While this season is sans a blockbuster trade at the trade deadline, don’t be mistaken: several teams swapped talent, and many teams improved greatly after making moves for respectable basketball players on the Feb. 20 deadline. Here’s a look at some of the most that went down approaching the trade deadline.
Kings Trade G/F Marcus Thornton to the Nets in exchange for F Reggie Evans and G Jason Terry- Jason Terry showed that his best days are behind him this season, and though he’s still a viable off-the-bench scorer, his age is not a fit for Brooklyn’s win-now mentality. However, youngster Marcus Thornton, who has been called “baby buckets” for a reason, has younger legs and can be just as lethal of a scorer as Terry has. Terry will bring much needed veteran leadership to a very young Sacramento squad that could use a push in the right direction, and they’ll also add work horse Reggie Evans who is known for his tenacious work on the glass.
Cavs Acquire F/C Spencer Hawes from Sixers in exchange for F Earl Clark and F/C Henry Sims- Hawes was putting up a very respectable 13 points and 8.6 rebounds a game in Philly, but with young big man Nerlens Noel’s return from an acl injury approaching, the Sixers made clear he is the big man of the future in Pennsylvania. While Clark was waived by the 76ers, Sims is a solid young big man who can fit right in Philly’s system– he is not afraid to bang down low and is a solid defensive presence in the paint. Hawes, with recent addition Luol Deng, will help Kyrie Irving and the Cavs as they push full throttle for the eighth playoff spot in the eastern conference.
Nuggets Trade F Jordan Hamilton for G Aaron Brooks- This trade is extremely beneficial on both sides. With a heavy backcourt in which Jeremy Lin and Patrick Beverly hog most of the minutes, Aaron Brooks found himself on the bench more times than not. And, the same was true for wingman Jordan Hamilton, who played for a Nuggets team that’s overflowing with young forwards. In Denver, Brooks will bring the scoring punch off the bench that has been absent with sparkplug Nate Robinson’s knee injury. As for the Rockets, they have gained a multi-faceted scorer in Hamilton, who showed he has a knack for putting the ball in the basket in Denver– an asset Houston will surely make great use of as they coast to the playoffs.
Nuggets Trade G Andre Miller to the Wizards; Wizards Trade F Jan Vesely to the Nuggets; Wizards Trade G Eric Maynor to the 76ers- Though John Wall is playing the best basketball he’s ever played, it never hurts to have a veteran leader, and Andre Miller can provide that as well as about anyone in the league. He can still play excellent basketball as well, but his biggest asset to the Wizards will be as a mentor to John Wall in what is shaping up to be his first year in the playoffs. In Jan Veseley, the Nuggets gain a former lottery pick who has crazy bounce and will fit right in to Brian Shaw’s up-tempo system while Eric Maynor will be the true point guard behind rookie sensation Michael Carter-Williams that has been missing in Philadelphia this season.
Pacers Trade F Danny Granger to the 76ers; Get G/F Evan Turner and F/C Lavoy Allen in return- This is perhaps the closest thing to a “blockbuster” deal this year’s trade deadline saw. With Paul George’s emergence as the undeniable face and future of the Indiana Pacers, oft-injured Danny Granger found himself the odd one out in Indy– the opportunity to be another scoring option in Los Angeles, where he recently signed upon being bought out by the Sixers, will certainly be refreshing for the New Mexico product. And, the Pacers got a whole lot better as well after the trade deadline: they got a solid work horse in Lavoy Allen, and the versatile guard-forward Evan Turner, the former 2nd pick in the 2010 draft. Turner will join fellow 2010 lottery pick George as a likely sixth man in Philly– adding another ball handling, scoring and rebounding weapon to the top team in the East.
The action is not all over yet either, however. Many players have been and will be bought out of current contracts, making them unrestricted free agents. So, if you’re disappointed that your favorite team didn’t pick up anyone at the trade deadline, know there’s the possibility they will scoop up a capable player that gets bought out.
