2011 NBA Trade Deadline Summary

Now that the NBA trade deadline has passed, your head is no doubt spinning. Players were traded back and forth like it was going out of style. Most of the blockbuster trades involved players from the West heading to the East, but there were some notable inter-conference trades as well.

As the dust settles on the 2011 NBA trade deadline, let’s take a look at some of the winners and losers this year.

Cleveland Cavaliers:

Coming In

• Baron Davis
• The Clippers 2011 first round draft pick

Going Out

• Mo Williams
• Jamario Moon

In the short term, this trade doesn’t help the Cleveland Cavaliers out too much. Baron Davis isn’t necessarily an upgrade over Mo Williams, and he’s much MUCH more expensive. The Cavs essentially made this trade for the future, however, and could very well have the first two picks in this year’s draft. If that doesn’t help them get rid of the LeBum hang over, then I don’t know what will.

Let’s face it, the Cavs weren’t making the playoffs this year, and without major help, they weren’t going to make it next year either. They definitely came out winners in at the 2011 NBA trade deadline.

L.A. Clippers:

Coming In

• Mo Williams
• Jamario Moon

Going Out

• Baron Davis
• First Round Draft Pick in 2011

You have to believe that this was merely a financial decision to rid themselves of Baron Davis’ sizeable contract. In fact, they wanted him off their books so bad that they gave up a first round draft pick as bait. This is another team that didn’t necessarily improve their chances this season, but gave themselves some chips to play with in the upcoming free agent market.

As Blake Griffin continues to improve, the Clips will need to build around him with solid (but not too expensive) free agents. Clearing Davis’s salary gives them that flexibility, unfortunately at the expense of a potential top pick in the upcoming draft.

Of the two players they received in the deal, Mo Williams is likely to be a part of the Clippers next year, but I imagine that they will let Jamario Moon go after his contract expires following this season.

New Jersey Nets:

Coming In

• Deron Williams
• Dan Gadzuric
• Brandan Wright

Going Out

• Troy Murphy
• Derrick Favors
• Devin Harris
• Two First Round Picks in the 2011 Draft
• A Second Round Pick in the 2011 Draft
• Some Sweet in pocket Cash (Amount TBD)

The Nets came out looking pretty OK at the 2011 trade deadline, but we won’t know for sure if it was an amazing set of trades or terrible management until Deron Williams decides to re-sign or not. If Williams sticks around with the Nets, they should be able to at least contend in the East. If he chooses to go elsewhere, then they just gave up a whole lot of potential for Zip, Zilch, Nada.

Golden State Warriors:

Coming In

• Troy Murphy
• A Second Round Pick in the 2011 Draft

Going Out

• Dan Gadzuric
• Brandan Wright

The Warriors didn’t have any major names cross their path in either direction, so it is tough to say how well they did. They didn’t really improve, but they do have a second round pick in 2011 that could play into something big. They didn’t really get much for the two players they let go either, so it will all depend on how well that draft pick turns out for them.

Atlanta Hawks:

Coming In

• Kirk Hinrich
• Hilton Armstrong

Going Out

• Mike Bibby
• Jordan Crawford
• Maurice Evans
• First Round Pick in 2011

The Hawks got a much needed defensive upgrade with Hinrich and in my opinion, didn’t lose a whole lot offensively. Sure he may not be as good of a pure shooter as Bibby, but he does everything else better and should make a great backcourt duo with Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson.

On the downside, the Hawks added some salary to their books when all sources said that they were trying to cut back in order to go after another big free agent. They also gave up a first round pick which is always risky but they gave up Jordan Crawford who was their first round pick last season, so apparently they don’t put too much stock in draft choices.

Washington Wizards:

Coming In

• Mike Bibby
• Jordan Crawford
• Maurice Evans
• First Round Pick in 2011

Going Out

• Kirk Hinrich
• Hilton Armstrong

Tough to say where the Wizards came out on this deal. They definitely retool with some young talent in Jordan Crawford and a first round pick, but Bibby will probably turn out to be a liability who most likely won’t be around next year. They run the risk of having to get someone to buy out Bibby’s contract if he doesn’t stick around, but other than that, they have enough money to sign a quality draft pick or even pick up a decent free agent next year.

Sacramento Kings:

Coming In

• Marcus Thornton
• Some Greenbacks (Amount TBD)

Going Out

• Carl Landry

This wasn’t exactly a blockbuster trade deadline for the Kings who could be playing in Anaheim next season. They got rid of a clubhouse cancer in Landry (he made it clear that he didn’t want to play for the Kings any longer) and picked up some young talent with Thornton. Although his “score first” mentality might clash with Tyreke Evans when they share the court, the two could make a pretty dynamic duo in years to come. The cash, most likely, will be used to pay the moving company when the Kings decide to leave Sacramento.

New Orleans Hornets:

Coming In

• Carl Landry

Going Out

• Marcus Thornton
• Cash Considerations (Amount TBD)

The Hornets made out like bandits this year at the trade deadline by getting Carl Landry to boost their bench. If Landry can put up numbers like he did with the Rockets a few years ago then the Hornets greatly improved their team. Sure they had to give up Thornton, but he wasn’t seeing too many minutes in New Orleans and could potentially flourish with the Kings.

It seems clear that the Hornets intent is to surround their star Chris Paul with veteran talent in hopes of winning a title in the next couple of years. The Hornets are slowly but surely building a solid team and might be sneaking up on the West before too long.

Utah Jazz:

Coming In

• Derrick Favors
• Devin Harris
• Two First Round Draft Picks
• Cash Considerations (Amount TBD)

Going Out

• Deron Williams

In my opinion, the Jazz panicked. They were in playoff contention and recently had their hall of fame coach, and only man to roam the sidelines in the past 2 decades, quit. Sure, there was the risk that Williams was going to bail for greener pastures at the end of the season, but perhaps if they surrounded him with quality talent, they could have made a championship run. Well, either way, the Jazz decided to forego all of that and shipped their All-Star point guard off to the Nets.

They didn’t exactly give him away for nothing though, which makes their trades interesting to analyze. They pick up a couple of first round draft picks as well as Derrick Favors and Devin Harris. The draft picks should help the Jazz recover fairly quickly from trading away their superstar. Devin Harris isn’t the worst point guard in the game, but it is definitely a downgrade. The Jazz can essentially kiss this season goodbye and hope to have a successful draft later on this year.

Toronto Raptors:

Coming In

• James Johnson

Going Out

• First Round Draft Pick in 2011

The Raptors made a pretty big mistake in my opinion. James Johnson has not produced like you would expect a #16 pick to produce. The Raptors give up a first round pick, but lets not be too hasty to judge that move. They got that pick from the Heat which could very well be the last pick of the first round. Still, it is a high price to pay for someone who has been as big a bust as James Johnson. Maybe all Johnson needs is a change of scenery and the ability to play heavy minutes right away in Toronto will let us know very quickly whether this trade was a good one for the Raptors or not.

 

 

Chicago Bulls:

Coming In

• First Round Draft Pick in 2011

Going Out

• James Johnson

While the Bulls have absolutely nothing to show for this trade right now, it did accomplish two positives for them. They now have an extra pick in the first round of the 2011 draft, albeit possibly the last pick of the round, and they cleared some salary cap space. If you think about it, the Bulls basically found a way to get a mulligan on their 2009 draft where they took James Johnson number 16 overall.

New York Knicks:

Coming In

• Chauncey Billups
• Carmello Anthony
• Shelden Williams
• Anthony Carter
• Renaldo Balkman
• Corey Brewer

Going Out

• Wilson Chandler
• Raymond Felton
• Danilo Gallinari
• Timofey Mozgov
• Anthony Randolph
• Eddy Curry
• First Round Draft Pick (2014 or later)

Between the Knicks, Nuggets and Wolves, there was as much action as the rest of the NBA. Entire squads literally found themselves on a plane cross country, making this one of the bigger trades in recent history. The trade actually turned out sort of anti-climactic since Melo had been screaming to be traded for quite some time. New York pretty much got into a bidding war with themselves and drove up the price to what we see today.

Aside from Anthony, who is a great player, the Knicks actually came out as big stinking losers in this trade (despite what I initially thought before hearing all of the details). They aged significantly at PG by trading Felton for Billups and are actually paying more money for that older player. They have an amazing duo of Melo and Amare, but the rest of the team seems to be scraped from the slaughterhouse floor – hardly the makings of a championship squad.

Denver Nuggets:

Coming In

• Wilson Chandler
• Raymond Felton
• Danilo Gallinari
• Timofey Mozgov
• First Round Draft Pick (2014 or later)

Going Out

• Chauncey Billups
• Carmello Anthony
• Shelden Williams
• Anthony Carter
• Renaldo Balkman

The Nuggets were staring down the barrel of Carmello’s loaded gun and somehow managed to actually come out on top with the trade deals. They knew that Melo wanted out and that the Knicks wanted him so bad, so they drove up the price, got rid of some age and salary and might actually see their squad improve next season – a feat all its own considering that their franchise player just left town.

Denver is still in playoff contention for this season and might actually reach the post season if the team can gel quick enough. The Nuggets get quality forwards, a young point guard, draft picks and about $15 million off of their salary for this year – a much needed downsizing. All in all, losing Melo hurts, but not as bad as you would think.

Minnesota Timberwolves:

Coming In

• Anthony Randolph
• Eddy Curry
• Money from the Knicks (3 Million)

Going Out

• Corey Brewer

Somewhat forgotten as the third wheel in the blockbuster trade that sent Carmello Anthony to New York are the Minnesota Timberwolves. And what do you know, but they actually came out ok. Straight up, Anthony Randolph is better than Corey Brewer so there is an immediate upgrade. But what did it cost the Wolves for the upgrade? Well, now they have to pretty much eat Eddy Curry’s ridiculous salary as he hollers at cheerleaders from the end of the bench, but in my opinion, it’s more than worth it. The salary will be easier for the Wolves to swallow since they pay less for Randolph than they were for Brewer, plus they have some cash coming their way from the Knicks to wash things down.