NBA Trade Deadline

With the NBA trade deadline officially over, this year will go down as one of the more interesting and exciting deadlines in recent memory.  The biggest news coming out of the NBA today is the trade between the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns that sent veteran guard Goran Dragic and his brother Zoran to the Miami Heat for for 2 first round draft picks. Phoenix also gets swingman Danny Granger and the New Orleans Pelicans acquired point guard Norris Cole, forward Shawn Williams and center Justin Hamilton.  Although Dragic is a free agent at the end of this season, he immediately makes the Miami Heat a contender in a weak Eastern Conference.  Needless to say I hope we can see a Cleveland, Miami match up in the playoffs this year. 

 Next, we stay in Phoenix as the Suns also traded point guard Isiah Thomas to the Boston Celtics.  Boston gets Thomas for Marcus Thornton and a first round pick in 2016 from Cleveland.  The Celtics also sent NBA veteran Tayshaun Prince back to Detroit.  Prince spent the best years of his career in Detroit and won an NBA Title in 2005.  The Pistons weren’t done dealing there, the Oklahoma City Thunder sent Reggie Jackson to the Pistons in a three team deal that would see the Thunder acquiring Utah center Enes Kanter, forward Steve Novak as well as Kyle Singler and D.J. Augustin. Kevin Durant and D.J. Augustin were teammates in 2007 and it will be interesting to see how they play together again a few years older. In return the Utah Jazz acquire center Kendrick Perkins who is rumored to be bought out and then pursued by the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers. 

 In what might be the most surprising news of the day the Philadelphia 76ers completed a three team trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns that sends former rookie of the year Michael Carter-Williams, Miles Plumlee and Tyler Ennis to the Milwaukee Bucks.  The Suns get Brandon Marshall and Kendall Knight whereas the 76ers, who seemed to give up a lot in MCW only get a draft pick in return.

 In the Western Conference, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired hardened shooting guard Aaron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee from the Denver Nuggets in a five player trade.  Denver recieved Thomas Robinson, Will Barton and Victor Claver as well as a first round draft pick in 2016.  Finally, in our feel good story of the day, veteran power forward Kevin Garnett will return to his roots in Minnesota.  Garnett, who jumped to the NBA right out of high school and spent his first 12 seasons with the Timberwolves dropped his no trade clause with the Brooklyn Nets and will likely finish his career in the city where it all began.  The Brooklyn Nets add Thaddeus Young to a roster that has been plagued by injuries and lack of team chemistry.  What marked one of the busiest days in NBA history saw more than 30 players change teams with moves that made sense and some that don’t (I’m looking at you Philidelphia).  Check back soon for an update on the NBA and how things seem to be shaping up for the playoffs.

-Derick Riggs