An insanely active NBA trade deadline has come to an end with a flurry of deals being made in the final minutes. Players on the move include Kendrick Perkins, Jeff Green, Gerald Wallace, Aaron Brooks, Shane Battier, and Hasheem Thabeet. One player who was almost traded but the deal was not turned into the league office on time; O.J. Mayo who would have been sent to the Indiana Pacers. Here’s my breakdown of all the happenings.
By: David Kay
Boston Celtics Get: F Jeff Green, C Nenad Kristic, future 1st round pick
Oklahoma City Thunder Get: C Kenrdick Perkins, PG Nate Robinson
Why this makes sense for Boston:
The Celtics were looking to add some depth on the wing and even though he has played power forward since arriving in OKC, Green can play either forward position. He adds some youth to a veteran team and should be a versatile weapon off their bench. Boston has a lot of depth up-front with Shaq, KG, Jermaine O’Neal, and Glen Davis so Perkins, who is an unrestricted free agent after this season, was a bit expendable. Kristic will replace him to keep the frontcourt depth strong.
Why this makes sense for Oklahoma City:
The Thunder have been searching for a legitimate big man for quite some time and Perkins can add some muscle and a defensive presence inside. Perkins has battled injuries the past year which is a bit of a concern for me, but they needed to get some size to become a title contender in the West. Nate Robinson is a throw-in of sorts and should not figure much into the rotation.
Let’s be honest about Jeff Green, he is a restricted free agent this season and if OKC really felt he was the third piece of their Big 3 to compliment Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, GM Sam Presti would have already signed him to an extension. He was an under-sized four man so shipping him for a true center makes a whole lot of sense.
Boston Celtics Get: 2nd round pick
Cleveland Cavaliers Get: C Semih Erden, PF Luke Harangody
Why this makes sense for Boston:
They trim some salary and have six quality fours or fives already on the roster.
Why this makes sense for Cleveland:
I mean why not… maybe one or both of these guys can be role players on the worst team in the league. And for a second round pick? Sure.
Oklahoma City Thunder Get: C Nazr Mohammed
Charlotte Bobcats Get: SG Morris Peterson, PF D.J. White
Why this makes sense for Oklahoma City:
They gave up two guys who did not crack their rotation for another big man who will help them compete with the Spurs and Lakers in the West without hurting their long-term salary cap plans since Mohammed is in the final year of his deal. You now pair Serge Ibaka and Perkins with Mohammed and Nick Collison coming off the bench and OKC has definitely up-graded their frontcourt.
Why this makes sense for Charlotte:
I don’t know. Peterson is a free agent and won’t be part of their long-term plans and White is under contract for one more season but nothing more than a maybe role player off the bench. Mohammed is a free agent after the season so it is doubtful that he was going to be returning to Charlotte. You think they would have been able to at least get a second round pick for giving OKC a solid back-up big man.
Portland Blazers Get: SF Gerald Wallace
Charlotte Bobcats Get: C Joel Przybilla, F Dante Cunningham, two 1st round picks
Why this makes sense for Portland:
Wallace is a very good NBA player due to his athleticism, versatility, and ability to defend, but I am not sure Portland is the perfect match for him. The Blazers already have Brandon Roy, Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews, and Rudy Fernandez on the wing (yes, I know Roy’s knees are a major issue) so Wallace might end up playing a lot of four in Portland which is definitely out of position. A line-up of Andre Miller, Matthews/Roy, Batum, Wallace, and LeMarcus Aldridge could turn into a run-and-gun offense which would be a lot of fun. And considering all Portland really gave up was a pair of likely mid-first round picks, it was worth the roll of the dice.
Why this makes sense for Charlotte:
It was no secret that MJ was shopping Wallace in hopes of shedding some salary and adding future draft picks, and that is exactly what he did with this deal. Przybilla and Cunningham are both free agents after this season which frees more cap space for the Bobcats’ re-building project. It will be some re-building project as Charlotte could be really, really bad for a couple years.
Phoenix Suns Get: PG Aaron Brooks
Houston Rockets Get: PG Goran Dragic, 1st Round Pick (lottery protected)
Why this makes sense for Phoenix:
Steve Nash is not getting any younger and since the Suns do not figure to be contenders in the next year or two, he could become expendable this off-season even though Suns management has insisted that they will not trade their star point guard and Nash apparently wants to be in Phoenix. Brooks gives them an heir apparent to Nash when the time does come even though he will be a restricted free agent. Brooks should also fit well into the Suns style of play.
Why this makes sense for Houston:
Despite being the NBA’s Most Improved Player last season, Brooks fell out of favor in Houston this season with Kyle Lowry becoming the starting point guard. Brooks was unhappy that he did not get a contract extension and has been in the Rockets’ doghouse for most of this season. Dragic will give Houston a temporary back-up for Lowry while the first round pick will add to the mini re-building project the Rockets will undergo this off-season.
Houston Rockets Get: C Hasheem Thabeet, 1st round pick
Memphis Grizzlies Get: F Shane Battier, PG Ishmael Smith
Why this makes sense for Houston:
The Rockets likely are not making the playoffs this season so trading a soon-to-be free agent for a young 7-3 center and a first round pick is looking towards the future. Thabeet has a long way to go in terms of being a solid NBA center, but with Yao Ming a free agent and with his basketball future in jeopardy due to chronic foot injuries, Houston is obviously rolling the dice that Thabeet can help fill the void for size assuming Yao is not back next season. Adding another first round pick in addition to the Suns first round continues to build for the future and give Daryl Morey more trade assets.
Why this makes sense for Memphis:
The Griz realized that Thabeet was even more of a project than they imagined when they took him with the second overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Battier returns to the Grizzlies franchise and brings his experience, shooting, and defensive ability to a team that is competing for a playoff spot this season but will be without starting small forward Rudy Gay for the next few weeks due to a shoulder injury. Battier is a free agent this summer so this deal could save Memphis some cap space after the season if his services are not retained.
CHECK OUT MY OTHER NBA TRADE DEADLINE BREAKDOWNS:
Carmelo to Knicks
Deron Williams to Nets
Baron Davis to Cavs
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and former contributor for The Washington Times Communities. You can follow him on Twitter at DavidKay_TSB.
By: David Kay
Celtics Get: F Jeff Green, C Nenad Kristic
Thunder Get: C Kenrdick Perkins, PG Nate Robinson
Why this makes sense for Boston:
The Celtics were looking to add some depth on the wing and even though he has played power forward since arriving in OKC, Green can play either forward position. He adds some youth to a veteran team and should be a versatile weapon off their bench. Boston has a lot of depth up-front with Shaq, KG, Jermaine O’Neal, and Glen Davis so Perkins, who is an unrestricted free agent after this season, was a bit expendable. Kristic will replace him to keep the frontcourt depth strong.
Why this makes sense for Oklahoma City:
The Thunder have been searching for a legitimate big man for quite some time and Perkins can add some muscle and a defensive presence inside. Perkins has battled injuries the past year which is a bit of a concern for me, but they needed to get some size to become a title contender in the West. Nate Robinson is a throw-in of sorts and should not figure much into the rotation.
Let’s be honest about Jeff Green, he is a restricted free agent this season and if OKC really felt he was the third piece of their Big 3 to compliment Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, GM Sam Presti would have already signed him to an extension. He was an under-sized four man so shipping him for a true center makes a whole lot of sense.
Celtics Get: 2nd round pick
Thunder Get: C Semih Erden, PF Luke Harangody
Why this makes sense for Boston:
They trim some salary and have six quality fours or fives already on the roster.
Why this makes sense for Cleveland:
I mean why not… maybe one or both of these guys can be role players on the worst team in the league. And for a second round pick? Sure.
Oklahoma City Thunder Get: C Nazr Mohammed
Charlotte Bobcats Get: SG Morris Peterson, PF D.J. White
Why this makes sense for Oklahoma City:
They gave up two guys who did not crack their rotation for another big man who will help them compete with the Spurs and Lakers in the West without hurting their long-term salary cap plans since Mohammed is in the final year of his deal. You now pair Serge Ibaka and Perkins with Mohammed and Nick Collison coming off the bench and OKC has definitely up-graded their frontcourt.
Why this makes sense for Charlotte:
I don’t know. Peterson is a free agent and won’t be part of their long-term plans and White is under contract for one more season but nothing more than a maybe role player off the bench. Mohammed is a free agent after the season so it is doubtful that he was going to be returning to Charlotte. You think they would have been able to at least get a second round pick for giving OKC a solid back-up big man.
Blazers Get: SF Gerald Wallace
Bobcats Get: C Joel Przybilla, F Dante Cunningham, two 1st round picks
Why this makes sense for Portland:
Wallace is a very good NBA player due to his athleticism, versatility, and ability to defend, but I am not sure Portland is the perfect match for him. The Blazers already have Brandon Roy, Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews, and Rudy Fernandez on the wing (yes, I know Roy’s knees are a major issue) so Wallace might end up playing a lot of four in Portland which is definitely out of position. A line-up of Andre Miller, Matthews/Roy, Batum, Wallace, and LeMarcus Aldridge could turn into a run-and-gun offense which would be a lot of fun. And considering all Portland really gave up was a pair of likely mid-first round picks, it was worth the roll of the dice.
Why this makes sense for Charlotte:
It was no secret that MJ was shopping Wallace in hopes of shedding some salary and adding future draft picks, and that is exactly what he did with this deal. Przybilla and Cunningham are both free agents after this season which frees more cap space for the Bobcats’ re-building project. It will be some re-building project as Charlotte could be really, really bad for a couple years.
Phoenix Suns Get: PG Aaron Brooks
Houston Rockets Get: PG Goran Dragic, 1st Round Pick
Why this makes sense for Phoenix:
Steve Nash is not getting any younger and since the Suns do not figure to be contenders in the next year or two, he could become expendable this off-season even though Suns management has insisted that they will not trade their star point guard and Nash apparently wants to be in Phoenix. Brooks gives them an heir apparent to Nash when the time does come even though he will be a restricted free agent. Brooks should also fit well into the Suns style of play.
Why this makes sense for Houston:
Despite being the NBA’s Most Improved Player last season, Brooks fell out of favor in Houston this season with Kyle Lowry becoming the starting point guard. Brooks was unhappy that he did not get a contract extension and has been in the Rockets’ doghouse for most of this season. Dragic will give Houston a temporary back-up for Lowry while the first round pick will add to the mini re-building project the Rockets will undergo this off-season.
Houston Get: C Hasheem Thabeet, 1st round pick
Grizzlies Get: F Shane Battier
Why this makes sense for Houston:
The Rockets likely are not making the playoffs this season so trading a soon-to-be free agent for a young 7-3 center and a first round pick is looking towards the future. Thabeet has a long way to go in terms of being a solid NBA center, but with Yao Ming a free agent and with his basketball future in jeopardy due to chronic foot injuries, Houston is obviously rolling the dice that Thabeet can help fill the void for size assuming Yao is not back next season. Adding another first round pick in addition to the Suns first round continues to build for the future and give Daryl Morey more trade assets.
Why this makes sense for Memphis:
The Griz realized that Thabeet was even more of a project than they imagined when they took him with the second overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Battier returns to the Grizzlies franchise and brings his experience, shooting, and defensive ability to a team that is competing for a playoff spot this season but will be without starting small forward Rudy Gay for the next few weeks due to a shoulder injury. Battier is a free agent this summer so this deal could save Memphis some cap space after the season if his services are not retained.