The NBA trade deadline illuminates the contenders
Midway through the NBA season, teams struggle to assert themselves as title contenders. The top trades in the Association left some teams feeling like winners and some feeling even more lost.
Eastern Conference
Winner: Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs significantly improved the depth and talent in their frontcourt with the addition of Antawn Jamison. Cleveland hoped to aquire Amaríe Stoudemire from the Phoenix Suns, but Jamison will prove to be just as successful as a complement to LeBron James.
Jamison allows the Cavs to put yet another scoring threat on the court with James, drawing more defensive attention and freeing up role players such as Mo Williams, Anderson Varejao and Delonte West to see a more active offensive role. The small line up that the Cavs present with Varejao, West, Williams, Jamison and James will be utterly destructive against the older Boston Celtics and the less athletic Orlando Magic.
While the Cavs were forced to give up Zydrunas Ilgauskas in acquiring Jamison, but Cleveland improved at the power forward position and gave up nearly nothing in return.
Loser: Washington Wizards
The Wizards cleaned house, sending five players elsewhere in return for expiring contracts and Josh Howard. It only got worse for Washington when Monday night, Howard tore his anterior crucia ligament in his left knee.
By shipping off almost all of their players of substance and having Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittendon suspended by the league for a locker room showdown, the Wizards were left with a roster of depleted talent. The Howard injury and the fact that Ilgauskas and Mike James are seeking to be bought out of their contracts have left the Wizards with only 10 active players on their roster.
At this point tickets to the teamís remaining home games could not be given away, unless the Dallas Mavericks and former Wizards Brendan Haywood and Caron Butler came to the nationís capital.
Minor Upgrade: Boston Celtics
The Celtics felt the need to make a move at the trade deadline in hopes of aquiring a back-up point guard to lessen the burden on emerging star Rajon Rondo. For a while veteran leader Ray Allen was said to be a player on his way out of Boston, but ultimately all-purpose guard Eddie House was sent to the New York Knicks in return for three-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion, Nate Robinson. The Celtics looked to create a spark offensively with the addition of Robinson, but sacrificed defense and chemistry in dealing House.
Ultimately, this trade will not be significant enough to push the Celtics back into title contention in the East.
Western Conference
Winner: Dallas Mavericks
Brendan Haywood and Caron Butler, who were added to an already talented Dallas team from the Wizards, may prove to be the two most important players in the Mavericksí playoff push in the West.
Haywood improves the Dallas defense which lacked depth and consistency at the center position. Butler is a solid secondary scoring threat behind Dirk Nowitzki and an upgrade at the small forward position over Josh Howard.
The Mavs started undefeated (4-0) since adding Butler and Haywood. The improvement in the frontcourt will help Dallas become serious contenders in the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets.
Loser: Los Angeles Clippers
The addition of small forward Travis Outlaw and guard Steve Blake from the Portland Trailblazers makes almost no sense for the Clippers who are struggling to find success in the highly competitive Pacific division.
The solid core of Chris Kaman, Baron Davis and Corey Maggette is almost enough to keep the Clippers hopes alive in the playoff hunt, but sending defensive veteran Marcus Camby to the Blazers restricts the team defensively and makes Portland more of a contender.
The Clippers, who share the Staples Center with the Lakers, got worse defensively in losing Camby and added only supplemental players in the mediocre Blake and unproven Outlaw.
Promising Future: Houston Rockets
The Rockets are in a position to be considered a trade winner, but the lack of focus on immediate improvement leaves them in the questionable category.
In being able to get rid of Tracy McGrady and his enormous contract the Rockets are in good position looking to the future.
In a three-team deal Houston was able to steal young talent from the Sacramento Kings, adding Kevin Martin to a developing squad. Martin has shown the potential to be an elite scoring threat, and the Rockets hope he develops into the backcourt complement of Aaron Brooks going forward.
The team was forced to give up Carl Landry in the deal, but they are hopeful the upside of Martin outweighs the loss of Landry, a solid young forward who ended up in Sacramento.
The moves made by teams on the verge of postseason success will prove to have a lasting impact in the remainder of the season. While Wizard and Clippers fans will mourn their losses, Cleveland emerges as the team to beat in the East and Dallas will shake up the power rankings out West.