Around the NBA: Trade-a-Palooza

Posted by Rich Keefe on Mar 1, 2011 171945 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2011%2F03%2F01%2Faround-the-nba-trade-a-palooza%2FAround+the+NBA%3A+Trade-a-Palooza2011-03-01+17%3A00%3A52Rich+Keefehttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D17194

The NBA Trade Deadline, as we are all well aware of, came and went on Thursday afternoon.  All the Celtics did was deal their starting center.  There has been some discussion about that here on CelticsHub.  I’m not going to burden you with my thoughts on the trade (I didn’t like it and I still don’t.)  Instead let’s take a look at the major shake ups across the entire league or dare I say, “Around the NBA.”

66% of the league made a trade last week.  50 players, over a dozen draft picks, and lots of cold hard cash were swapped.  Teams in 1^st place in their divisions (Celtics, Thunder), last place (Raptors, Cavs, Wizards, T-Wolves, Kings, Rockets), and everywhere in between were active.  Check out the list of teams below with their new players.

Celtics:

Jeff Green
Nenad Krstic

Knicks:

Carmelo Anthony
Chauncey Billups
Sheldon Williams
Anthony Carter
Renaldo Balkman
Corey Brewer

Nets:

Deron Williams

Brandan Wright

Dan Gadzuric

Raptors:

James Johnson

Cavaliers:

Baron Davis

Luke Harangody

Semih Erden

Hawks:

Kirk Hinrich

Hilton Armstrong

Bobcats:

Joel Pryzbilla

Dante Cunningham

Sean Marks

Morris Peterson

D.J. White

Wizards:

Mike Bibby

Maurice Evans

Jordan Crawford

Thunder:

Kendrick Perkins

Nate Robinson

Nazr Mohammed

Nuggets:

Danilo Gallinari

Wilson Chandler

Raymond Felton

Timofey Mozgov

Kosta Koufos

Trail Blazers:

Gerald Wallace

Jazz:

Devin Harris

Derrick Favors

Timberwolves:

Eddy Curry’s contract

Anthony Randolph

Suns:

Aaron Brooks

Warriors:

Troy Murphy (bought out)

Clippers:
Mo Williams

Jamario Moon

Kings:

Marcus Thornton

Marquis Daniels

Hornets:

Carl Landry

Grizzlies:

Shane Battier

Ishmael Smith

Rockets:

Goran Dragic

Hasheem Thabeet

DeMarre Carroll

Winners? Or as the great Charlie Sheen would say, “WINNING.”  The marquee names are obviously Carmelo Anthony (Knicks) and Deron Williams (Nets).  Both New York and New Jersey acquired Superstars, but only NY will be able to show off their piece in the post season this year.  I consider both teams absolute winners at the deadline.  Yes the Knicks gave up a lot of players, but what were they holding on to?  They were 28-26, not they have 2 of the 10 best players in the NBA, and will be a handful for the 3 seed in the East.

The Nets took a risk by surprising Deron Williams and bringing the All-Star PG to a trash team.  However they went after Melo for a solid 6 months to no avail, and worse yet they had to watch the Knicks get him.  With the pending move to Brooklyn, D-Will could sign after he becomes a free agent in 2012.

Other winners include the Hornets who get Carl Landry from Sacramento, the Grizzlies getting Shane Battier back to Memphis, Portland with Gerald Wallace, and the Clippers for shedding Baron Davis’s money.

I also consider the Thunder winners, assuming Kendrick Perkins will be ok following his sprained MCL and 3 weeks on the sideline.  They also added Mohammed on a team that was desperate for some bigs.

Losers? The Bobcats.  What a joke.  The team makes the playoffs last year for the first time in franchise history, and then in a blink of an eye Raymond Felton, Ty Thomas, Raja Bell, and now Gerald Wallace are all gone.  Good luck with all that Paul Silas.  At least they got a couple of 1^st round picks in the deal.  They have such a great track record in the 1^st round with gems like Adam Morrison (3), Sean May (13), Alexis Ajinca (20), and Gerald Henderson (12).

It was certainly a busy trade week.  Many of the top teams (Heat, Bulls, Spurs, Lakers, Mavericks) did not make moves, but they all have time to add players who reached buyout agreements.  Next month will be fun to watch as all these new guys learn to play with their teammates.  The new-Knicks looked good last night in Miami…