Nets receive SG Marcus Thornton
Kings receive SG Jason Terry and PF Reggie Evans
The Nets continue to show a willingness to take on money in an attempt to become a relevant playoff team during their ever-so-brief window of "contention" before Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett retire. Both Thornton and Terry have been equally bad this season, putting truly awful TS% while providing nothing on defense. Still, Thornton represents an upgrade for the Nets for the simple reason that he is 9 years younger and has a better chance at bouncing back to being at least a league average bench scorer. For the Kings, the deal saves them some money while clearing playing time for Ben McLemore, who should have been playing over Thornton in the first place. Thornton's playing style and contract is a remnant of the old Kings and doesn't fit with their new image. As for Terry and Evans, both are potential buyout candidates this year or next and (hopefully) won't be seeing much on court action for Sacramento.
Warriors receive PG Steve Blake
Lakers receive G Kent Bazemore and SG MarShon Brooks
The Warriors haven't lived up to the hype so far this season and oddly enough, their offense is the biggest issue: defensively they are top 5, but outside the top 10 on offense. Part of the reason for the struggles is their bench, which has been terrible, especially their backup point guard spot. Toney Douglas, Bazemore, and Jordan Crawford have all been given a chance and haven't been successful. Blake is a instant upgrade, though there are flaws, he can play both guard spots, shoots the ball well, run an offense, and play passable defense. He isn't a perpetrator and struggles inside the arc, but again, it's more who is replacing that makes the difference and as an expiring deal, the risk is minimal. The Lakers weren't likely to bring Blake back, and save money this year by trading him. Brooks is all offense and Bazemore is all defense, both could find some success playing for Mike d'Antoni towards the end of the season, however neither are part of the teams long team plans and this deals was all about saving money.
Cavaliers receive C Spencer Hawes
Sixers receive C Henry Sims, F Earl Clark and two 2nd round picks
Well at least you can't say they didn't try. The Cavaliers, despite having a 5.2 percent chance to make the playoffs*, are going hard to earn the right to be swept by the Pacers or the Heat. Hawes is a definite upgrade for their offense, shooting 39.9% from 3-point range and should help to space the floor for Kyrie Irving and work well in pick-and-pop. Defensively, Hawes is about average, probably an upgrade over Tyler Zeller but not as good Anderson Varejao on that end. Hawes is a free agent, but it's hard to imagine they would trade for him just to let him walk after 27 games; committing long-term money to Hawes would only compound the issues in Cleveland. Hawes makes Cleveland better this season, but in the long run could be hurting them. Look at it this way: if the season ended today, Cleveland would have the 9th best chance to win the lottery and would very likely have a top-10 pick in an excellent draft, if they make the playoffs that drops them down to 15th, significantly lower their odds of getting a impact player and becoming more than just cannon-fodder for the top teams in the East playoffs. That doesn't even mention the second round picks, which provide a chance, however slight, to find a very cheap, impact talent. Some of the best contracts in the NBA are second round picks.
In Philadelphia, this trade is about making their team worse in the short term, while also pick up some second round picks to look for impact players on cheap contracts. Neither Sims nor Clark are guaranteed beyond this year and Clark has already been waived, with Sims possibly to follow during the summer. The Sixers are gunning for the top pick in the draft, and planning to pair that pick with the Pelicans lottery pick, Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel, and Thad Young and you've got a very young, very talented core of players. Who knows if it will all work out, but the Sixers are giving themselves the best chance to turn their franchise around.
*Via John Hollinger's Playoff Odds
Heat receive a highly protected 2nd round pick
Kings receive G Roger Mason and cash
The point of this deal is to create a roster spot for any potential buyout candidates or waived veterans to boost the Heats bench for a playoff run. The pick is so heavily protected that it will likely never get conveyed and the money is simply that, money.
Wizards receive PG Andre Miller and a highly protected 2nd round pick
Sixers receives PG Eric Maynor and two 2nd round picks
Nuggets receives Jan Vesely
The Wizards are usually criticized for their moves, but this one was actually very shrewd for what it was. Not to be overlooked is the fact that Vesely (the #6 pick) was a big time bust and Eric Maynor (the team's big free agent signing this summer) was terrible, so Ernie Grunfeld shouldn't be congratulated too much for cleaning up his own mess yet again. However, they did well to address their weakest spot, backup guard, with a seasoned, experienced veteran who can at least help keep the offense afloat when John Wall goes to the bench. Washington gave up very little, the aforementioned Maynor and the Pelicans second round pick they got in the Emeka Okafor trade. The pick they are getting back in return is likely top-55
The Nuggets gave up Memphis' second rounder and Miller, who had clashed with Brian Shaw and wasn't in the rotation anymore, to get Vesely, who will at least have a chance to live up to his potential in Denver's uptempo offense. Vesely has been mostly terrible but for the price of a mid-second round pick and a player rotting on the end of the bench, it is a least a chance worth taking.
The Sixers are apparently want to have the entire second round to themselves, it is a good plan because second round picks are cheap and non-guaranteed, so if you find an impact player there they become very valuable, but there is also no risk. The more second rounders you have, the more you are increasing the amount of opportunities you have to find one of those gems.
Bobcats receive G Gary Neal and PG Luke Ridnour
Bucks receive PG Ramon Sessions and PF Jeff Adrien
The Bobcats, like the Cavaliers, are going for it trying to get in the playoffs, they are currently positions in the number 8 slot and have an 82% chance of making the playoffs* and are only a couple of games in the loss column out of the 6th seed, which would give them a chance to win a round in the playoffs by missing Indiana and Miami in the first round. This deal should help them reach that goal, Neal and Ridnour should shore up the backcourt depth, giving them a shooter in Neal and a steady ball handler with Ridnour. It is questionable whether making the playoffs is the best thing for Charlotte's long term future, but since they're already likely to make the playoffs, they might as well make the most of it. Also, the Bobcats didn't give up any real assets or take on any big contracts, so this deal doesn't hurt them too much in any respect.
The Bucks, owners of the league's worst record, save themselves some money with this deal in the short team, as well as shedding Neal's salary next year. Sessions could get bought out and Adrien is just an end of the bench guy without a guaranteed deal. It is disappointing that they couldn't get a pick, but at least they saved some money and got worse in a tanking effort.
Rockets receive Jordan Hamilton
Nuggets receive Aaron Brooks
With Andre Miller in the doghouse, then traded, and Ty Lawson injured, the Nuggets were in desperate need for help at point guard, so this deal makes sense in that respect. However, their choice of point guard leaves a lot to be desired, Brooks hasn't posted a PER above league average since 2010 and is terrible on defense. If they hadn't given up a ton to get him, it wouldn't matter but Jordan Hamilton is a young wing with a lot of potential on both ends of the court, you'd think they would be able to get more for him than Brooks.
For the Rockets, Brooks was the fifth guard when everyone was healthy and not providing much. Hamilton is another wing to add into their mix, he has the size to play either forward spot and is a .357 career 3-point shooter, something the Rockets covet. This trade probably won't move the needle much for either team, but if Hamilton turns into anything, the Nuggets may look back at this in regret.
Pacers receive G/F Evan Turner and F/C Lavoy Allen
Sixers receive SF Danny Granger, a second round pick
The biggest names moved at the deadline ended up coming towards the tail end of the day after many had assumed the day was over. All involved here are free agents so this is a straight swap of talent. At his peak, Granger was one of the best players in the league, but injuries have really taken their toll and at least for this year he has been a below replacement level player. Apparently the Pacers agreed and believe that they have a better chance of winning with Turner, who is having his best season, albeit on one of the worst teams in the league. Turner is not a good 3-point shooter and has actually regressed in that area this year; instead his strength is creating off the dribble and making plays for himself and others. The Pacers are hoping that he can sustain their bench offense, a task I am not sure he is up to. Turner makes them better, the question is how much? With Lance Stephenson needing a new contract soon, along with Paul George, and Roy Hibbert, the Pacers aren't likely to re-sign Turner, so this is a straight rental. I wouldn't sleep on Allen either, despite the fact that he is just flotsam to make the deal work, he is a decent defender and mid-range shooter, a nice depth piece.
The Sixers get Golden State's 2015 second round pick and Granger, who may never suit up for them. They can either buy him out or wait until the offseason in an attempt to sign-and-trade him for some kind of asset. The former option is the most interesting for right now because Granger could latch on to a contender and swing a playoff series if he get healthy and right. Buying him out would also save the Sixers some money in the short term, which is likely why they would do it.
Spurs receive Austin Daye
Raptors receive Nando de Colo
This may just seem like a swap of bench warmers, but both de Colo and Daye have some intriguing upside and could help their teams down the stretch. Daye is a perpetual tease, flashing shooting ability and guard skills at 6-11, yet never becoming a efficient scorer or a good defender, despite solid shot blocking numbers. If any team can figure out how to use him, it's the Spurs. I wouldn't hold my breath but anything is possible.
de Colo fell out of favor in San Antonio with Patty Mills and Cory Joseph taking his minutes, he can play both guard spots and doesn't do anything flashy but is solid all around. Depth is important in the playoffs and the Raptors, believe it or not is staring down the barrel of the number 3 seed.
Hawks receive Antwan Jamison
Clippers receive the draft rights to Cenk Akyol
This trade is simply a way for the Clippers to save a little money and give the Hawks a depth piece to help with their injury ravaged team. Akyol isn't a prospect anymore, his draft rights are basically a way for the Clippers to give Jamison away for free.
Sixers receive Byron Mullens and a 2nd round pick
Clippers receive a conditional 2nd round pick
If you couldn't tell the Sixers were tanking before, trading for Byron Mullens seals it. There is no better way to lose games than throwing Mullens out there to jack 3s. The pick they receive is the more valuable piece, the price for taking on Mullens and his salary. The pick they are sending back is highly protected and likely will never be conveyed. This deal, along with the Antwan Jamison deal create roster space for any buyout or waived players they could add to their roster for the playoff run. I would expect them to go after a big man especially, even the newly bought out Glen Davis.
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