHECK.
Toughness and experience they've been lacking - check.
And now Harden can finally play as the #3 pick he is.
Lets face it, they wouldn't have been able to match offers for Green this off-season anyway so this was a matter of time anyhow. Once they gel, they can beat anyone - Lakers included.
- Memphis and Houston deal: Winner is Memphis EASILY.
Not sure what Houston are thinking here but Morey is a good CEO so I'm sure there's a reason for it.
Thabeet - well they say you need 4 - 6 years for a big man and I'm tipping if he is going to be anything, he'll be on the 6 year end. But if he does become something, think Oden, Greg - and dominating the paint.
Memphis on the other hand will now most likely slot into 8th in the West and face a Spurs team who they'd feel comfortable knocking off.
Heck Pop might tank the last 15 so they don't have to play Memphis - that's how well Memphis match up with the Spurs. Add to that list the Mavs, and the Lakers. Actually Memphis are the team most likely to come from the bottom and shake things up - they have tie breakers over ALL 4 of the top 4 in the west...
Shame they lose to New Jersey on a regular basis!
- New Jersey and Utah: I like this deal for both teams.
Harris will fit in well in Utah and is a good player when a coach wants him there. Favors is a future monster and is well worth storing and developing (and they have some Malone dude who can school him in the off-season).
The Nets also win - they win because they got new York to screw themselves AND they got D-Will at the same time.
D-Will has instantaneously lifted his game, is averaging 15+ apg, and now Lopez is rebounding more. What more could a coach want?
Re-sigining in the off-season - look for the Nets to do right by D-Will sooner rather than later.
- New York and Denver: DENVER DENVER DENVER!
(once more:) DENVER how you did well out of this. And 4-1 since!!!!
No, Denver have made Cleveland and Toronto look terribly stupid in this move and have made their fanbase happy because they're going to the playoffs!!! New York actually have a big 3 with Melo/Chauncy/Amare going off for 25 + each on the first 3 outings. That's better than in Miami!!!!
They may not be what they were, but long-term they're relevant in the East again which just became the strongest conference by far.
