New York Knicks
The Knicks had the biggest, though most expected, trade of the week, getting Carmelo Anthony. There is only one certain winner in this situation and that is Carmelo Anthony. He got what he wanted and now joins Amare Stoudemire as the faces of the New York Knicks. A lot of people may be jumping on the New York bandwagon, but I wouldn't be so fast to do so. They lost a lot of size by trading for Carmelo Anthony, and though Chauncey Billups (also acquired from the Nuggets) is great, I see him more as a mentor to Toney Douglas or Landry Fields. They now have two dynamic scorers, which is great. But they don't compare to the Heatles in Miami because they lack the talent. They can't match the Celtics because they lack the chemistry. They can't match the Bulls because they lack the defense. They can't even match the Magic because they lack the size. They gave up too much for someone they probably would've signed in the postseason because he wasn't going to the Bulls. The Knicks were the only team who had an extension waiting for Anthony. It may all work out, but I can't see the Knicks turning into a contender until they beef up their roster.
New Jersey Nets
They seem like the other winners of the trade deadline, but they really aren't. They gave up a good inside prospect in Derrick Favors and a decent, but not great, point guard in Devin Harris. Sure they got one of the best point guards in the league, but I doubt that Deron Williams will stay with the New Jersey Nets. That team is a mess. Sure he will have Brook Lopez to pass to, but Deron Williams went from one reeling team to another. The Nets must make some moves to add some more scoring like signing David West in the offseason. The only thing the Nets gained is a franchise player, and that will help attract more talent to the Nets. They did add some size in Brandan Wright (a lottery pick) and Dan Gadzuric, but neither of them can help out Lopez in the post.
Denver Nuggets
They no longer have Anthony, but they gained some respectable talent, though no one that stands out as a franchise player. Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari are both great talent at the wings, and Raymond Felton is underrated as a point guard, though I think the Nuggets should still stick with Ty Lawton. Now Denver has to sign Nene because he is one of the better centers in the league. They will be going through a lot of rebuilding before they can return to their Anthony days, but they are on the right track. They also added Kosta Koufos, but I don't understand how that could possibly help.
Utah Jazz
They lose one of the best coaches ever and now one of the best point guards in the league. No amount of Paul Millsap could save this season. Adding Derrick Favors loads up an already overcrowded front court. Devin Harris is great, but he's more of a scorer than a distributor. This season is lost. They should start looking at those picks and who they should get because they are going to be in the lottery this year.
Golden State Warriors
All they needed was someone who could join David Lee up front as a more defensive minded player and they would be set. Instead they got Troy Murphy. Congratulations Golden State. You may make the playoffs, but then again, so did the Seattle Seahawks. I kid, but Golden State didn't do much, even though they still had a lot of people they could've dumped. They make the playoffs on the trigger fingers of Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry, but they still need size, which they actually lost in the trading season.
New Orleans Hornets
They added Carl Landry, which is very helpful. I think that Landry will be a good fill-in off the bench. He is nowhere near David West talent-wise, but he is a great addition to the bench. They lose Marcus Thornton, which sucks, but not harmful. Thornton is a shooting guard who adds okay defense and good shooting. If you can't find someone to replace Thornton, you are a bad GM.
Sacramento Kings
They added Marcus Thornton and Marquis Daniels, which is pretty good. They are well-sized up front and now added some scoring off the bench or as a starter. This is one of those trades that seems to be very unimportant in the entire context of the NBA. Neither of them is a real game-changer every game, so the Kings just added more talent.
Boston Celtics
I actually don't know what to do with the Celtics. They gave away a playoff tested center in Kendrick Perkins and a good (and entertaining) bench player in Nate Robinson for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. Neither help them on the inside because Krstic is more of a shooting center and Green does not have the size to rebound. They lost a good center, whom everybody loved. They have actually shaken up the chemistry. I still think that the Celtics are the team in the East to beat, but they now are more vulnerable inside since they gave up a lot of size (including Semih Erden and Luke Harangody).
Oklahoma City Thunder
The biggest winners of the trade deadline without a doubt. They only needed size. They had good scoring off the bench. They had a superstar. They had a great point guard. All they needed was a center. And look at that, they have two. They have a good starting center in Perkins and a great back up in Nazr Mohammed. They did not give up too much. They did give away Jeff Green, but the production of Perkins (when he returns from injury) will more than make up for it.
Cleveland Cavaliers
They added Baron Davis, which is not a great as it sounds, especially given his history with Byron Scott. They also added Semih Erden and Luke Harangody. All they lost was an aging Mo Williams and the dunktastic Jamario Moon. It does not matter whether they are winners or losers because this year, the only thing the Cavs seem to be able to do is lose. They added very little with the trade. They better hope Jared Sullinger is the second coming of Kevin Garnett (but he isn't).
Charlotte Bobcats
They added no one of importance and parted with Gerald Wallace. They replaced Nazr Mohammed with Joel Przybilla. They added a couple of picks. Wallace did have an expiring contract, but they actually could've fought their way into the playoffs. They still have a chance (I mean, as long as you are in the East you have a chance), but they lost a great player in Wallace. Don't expect anything much from this team other than effort and tenacity.
LA Clippers
They kinda ruined the chemistry that was growing between Baron Davis and Blake Griffin by trading Davis, but now the Clippers have two amazing dunkers in Jamario Moon and Blake Griffin. No winner or loser here. There was nothing gained from the trade because Williams is essentially Baron Davis without the dunking. Both are point guards who have a major shoot-first attitude.
Atlanta Hawks
Kirk Hinrich is traded again after staying with the Bulls for about 7 years. But Hinrich is a great guard to have for any team. He isn't the best scorer or passer, but he is one of the best perimeter defenders in the game. He has great chemistry with his teammates, and he is an overall good basketball player. They lose Mike Bibby, who is a better scorer, but he does not possess even a tenth of the defensive talent that Hinrich has. They also add Hilton Armstrong for size, I suppose. He will go well with Al Horford up front.
Washington Wizards
They now have Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, and Maurice Evans. Bibby will help John Wall develop as a jump shooter, but Wall has Bibby beat in almost everything else. Crawford and Evans may just crack the rotation, but only Crawford seems to have the potential to be a long term investment for the rebuilding Wizards. They lost a lot of defense by giving away Hinrich, but they added a good prospect in Crawford. We'll have to wait for this to develop.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets now have Hasheem Thabeet (who I guess makes up for the lack of a center) and Goran Dragic (who is worse than Aaron Brooks). I don't understand their trades. Sure they needed a center, but Thabeet is not the answer. He is too raw offensively and still lacks a good basketball IQ. Dragic is a definite downgrade from Aaron Brooks. Dragic is okay, but Brooks had scoring and passing abilities. They also lost a great defender and 3-point shooter in Shane Battier. Rockets are in definite rebuilding mode, and it looks like Yao Ming is out of the picture.
Memphis Grizzlies
They are reunited with Shane Battier, and they lost their bust of a pick Hasheem Thabeet. Since they will be without Rudy Gay for a couple of weeks, Battier is a great plug who can add defense and an outside shot. Don't expect him to make plays like Gay did, but expect him to do his part in getting the Grizzlies into the playoffs.
Phoenix Suns
I doubt that Nash will be playing in Phoenix next year because of the addition of Aaron Brooks. Brooks isn't that great of a passer and he seems more fit for a shooting guard, but he is a point guard who can score and pass with effectiveness. Nash is the loser because he really is one of the hardest working guards in the league. It sucks that he will be kicked out of Phoenix so unceremoniously.
Portland Trail Blazers
They added Gerald Wallace, which really is enough. They have an additional perimeter scorer to help out Brandon Roy. Wallace can do everything too. He is a great defender and rebounder. He can score from anywhere. He is the ideal swingman for the Blazers. They will make the playoffs. They gave up a lot of future picks, but with a good talented core, they don't need that many picks for the future.
Toronto Raptors
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| This picture sums it all up. |
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