A look at the day's events

Some of these deals have yet to be approved by the league and, as we know from the Tyson Chandler mess nothing’s official until the doctors say so, but here’s a look at the transactions on a mildly eventful NBA trade deadline day:

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Toronto-Sacramento-Boston

Raptors get: Patrick O’Bryant

Kings get: Will Solomon

Celtics get: Cash, conditional second-round pick

What’s it mean: Toronto had too many points guards and not enough bigs so they at least addressed a need deep down the depth chart; Kings get someone they can either waive now or cut at the end of the season with no contractual obligations and the Celtics gave away some salary and got some money back.

Winner: Toronto. And Boston’s bank account.

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Orlando-Houston-Memphis

Magic get: Rafer Alston

Rockets get: Kyle Lowry, Brian Cook.

Grizzlies get:  Adonal Foyle, Mike Wilks, future Orlando first-round pick. 

What’s it mean: Orlando greatly eased the pain of Jameer Nelson’s shoulder injury by picking up the mercurial Alston, who’s been on his best behaviour for months. The Rockets, who did nothing to replace Tracy McGrady, really, have seemingly waved the white flag on the season. If the Grizzlies get anything usuable out of hte guys they got for the buried Lowry, that’s all right.

Winner:  Magic.

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New York-Chicago

Knicks get: Larry Hughes

Bulls get: Tim Thomas, Jerome James, Anthony Roberson

What’s it mean: The Knicks love to score and that’s what Hughes does best but where he fits on the New York roster is going to be interesting to watch. He's a two-guard on a roster without a two-guard, really, and the Knicks don't pass a lot so his lack of passing acumen shouldn't kill them. He's a suspect shooter who likes to; that might hurt. Bulls had no use for Hughes, to whom they owed $13.6 million next year, and they get back players they probably won’t use.

Winner: New York.

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New York-Oklahoma City

Knicks get: Chris Wilcox

Thunder gets: Malik Rose, cash.

What’s it mean: Wilcox is a good floor-running big who should fit well into Mike D’Antoni’s system. He’s like an older, not-as-skilled David Lee. Thunder were looking for front court help, Rose probably isn’t the answer but the cash, whatever it is, will come in handy.

Winner: New York.

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Oklahoma City-Chicago

Thunder gets: Thabo Sefolosha

Bulls get: First-round draft pick

What’s it mean: Sefolosha, a former lottery pick, was a washout with the Bulls, who don’t have room for him to get on the court. Thunder had stockpiled four extra first-round picks so giving one up for someone who might crack the rotation probably a bad idea.

Winner: Jury is out until the pick’s value is determined.

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Minnesota-Sacramento

Timberwolves get: Shelden Williams, Bobby Brown

Kings get: Rashard McCants, Calvin Booth.

What’s it mean: Tough to say, either way. Under-achieving former top picks McCants and Williams have been busts, maybe a change of scenery will spark one of them to show something. Brown? Booth? Next time they have a lasting impact in an NBA season will be the first.

Winner: Safe to say no one.

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Memphis-L.A. Lakers

Grizzlies: Chris Mihm

Lakers get: Conditional second round pick.

What’s it mean: Guy who wasn’t playing in one city probably won’t in another.

Winner: You’re kidding, right?

Comments

[R]

Can Sacramento kill the deal because of Solomon's hand injury? (I keed! I keed!)

[Mike]

Hey Doug

In the Raptors, Celtics, Kings deal who is forking over the cash and the pick to Celtics? how much cash? and what are the conditions on the pick?

Blogger's note: I'm sure it's the same kind of conditions and cash that went with the Hassan Adams deal. Pick will never change hands and Boston gets some money for their trouble.

[Jamie]

Are the Grizzlies the Lakers' D-League team?

[jc]

Hey Doug,
Here's one for the numbers people (feel free to be that guy). Is this the first time a number one pick will be backed up by a top ten pick from his own draft? At least this soon after a draft? Probably won't keep me up at night but do we have a unique pair at the 5?

Blogger's note: Has probably happened somewhere before; honestly, I'm too tired to look right now.
People?

[humpty]

A guy named Alonzo Mourning backed up Shaquille O'Neal in Miami once he had arranged a buyout from a certain team. They were No. 1 and No. 2 in the 1992 draft, and centres to boot. The comparison with the Raptors situation ends there, though.

[Jeff Ross]

Given that we're under the roster maximum of 15 anyway, is there any hint of a downside to exchanging a 30 year-old combo guard for a 22 year-old 7 footer?

[Spider-Man]

Championship.

[Ben]

Why would Sacramento do the Salomen deal??

[jc]

nice find humpty....don't think that can be topped

[Thane]

Where's the benefit to the Kings in this deal? They don't shed salary, and if they waive Solomon as you suggest is possible, then they're not adding anything to their bench.

In essence, they've traded money for nothing? Is there something I'm missing?

[Lazaros]

Wikipedia has an interesting quote by Nellie about our new acquisition.

[Tim W.]

I commented on this in an earlier thread, but, really, this trade is almost meaningless. O'Bryant is a huge bust, but he's 22 with only $500 thousand guaranteed next year,plus he's 7 feet, so it's certainly not a bad deal at all. On a side note, Hoopshype.com is way off on his salary, which they have list as $1.6 million next season when, in fact, it's half that.

I agree with Doug on pretty much all the other deals. In the end, none of them really matter. The one thing I'd add is that Hughes, while he shoots badly and too much, can be a very good defender, which might help the Knicks. That might end up hurting the Raptors playoff chances.

Speaking of the Raptors playoff chances, with Milwuakee not giving up the season and trading away Jefferson, New Jersey not giving away Carter, and Chicago possibly improving, The Raptors playoff chances didn't get any better and perhaps got a little worse.

[Pete]

LOL. Jamie is bang on.

[dave]

Seems like you were right about the excitment on the deadline but my quetion is are you or John @ espn right about the money on the blockbuster Solomon/O'Bryant. Espn has the money coming from Bos to Sac and you have it the other way, no?

Blogger's note: I had it wrong, Sacramento does indeed get the money, likely enough to pay Will's salary.

[Nick M]

I'm not completely positive of the numbers but doesn't this last trade put the Raps over the Luxury Tax limit or did that happen in the JO/Moon trade?

Call me crazy, but does trading for a guy who can't beat out big baby for a playing spot that may have put us over the tax level make sense? Or are we after that elusive potential thing again?

[JJ]

"A guy named Alonzo Mourning backed up Shaquille O'Neal in Miami once he had arranged a buyout from a certain team. They were No. 1 and No. 2 in the 1992 draft, and centres to boot."

Out of boredom, I actually did peruse the draft results and it appears that besides Bargnani/O'Bryant, the 92 draft with Shaq and Zo is perhaps the only other one (I only went back as far as the 87 draft) with such an anomaly, whereby the 1st overall pick is being backed up by a top ten pick of the same year. Of course, it took much longer to come about than the Bargs/O'Bryant thing, but even with so much time passing, it does seem to be the only other legit instance.

Thanks, humpty, for picking up on it so quickly.

The funny thing is that considering that this was the only draft that seems to have it occurring, it sort of occurred twice with that same draft. Laettner was picked 3rd in that draft, and while a natural PF, he was in fact a backup big (49 games off the bench for the Heat) that did occasionally play the C position (he was listed as a F-C with the Heat in 04-05).

A little off the topic, but other interesting coincidences from that 92 draft:

- The top 3 picks of that draft all ended up on the same team together during the last part of the 04-05 season in Miami - Shaq, Zo, Laettner.

- The first 5, and 8 of the top 9 picks from that draft eventually played for the Heat at some point.

[Thay]

Nick M...
Do you really think Colangelo, would pick up a player of OByant's caliber to put us over the cap?
His salary compared to Will is like $100000 more, and we did save money on the JO trade.