NBA trade deadline… just okay

by Michael Hugall

 

Feb. 18 marked the trade-deadline in the National Basketball Association with many big names projected to switch jerseys.

Fans waited in anticipation as their favourite teams began the day with players like Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin on their radar. Players who seemed to be hot commodities on the market. However, teams elected to choose an addition in depth and tertiary scoring as opposed to proven all-stars. Needless to say the 2016 trade-deadline could be the equivalent to missing the second free-throw in a foul shooting situation.

One of the more even moves involved a former Indiana Pacer, Lance Stephenson.

Stephenson was the key piece in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in a transaction that sent small forward Jeff Green to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Stephenson has certainly under preformed since his 2013 campaign averaging just under five points per game in 43 games this season. A far cry from his 13.8 points per-game average in the 2013-2014 season. With the move the Clippers offload a $9 million salary and gain the contract of Jeff Green who is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

To recap this move, here was the most important note from this trade.

These are two players who haven’t been key contributors to their NBA clubs since 2013. Players who seemed to fan out with the only upside being one may have one more year of importance than the other (Stephenson will be a UFA in 2017 as opposed to Green UFA 2016). Both the Grizzlies and Clippers are currently in fourth and fifth in the western Conference so the swap here does not make too much sense from a competitive stand-point.

Aside from the actual deals made on Feb. 18, the day was filled with rumours as-per always. One of the more notable rumours circulated around 11-time all-star Carmelo Anthony. Anthony was among many trade rumours as he is in the midst of the second-year of his 5-yr / $124 million contract with the New York Knicks, however the key “no trade clause” in his contract slipped the minds of many fans as talks with the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Clippers ramped up.

Fortunately for the few Knicks fans left outside of the state of New York, ‘Melo’ is staying put.

To reiterate my point, this year’s NBA trade-deadline was the equivalent to missing the second free-throw on a foul shooting situation.

The only significant transaction came from the Detroit Pistons as they sent guard Brandon Jennings and forward Ersan Ilyasova to the Orlando Magic for former first round pick Tobias Harris.

Harris has been a big factor in Orlando’s offence since his move from the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2012 season.

Harris has averaged just over 15 points per game with the Orlando Magic and has seemed to come into his own as he matures on the NBA stage. In addition, the Pistons now add $36.6 million in salary, however, with Harris you add an established forward in the fold with a back-court that consists of Reggie Jackson, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Marcus Morris.

The Pistons are on the out-side looking in to the NBA playoff-picture at only half a game back on the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Magic receive a small-value in Brandon Jennings who will become an unrestricted free-agent at the end of this season, and Ersan Illyasova who will compete for a starting role with Andrew Nicholson and Aaron Gordon.

With the Eastern Conference in a log-jam and the Western Conference just trying to play catch-up with the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, this deadline was lack-luster at best.

 

 

Below are a list of transactions at the Deadline:

 

Chicago Bulls: Acquired G Justin Holiday from Atlanta and a 2018 second-round draft pick from Utah and sent G Kirk Hinrich to Atlanta.

 

Cleveland Cavaliers: Acquired F Channing Frye from Orlando. Cleveland sent G Jared Cunningham and a future second-round draft pick to Orlando and C Anderson Varejao and 2018 first-round draft pick to Portland.

 

Denver Nuggets: Traded G Randy Foye to Oklahoma City for F Steve Novak, G D.J. Augustin and two future second-round draft picks.

 

Houston Rockets: Traded Fs Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton to Detroit for a protected 2016 first-round pick and F Joel Anthony.

 

Memphis Grizzlies: Traded F Jeff Green to the Los Angeles Clippers for G Lance Stephenson.

 

New Orleans Pelicans: Acquired F Jarnell Stokes and cash from Miami for a future second round draft pick.

 

Phoenix Suns: Traded F Markieff Morris to Washington for a protected 2016 first-round draft pick and Fs Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair.

 

Portland Trailblazers: Acquiring G Brian Roberts and a future second-round pick from Miami for cash considerations. Waived G Tim Frazier.

 

Utah Jazz: Acquired G Shelvin Mack from Atlanta for a future second-round draft pick.

Charlotte Hornets: Acquired G-F Courtney Lee from Memphis for F P.J. Hairston.

 

Detroit Pistons: Traded G Brandon Jennings and F Ersan Ilyasova to Orlando for F Tobias Harris.

 

Memphis Grizzlies: Acquired F Chris Andersen and two second-round draft picks from Miami.