February 24- The NBA Trade Deadline inspires a lot of excited conversation and wishful thinking about the hypothetical, but in the end (most years) the deadline is marked by roster tinkering, not roster overhaul. This season was no different: we saw the swap of two fading fringe stars in Jermaine O’Neal and Shawn Marion, a few positional upgrades, and a bunch of seemingly irrelevant maneuvers that served salary cap purposes.
For better or for worse, that was the deadline we got. TPFsports is more than happy to break it down for you.
Toronto Raptors get: Shawn Marion, Marcus Banks, and $3 million
Miami Heat get: Jermaine O’Neal, Jamario Moon, and a conditional 1st round draft pick.
Alright, so if I had just walked out of “Lord of Rings,” and my game of ‘Snake’ on my Nokia green ‘n black phone was interrupted by a text message (how cool are those?!?) telling me that Marion had been traded for Jermaine O’Neal… I would have totally geeked. Because it was 2003, I was in college, and these guys were still relevant stars. However, after watching both players struggle to regain their respective forms it becomes clear to fans that this deal amounts little more than an address change for them. Jermaine O’Neal is on the downward slide of his career, and Marion is looking more and more like a product of Phoenix’s (not necessarily Nash’s) system.
The smaller pieces are essentially a wash, unless you feel strongly about Marcus Banks (you shouldn’t) or Jamario Moon (I don’t). Moon will still give the Heat some athleticism and rebounding at the three without Marion out there, and he’ll do it for way less money. Marcus Banks will get a head-start on embracing his destiny: riding the bench for a Euroleague team. The conditional pick will be sent to the Heat when the Raptors make the playoffs between 2010 and 2015.
Even in this deal, where two former All Stars are being dealt, there are big cap-related implications. O’Neal is scheduled to make 23 Million next season in the final year of his contract. I will repeat that for you: Jermaine O’Neal is scheduled to make 23 Million next season.
Shawn Marion’s deal comes off the books this year, and it’s worth $17 Million. So Toronto will rent Marion, and hope that he plays a better Robin to Bosh’s Batman for the rest of the year; then, in 2010 the Heat will have South Beach and cap room to throw at possible free agents. As of right now they have about 12 million on the books for the Free Agent Bonanza. (A piece of every Knick fan I know just died a little). All in all, I think that the deal actually makes the Raptors better this season, but one has to wonder what they think they’re doing for this team in the big picture. The heat acquired cap flexibility and a raw young wing player with the potential to be similar to the Marion we watched before he fell in love with his jumper.
Winner: Miami
Loser: Any NBA team with Marcus Banks on its roster
LA Lakers get: Adam Morrison and Shannon Brown
Charlotte Bobcats get: Vladimir Radmanovic
With the Lakers seeking financial flexibility, Charlotte was able to snag a talent upgrade. Morrison and Shannon Brown have both struggled in the NBA thus far – Morrison with injuries and a lack of athleticism; Brown with a lack of a natural position. They’ll join a deep group of reserves, and fight for places in the rotation next season. Radmanovic gives the Bobcats a big outside threat, and somebody who generates instant points off the bench. His scoring will be welcome to a team that expected “Ammo” to fill that role, and his defensive liabilities will hopefully be masked by Wallace and Okafor flanking him and helping out (often).
The Lakers might benefit from Brown if he takes to the triangle quickly, and Morrison can serve as a spot-up shooter in a pinch. I think the Bobcats just took a look at their roster and realized they’re not going to have cap room for the big free agent frenzy and decided to try to grab a useful talent while they could. Oh by the way, DeSagana Diop has a player option for 7 million… in 2012.
Winner: Bobcats
Chicago Bulls get: Brad Miller and John Salmons
Sacramento Kings get: Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Michael Ruffin, and Cedric Simmons
This is a deal that makes a lot of sense for the Bulls. Miller is a physical big man that can score, rebound, and pass, and Salmons is a big guard that can do whatever is asked. Both men can pass well, and will compliment their respective front and backcourt players. Brad Miller fits nicely with Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas, who are more athletic than Miller, but less skilled with the ball than he is. Salmons is a very good defender, and rebounds well for his position as well; if the Bull need it, he can also help run the offense, even as the 2 guard next to Derrick Rose. You have to assume both of these guys were brought in to play right away, because otherwise the Bulls are extremely thin (Salmons made Hughes and Sefalosha expendable) and/or inexperienced at both positions. Also, it should be noted that Salmons has had a history of getting upset and complaining publicly when he perceives his role or minutes have shrunk.
As for the Kings, they flipped Ruffin for Ike Diogu, and a whole bunch of question marks. Nocioni is on the books for a while, and Gooden has a shot at being bought out… but this wasn’t necessarily a salary-dump because they didn’t save a ton of money. They just needed to get out of Miller’s contract, and the price you pay in a firesale is talented players with decent contracts. John Salmons did a lot for this Kings team, and wasn’t making money on par with his production: 5 Million a year for 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists a game is a good deal. This might just be one last insult on the way out the door for the Kings franchise.
Winner: Bulls
Loser: Kings’ fans
Sacramento Kings get: Rashad McCants and Calvin Booth
Minnesota Timberwolves get: Shelden Williams and Bobby Brown
Rashad McCants’ stock dropped over the past season and a half for a variety of reasons, but the biggest is that he just straight up doesn’t see the other four guys on the floor. He plays like he makes the decision while jogging down the floor, “I’m shooting this possession.” And then he does, double teams and open teammates be damned. He can score, but he can’t score like he thinks he can… if that makes sense. He’ll see a much better version of himself in Kevin Martin, and he’s easily the most talented player in this deal. I’m sure they also knew they’d need somebody else that would shoot, after sending John Salmons packing.
Shelden Williams showed up to Sacramento fat, and is still struggling to lose the weight. He’s a big body that will fill minutes available due to Al Jefferson’s knee injury. I actually think Bobby Brown is an upgrade to the point guard situation in Minny, but chances are it’ll be tough to earn minutes while he adjusts to a new team and system.
Winner: Rashad McCants – The Kings need to give him minutes.
Chicago Bulls get: Tim Thomas, Jerome James, and Anthony Robesron
New York Knicks get: Larry Hughes
I suppose beauty and talent is sometimes in the eye of the beholder, because this trade reads ugly. Tim Thomas will do much of what Nocioni was doing for the Bulls, and Hughes will get to miss 8 or 9 shots a night for the Knicks. The hope must be that in an offense that gets up-and-down fast, Larry Hughes will get to the basket more, and as a result not shoot jumpers. But as someone who has watched basketball a few times, I’m skeptical. What he will do is fill the hole at shooting guard, and give the knicks a more fleet-of-foot option than Quentin Richardson.
Tim Thomas and Al Harrington are essentially the same player, Roberson only played in cases of extreme emergency, and Jerome James ate and hobbled his way out of New York. Larry Hughes had gotten buried on the bench in Chicago and wasn’t happy about it.
All of these contracts come off the books in the next two years.
Winner: Fast Food and HMO’s in Chicago
New York Knicks get: Chris Wilcox
OKC Thunder get: Malik Rose
Both deals are expiring, and Wilcox is the better player. He’ll rebound and add some power to the Knicks’ frontcourt. It’s a sly move by Donnie Walsh, and if he looks good out there, they can probably resign him on the cheap. The Knicks stuffed some money in the pockets of the Thunder to get this done, and if they buy out Rose they will make a little more. I know that San Antoinio loved him, and he still loves San Antonio.
** Since there’s nothing else to say about this deal, I’ll tell my favorite Malik Rose story: At the end of last season I was walking towards the train through midtown, and spotted Malik Rose, who had just left a concert at Radio City. I yelled at him as he was getting into a cab, he stopped, told his friend to hold it and took a couple hard steps at me – not having understood what I yelled. When he got closer he asked “Excuse me, what was that?” And I repeated “You deserve better, I’m sorry.” He looked like he was going to cry. He then gave me a huge hug and chatted me up for five or ten minutes while his boy held the cab. I can see why he’s so well liked around the league. Just seems like a nice guy, and really should never have been on the Knicks.**
Winner: New York Knicks - Clear talent upgrade.
OKC Thunder get: Thabo Sefalosha
Chicago Bulls get: (most likely) The Spurs 1st round draft pick
Personally I think Thabo Sefalosha is the perfect fit next to Russel Westbrook. He doesn’t try to do too much with the ball, and he’s an excellent defender. He’s 24 and in the early stages of his career, and he won’t take shots from Green, Westbrook, or most importantly… Kevin Durant. The Bulls had a player that wasn’t going to get any burn for them with such a crowded backcourt and the recent acquisition of John Salmons, and turned him into a first round pick, albeit most likely one of the last three or four of the draft. Maybe somebody like Jerome Jordan from Tulsa will be available, giving them the shotblocker they could really use.
Winner: Thunder – Sefalosha is a good pickup, and I have no faith in the Bulls ability to maximize a late first round pick.
Orlando Magic get: Rafer Alston (Rockets)
Houston Rockets get: Kyle Lowry (Grizzlies) and Brian Cook (Magic)
Memphis Grizzlies get: Adonal Foyle (Magic) and Mike Wilks (Magic) and the Magic’s 1st round draft pick
I don’t think Rafer Alston is a great pickup for this team. His presence is going to create a poing guard battle next season, and his habit of chucking 3’s at inopportune times is going to hurt a team where he’s at best the third best shooter on the floor. However, I understand that they need an NBA starter to maintain their place as the third best team in the East.
The Rockets get a young point guard that rebounds, plays defense, and gets to the basket. Lowry will probably have to battle Brooks for minutes at the point, but I like Kyle Lowry as the future point guard of this team. With McGrady going down, they can start thinking about their future. Lowry and Von Wafer are two very underrated young players for them to use – whether they decide to try to build around Yao and Artest, or not.
The Grizzlies got cash, and a first round pick. They’ve made the decision that Mike Conley is their man. I still believe that Conley can be a very good point guard in the NBA, and lately his play has spoken to that. Hopefully he can keep his play at a high level, and they’ll use the extra pick to add to a strong (though mismatched) young core.
Winner: Magic in the Short-term, but overall I’d say Push
LA Lakers get: A conditional second-round pick in 2013
Memphis Grizzlies get: Chris Mihm and cash
The Lakers sent along enough money to pay Chris Mihm’s contract, in an effort to avoid - or at least get penalized less – by the luxury tax. The Grizzlies could actually make a little extra cash off this deal if they buy him out in the next few weeks, and five years from now the Lakers can draft a player that will most likely struggle to make the team.
Winner: Grizzlies by default
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