Trade Extravaganza

For the 2010-2011 NBA season, the trade deadline was wonderful. Big names going to big places, shockers, a failed deal, potential buy-outs, Baron Davis's exile, and so much more have occurred. This year's deadline has brought plenty of excitement to an excellent season and set the course for a future league dominated by super teams in big-market cities. With that being said, let's breakdown the winners and losers of the deadline.

Winners:

New Jersey Nets: With all the glitz and glamour that Jay-Z and Mikhail Prokhorov present, they failed. They failed to acquire LeBron James and they failed to acquire Carmelo Anthony. However, they shocked the league with Deron Williams and I love the deal. Personally, I think Deron Williams is better than Carmelo Anthony for the Nets and the Nets now have a top 5 point guard in the league and an excellent building block for an up-and-coming franchise. I know he's not Jason Kidd and it will take awhile before they win games, but I have a feeling that he can do exactly what Jason Kidd did for the Nets during his tenure. The Nets already have a good, young big in Brook Lopez and now they just need to get a legitimate wing-scorer to seriously compete. They won't have draft picks, but they'll have cap space and now when Jay-Z and Mikhail Prokhorov try to sell their franchise and their move to Brooklyn to another star, they'll have credibility in D-Will and Brook Lopez.  

Oklahoma City Thunder: I can't write about the Thunder because I love OKC. Air Congo got robbed in the dunk contest, I'm biased on everything about the team, and I can't hold the excitement I have about their acquisitions of Kendrick Perkins, Nate Robinson, and Nazr Mohammed. I am ecstatic! I get asked a lot about when the Thunder will be ready to compete for a title realistically or what they are missing, and the answer is they are ready to compete now and they just got what they're missing. I always felt Tyson Chandler was the perfect fit at center for this team, but Perkins is an excellent consolation prize.The Thunder lack toughness and interior defense and they'll get a mad Kendrick Perkins and a solid Nazr Mohammed to fill that role. Serge Ibaka moves into the starting power forward slot ♥ Dr. Nasty, and Nate Robinson and James Harden can fill it up off the bench. Do I even have to mention that athletic freak at the point and the youngest scoring champ ever? Regardless of their current 3-game losing streak, when Perkins comes back, they'll be just fine. The West and the entire league best beware because the Thunder are no longer a fascinating thought to compete, they are now and reality begins.

Portland Trail Blazers: With the uncertainty of Brandon Roy and Greg Oden's health, the Blazers could have folded their season, blown the team up, and started over. Instead they've been one of the surprise teams this year and coach Nate McMillan is very deserving of coach of the year consideration. Andre Miller continues to surprise me with his talentless, crafty play, LaMarcus Aldridge has been a monster all season, and Wesley Matthews has been a diamond in the rough. Acquiring Gerald Wallace without having to give up Nicolas Batum was brilliant and now that Brandon Roy is back, the Blazers can give one of those top 4 teams in the West a scare come playoff time.

Super Teams: LeBron started it in 2010, and by 2012, it should come into full effect. the Heat have their Big 3, the Knicks have their two now and I'm more than 75% certain CP3 will join them soon. The Nets may be on their way, and could the cherry on top be Dwight Howard as a Laker? Only time will tell...

Carmelo Anthony: His debut at the Garden was electric, the game down in South Beach was a thriller, and Melo now has everything he wants. He's "home," he's on a contender, he has his extension, and he comes out of all the trade talks with an undamaged reputation. The pressure is now on him to keep the city rocking and live up to the hype. Don't disappoint Spike.

Kirk Hinrich:  Josh and I believe that Mr. Hinrich does nothing wrong, and trust me he does nothing wrong. Because he does nothing wrong, he is now rewarded with running the Atlanta Hawks. He'll amaze the fans with defense (never seen by Mike Bibby), he'll play either guard positions when asked, he might break J.J. Redick's ankles again, and he'll provide efficient perimeter shooting. In the end, Mike Bibby might actually be the biggest winner (not financially) from the trade, but upgrade for the Hawks, great for Captain Kirk. 

Leon Powe, Mo Williams, Jamario Moon: Is there really much to say? They're out of Cleveland and that makes these three the biggest winners of the trade deadline, rejoice. Sorry Antawn...

Losers:
Boston Celtics: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I'm pretty sure everyone has heard of that saying but for Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics, they may be an exception. When you hold the second-best record in the league (41-16) and your head coach claims the biggest reason for losing a game 7 in the NBA Finals last season was because your starting center was injured, why trade him? Not only him though, why trade Donkey? Why trade Harangody and Erden? Why revamp the entire bench and depend on centers that were dominant a decade ago? The Celtics have been all about redemption and their returning players' hunger for one more run at the title. They were built for the playoffs. Perkins (7:36 of the video) was getting healthy and he carried that tough mentality and grit with KG in the paint, and now it seems missing. Even though Danny Ainge couldn't work out an extension with Perkins and feared losing him for nothing, I just think they should have stayed the course. Their window of opportunity closes this year! Jeff Green can play, Krstic can hit a mid-range jumper, but they don't provide that underrated post presence that doesn't show up on the stat sheet that Perkins provides. They don't have that hunger to win. They're not Sam Cassell. I'm pretty sure, the C's will eventually get a Troy Murphy or Leon Powe to provide depth in the pivot. Perhaps they may even get Rip Hamilton to strengthen the bench before it's all said and done, but the best team in the NBA just lost its heart and identity and it's a huge disappointment. 

Utah Jazz: Last season, the Jazz had Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, Jerry Sloan, and title aspirations. Now that's all gone. Considering what the Jazz received in return, it's not too bad, but everything that the Jazz were no longer exists. They've lost their franchise point guard and they lost Jerry Sloan, Jerry Freaking Sloan, amidst this mess (thank you D-Will). Ty Corbin won't turn things around and I really don't know where this franchise is heading now. I believe this franchise is cursed. First the Phil Jackson curse and now begins the Jerry Sloan curse.

Chicago Bulls: As impressive as the Bulls are and as great as Derrick Rose has been, the Bulls struck out at the deadline. They've needed an upgrade all season at shooting guard and not acquiring J.R. Smith or Courtney Lee was a missed opportunity. It was crucial for this team and their playoff run because D-Rose will draw the paint and he needed a shooter to spread the floor in late-game situations. Hopefully they'll get lucky with Richard Hamilton being bought out, but for now, make do with Keith Bogans Chicago...

Dallas Mavericks: No Melo, no J.R. Smith, no Tayshaun Prince, no title shot. I'm not saying Prince or Smith would have put them over the top, but they needed another guy to fill in for Caron Butler not named Stojakovic. They have a lot of depth and they're a good team, a really good team, but for a team whose window of opportunity is closing soon, Dirk needs more help and the Mavs needed to make a move. The Mavs are still a top 4 team in the West, but unlike the Thunder, they stood pat and watched KD and his boys leap frog them. They still have a chance in the West, but it will be difficult.  

Houston Rockets: Houston...they have a problem. I assume they're going to rebuild now and they've started off poorly. Blame it on Yao's health, blame it on other injuries, or blame it on Kevin Martin's lack-luster play, but these Rockets had potential to be a good team. Stupid injuries and now bad decisions. Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier for Goran Dragic and Hasheem Thabeet? Hasheem Thabeet?? Is this their idea of replacing Yao? Hopefully Luis Scola finds his way to a contender next season, Kevin Martin finds his game, and only good health for Yao from here on out. The Rockets have helped other teams and they need to start helping themselves. For now, Chase Budinger and Kyle Lowry, it's your time to shine. 

Baron Davis: Even though the man has battled weight issues and never put his full heart into his stint in Los Angeles, he doesn't deserve this. No one deserves to be traded to Cleveland and this must really suck for BD. He was home, he had Blake Griffin, and this cool commercial, but now he is in the NBA's black hole. There really is no hope for the Cleveland Cavaliers and I wish he would be bought out and signed with a contender (Heat, Lakers?). I would love to see the old Baron playing with a purpose. For now, we'll just have to hope he can take advantage of this situation to resurrect his career and give some basketball life back to the city of Cleveland .

Isiah Thomas: Isiah Thomas was a great NBA player, one of the best point guards to ever play the game, but he is a terrible front office guy in the NBA. Yet he still has a great effect on the league even though he's a college basketball coach at Florida International. Zeke wishes so bad that he could be the Knicks general manager and he wants all the credit for bringing Carmelo Anthony to New York. He and World Wide Wes want to take over the league by orchestrating deals for the league's top superstars to big cities and they've actually done a pretty good job. However, all of this "work" has Isiah coming out looking like a rat and he's quite mistaken if he thinks he'll get a job in an NBA front office anytime soon (James Dolan cannot be that dumb). Isiah's reputation has actually taken another hit and now he might be costing a deserving general manager his job. I just can't see how a man, who was a .500 coach and gave Eddy Curry a 5-year extension, as deserving of another chance at running an NBA team.