The past week in the NBA has been a more than an eventful one. We've seen two top 10 players traded within a couple of days of each other and we've seen more action on deadline day than ever before. Check out my winners and losers of this monumental trade deadline.
This year's deadline has been extremely busy to say the least. Here are the winners and losers from the flurry of trades that went down before Thursday's deadline.
(The "Give" and "Get" may be combined from multiple trades)
Winners
Utah Jazz
Give: Deron Williams
Get: Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, 2011 first-round pick, 2012 first-round pick
I'm sure Utah's general manager, Kevin O'Connor, was monitoring the 'Carmelo saga' very closely because he had a similar situation on his own roster. The team's point guard, Deron Williams, is a superstar like Carmelo Anthony and had an expiring contract like Carmelo Anthony.
To counteract a frustrating process with Deron and his potential contract drama, O'Connor shipped Williams to New Jersey in exchange for a handful of rising talent. In return for their two-time All-Star, the Jazz received speedy guard Devin Harris, talented big man Derrick Favors, and two first-round draft picks. Not only do Favors and Harris have a great load of value, but the two first-round selections will more than likely end up as lottery picks.
Instead of Williams "holding his team hostage" just as Anthony did, Utah quickly pulled the trigger and grabbed a more than promising package.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Give: Jeff Green, Nenad Kristic, D.J. White, Morris Peterson, future first-round pick
Get: Kendrick Perkins, Nate Robinson, Nazr Mohammed
Congratulations to the Thunder for recognizing and filling a glaring need.
With the acquisitions of centers Kendrick Perkins and Nazr Mohammed, Oklahoma City can finally put some size and toughness on the court. They have filled their major weakness and now look to be one of the top contenders in the West.
I especially love their deal in grabbing Perkins away from Boston in that it gives them a much better chance to compete with the Lakers. Although they gave Los Angeles a fight, Oklahoma City found themselves beaten and abused under the rim. The presence of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum were much too difficult for the Thunder to contain. However, bringing in Perkins, who has had his fair share of battles with the L.A. big men, helps them in a huge way.
New York Knicks
Give (get ready for this one): Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Eddy Curry, Anthony Randolph, 2014 first-round pick, 2012 second-round pick, 2013 second-round pick, $3 million cash
Get: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Corey Brewer, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman
In the NBA's bulkiest trade ever, the New York Knicks finally got their man in Carmelo Anthony. The Brooklyn native and Syracuse Orangeman also got his wish by being shipped to the Big Apple. It seems like everyone in New York is satisfied.
But did the package the Knicks gave up justify the acquisition of Carmelo?
We don't know yet.
However, the trade did solidify the Knicks as a legit contender for the very near future. Sure they gave up some good role players and maybe they could have waited until this summer to sign Anthony. But was Carmelo going to be a free agent for sure.
How do we know he wouldn't have signed an extension with Denver? How do you know if the Nets couldn't have lured him over as a free agent? You don't.
And that's why New York made sure of getting 'Melo by trading for him.
The Knicks also received guard Chauncey Billups in the blockbuster deal and he's certainly nothing to frown upon. He knows how to win, he knows how to lead a team, and he can still play at a high level. He is a much better alternative to Raymond Felton whether he is older or not.
And lastly, the Knicks still have some spending money. In trading away the bulky contract of Eddy Curry and with all the cash that was left over from last summer, the Knicks can possibly look into signing other superstars such as Chris Paul or Dwight Howard.
Houston Rockets
Give: Shane Battier, Ish Smith, Aaron Brooks
Get: Hasheem Thabeet, future first-round pick, Goran Dragic, future first-round pick
Let's face it, Houston has to go under a major rebuilding process. They aren't winning now with this team and they cannot win in the future with this team. And with the possibility of Yao Ming never returning, the Rockets have to look elsewhere for stars.
Although this trade isn't a eye-opener, it shows that the Rockets are ready to start over.
They ship away veteran foward Shane Battier and guard Ish Smith and get a potent talent in former second overall selection Hasheem Thabeet and a promising future first-round pick.
Look at it this way, Houston put themselves in a low-risk, high-reward situation with this trade. Battier will not be useful in the rebuilding stage and I don't think anyone knows who Ish Smith is.
If the 7'3" Thabeet can hone his skills, he and the future draft selection can prove to be very useful for Houston's makeover.
They also added the talented guard Goran Dragic in their deal with Phoenix. Dragic has great ball control and has the ability to change the game when called upon.
Losers
Boston Celtics
Give: Kendrick Perkins, Nate Robinson, Marquis Daniels
Get: Jeff Green, Nenad Kristic, future first-round pick, 2017 second-round pick
In the most shocking deal this season, the Boston Celtics gave up their center Kendrick Perkins. And I will never understand it.
For one, they gave away and continue to lose the only advantage they have over their Eastern Conference foe Miami, size. Why give up your tough-minded big man when you have other centers such as Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal constantly picking up new injuries? Why trade away the guy who's absence supposedly, according to Doc Rivers, caused you to lose in the Finals?
Jeff Green isn't that great of a player and Kristic is tall but doesn't play well in the post. So in essence, they gave up something they shouldn't have and acquired something they don't even need.
GM Danny Ainge may know something that we don't, but if not, the Celtics just took a substantial step in the wrong direction.
San Antonio Spurs
Give: Nothing
Get: Nothing
Raise your hand if you think San Antonio is the favorite to win the West.
If you raised your hand, you're probably a Spurs fan. If not, then you're right.
Despite having the NBA's best record, the San Antonio Spurs still don't seem to have "it". It is difficult to imagine seeing the Spurs beating the Lakers in a seven-game series. They're not big enough and their old age may lead to some injuries down the road.
I'm not saying there will be injuries. That's something one cannot or should not predict. But if that 70 years worth of front court in Duncan and McDyess happens to go down, DeJuan Blair is the only option left. And let's face it, Duncan is a shell of what he used to be and with McDyess' extensive history of knee injuries, he is never a reliable option.
There is no doubt the Spurs are a competitor, but they should have made a minor move to strengthen their line of big men.
Los Angeles Clippers
Give: Baron Davis, 2011 first-round pick
Get: Mo Williams, Jamario Moon
Not really sure what the Clippers are trying to accomplish here.
To put the trade in perspective, break it down into parts. (Baron for Mo and Moon for the pick)
They trade Baron Davis who is just as good, if not better, than Mo Williams.
Then they trade a lottery-projected pick for Jamario Moon. That means you could be trading Kyrie Irving, Jared Sullinger, or Perry Jones for Jamario Moon.
Really?
I don't think I have to go on any longer. It's just another typical move by professional sports' worst franchise.
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