The NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone. Although relatively quiet, a few moves could make some teams contenders. The Cleveland Cavs followed suit this year sticking to their game plan that included being neutral and content with what they have to make a move toward a Championship. With rumors swirling that Kevin Love would be dealt in a 3 team trade to either Boston or the Los Angeles Clippers the Cavs listened, but did not pull the trigger. Mostly rumors, but Love was apparently involved in a deal that would send himself and Kyrie Irving to the Clippers for Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Reluctantly the Cavs didn’t make this move. This move I believe was only that, just a rumor. Other names mentioned for the Cavs were Ben Mclemore from the Kings, Pau Gasol from the Bulls, Rudy Gay from the Kings, along with Koustof. The Cavs reportedly turned down a deal sending Kevin Love to the Kings for Boogie Cousins and Rajon Rondo. The Cleveland Cavaliers in the end would make one lone move sending Jared Cunningham to the Magic and Anderson Varejao to the Blazers in return for Channing Frye from Orlando in a three team swap. Portland will eventually waive Varejao. A crowd favorite in Cleveland for over a decade, it was time to move on. Channing Frye on the other hand missed very few games, can be used as a stretch four big man, and can also give you more minutes than what Varejao could. Rumors after rumors, the Cavs did what they had to do to complete this team and get them to the next level. It wasn’t much, but we shall see how far it takes them with keeping this nucleus of players on the floor.
Chicago Bulls: One would think that the rumors of trading Pau Gasol would be highly false. Gasol is still dominant and can provide a double double every night for the Bulls. Many offers would be entertained, but it was in the best interest of the team to keep Gasol. Taj Gibson was another name on the block that they were actively shopping, but no worthy offers. The Bulls would eventually pull the trigger on moving veteran point guard, Kirk Hinrich moving him to the Atlanta Hawks for a second round draft pick. Advantage Bulls for keeping the team in check.
Orlando Magic: As stated earlier the Magic traded Channing Frye to the Cavs in return for point guard Jared Cunningham. Earlier in the week they made a move that could easily prove to be beneficial in Orlando. Sending Tobias Harris to the Detroit Pistons for Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova. Two very very good players who can score and space the floor for names like Oladipo and Gordon. These moves look like a win for the Magic, all the while being a loss for the Detroit Pistons who are very young and struggling to complete on a night to night basis.
Phoenix Suns: With the dealing of one of the Morris brothers and breaking them up, this was bound to happen. The Suns dealt Markieff Morris to the Washington Wizards for big man Kris Humpries, and former Spurs standout Dejuan Blair. This could be a good move for the Suns, if they plan on giving these guys more minutes. Blair was mentored by none other than Tim Duncan when coming into the league out of Pitt. Looks like the Suns were the winners here.
Los Angeles Clippers: No Chris Paul being dealt, no Blake Griffin being dealt, only Lance (scatterbrain) Stephenson sent packing to the Memphis Grizzlies for swingman Jeff Green. This is a win for the Clippers in more ways than one. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why!
Houston Rockets: Oh the Houston Rockets! You heard Dwight Howard here, Dwight Howard there. I’m sure the chemistry breaker himself isn’t happy in Houston, but, for some reason the Rockets wouldn’t deal him. If it were me I would have taken a nice set of a dozen basketballs for Howard, but, the Rockets have other plans I suppose. It is unknown why they did not entertain any offers for Howard at this time. For that fact alone the Rockets were BIG losers for hanging on to him.
It looks as if this year’s winners of the trade deadline would have to be the Cleveland Cavs and the Chicago Bulls. By not making much noise during this deadline this tells me that these teams are built to win now. Keeping the mesh of talent together is what will drive these teams to battle to appear into the Eastern Conference Finals and beyond. Last year twenty five deals were made at the deadline. This year only about 5-6 notable deals were done. The rumors and the hype is great, but in the end you gotta take the advice from the horses mouth himself.
Written By: Joshua Petry
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