Detroit Pistons: Joe Dumars Wise to Pass on NBA Trade Deadline Deals
If you have read any of my articles, you will know that I am not the biggest fan of Detroit Pistons team president Joe Dumars.
Loved him as a player, loved him in his first five years as team president, and I will always love him for delivering three titles.
But I am an outspoken critic of his performance since the team’s championship in 2004. So when I say that Dumars is doing a good job lately, you can really believe me.
The Detroit Pistons stood pat at the trade deadline this year, and it appears to be a fairly wise step.
However, this isn’t to say that the team wasn’t actively shopping. According to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press, the Pistons were in talks to acquire Chris Kaman, Carl Landry and JaVale McGee. In his article, Ellis wrote that Detroit offered one of their big contracts (Ben Gordon or Charlie Villanueva, he didn’t know which) and a future protected first-round pick for Kaman.
This would have been a good move for Detroit to free up space as Kaman is a free agent after this year (although he probably could be talked into re-signing given his Michigan roots).
However, the New Orleans Hornets showed yet again how poorly they are run by proposing a counter offer of Landry (who is a free agent after this year) for Jason Maxiell and this year’s first-round pick.
Dumars gets credit for the first offer, but he doesn’t get credit for rejecting the counter offer. Only someone on a serious crack bender would even consider this move, and I’m not sure even the crackhead would have said yes.
Maxiell can opt out of his deal after this year, so basically it would have been a case of swapping expiring deals and giving them a lottery pick in a very deep draft.
No thanks.
I also am glad that the Pistons didn’t get McGee, although it looks like Washington wanted Greg Monroe, and, again, Dumars is not on drugs.
The only other player that was widely discussed was Austin Daye, but apparently the Pistons didn’t get the right offer for him. Personally, I think that Detroit needs to just cut bait with Daye and get whatever they can get for him; but if he isn’t causing trouble, he is cheap enough that he can just ride the pine until the season is over.
At the very least, he could figure into a larger deal down the line, but he certainly isn’t a part of the Pistons’ future plans right now.
Overall, it appears that this year was a seller’s market, and Dumars was wise to sit this one out.
The Pistons really gain nothing from getting someone like Kaman right now. Sure, they will win a few more games, but by winning more games this team pushes itself further down in the lottery, and Detroit needs a high pick in this year’s NBA draft.
Dumars needs to get some credit for the job he has done recently. The drafting of Monroe was inspired, and has panned out like nobody could have dreamed.
Jonas Jerebko also is a good pick, and it appears that Brandon Knight might have a bright future as well.
Additionally, Dumars was wise to hold onto Rodney Stuckey when all of the media (myself included) was calling for him to deal the guard. And the hiring of Lawrence Frank appears to be a good one as well, as Frank is doing a great job of getting the team to improve.
Now does this unmake the disastrous moves of the less recent history? Of course not.
But it does give me hope that Dumars is getting back to his roots, and is remaking this team the right way.
That really is all any of us can hope for.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
NBA Trade Deadline: Warriors Would Be Foolish To Give Up on Stephen Curry
The Golden State Warriors would have traded guards Monta Ellis or Stephen Curry to acquire a defensive center like Andrew Bogut, but the team cannot be impatient with Curry because he has too much potential to part with this early in his development.
Team owner Joe Lacob recently said that trading Curry or Ellis to move the franchise forward was an option at the deadline.
I’m getting chills talking about (Ellis) right now. He’s one of my favorite players in the NBA. Anyone who thinks otherwise is crazy. I feel very strongly about him. It was incredibly difficult to trade him, but he’s the piece it had to be to get Andrew Bogut. We would have traded either (Curry or Ellis) to take the next step for this franchise.
Matt Moore of NBC Sports gave his own take on Lacob’s comments, saying:
Lacob’s comments are a pretty clear indication that the Warriors are not sold long-term right now on Curry’s position in terms of being a franchise player.
Curry can be a franchise player, but he’s not there yet. It takes time for young players to develop into legitimate stars. Not everyone comes into the NBA and dominates right away like Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls.
The Warriors must be patient with Curry and allow him to grow physically and develop his talent to the height of his potential.
Curry is an excellent outside shooter, rarely takes a bad shot and is a tremendous foul shooter. After averaging 17.5 points per game as a rookie, Curry raised his average to 18.6 last season. Injuries this season have prevented Curry from taking his stats to another level, but there is no reason to believe he won’t keep improving.
By trading Ellis to acquire Bogut from the Milwaukee Bucks at the trade deadline, the Warriors now hope that Curry can become a top-tier point guard and lead the franchise back to the playoffs.
The young guard from Davidson is capable of bring the Warriors to the postseason, but it’s not a process that will happen overnight.
The team still doesn’t have the pieces around Curry to be able to compete for a playoff spot in a very competitive Western Conference. The team still needs more defensive-minded players, as well as some more depth in the frontcourt.
Curry will be a star for a long time, and the Warriors would be foolish to part ways with him before they see how good he can become.
Nicholas Goss is an NBA Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report, follow him on Twitter @NicholasGoss35
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
NBA Trade Deadline: Boston Celtics Will Regret Not Acquiring Front Court Help
The Boston Celtics will wish they had been more aggressive leading up to the NBA trade deadline this past Thursday. They failed to acquire front court help and now look poised for a first-round playoff exit.
With Jermaine O’Neal out since Feb. 20 with a left wrist injury, the C’s had every reason to acquire size and toughness regardless of the cost. The Lakers were not willing to part ways with forward Pau Gasol for what Boston was offering, so now the Celtics enter the final playoff push undermanned in the paint.
Missed Opportunity
New Orleans Hornets big man Chris Kaman was rumored to be on the block for months and remains on the Hornets roster after the deadline has passed, meaning the Celtics only hope of landing him before the playoffs potentially is if he were to be bought out of his contract, which looks unlikely right now.
Making matters worse, Celtics big man Chris Wilcox will not return to the Boston lineup anytime soon. Wilcox has been ruled out for the season because of having to undergo aortic surgery; meanwhile, O’Neal is not expected to return this season according to head coach Doc Rivers.
The Impact
Boston is already the worst rebounding team in the league this season, averaging just over 38 rebounds per game. With Wilcox and O’Neal out, the C’s have lost two of their better rebounders, and nearly 10 RPG combined from the two players.
The pressure will continue to fall on the shoulders of 35-year-old Kevin Garnett (he’ll be 36 in May), who leads Boston with 8.2 rebounds per night.
The amount of focus Garnett will have to pay to the defensive side of the ball, anchoring Boston’s defense and making sure to post close to double-digit rebound numbers night in and night out will surely take away from his offense.
Playoffs and Beyond
On the bright side of things, the Celtics have won eight of 11 games since the All-Star break, and seem primed for the postseason. They are somewhat comfortably above .500 at 23-20, and have a solid lead over the next team in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
The concern will be the front court moving forward though; it has to be. Rajon Rondo will keep the guard play at a high level, and the Celtics are among the best teams in the NBA in teamwork (third in assists per game) and defense (third in points allowed).
The x-factor for Boston will be on the boards, where they struggle mightily this season. Their lack of activity at the trade deadline will haunt them as the playoffs near, though; that cannot be denied. As an aging team that must go through Miami and Chicago, their chances of success are slim.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
NBA Trade News: Pros and Cons for the Wizards After the Trade Deadline
For three and a half years, Javale McGee has been the epitome of the Washington Wizards‘ roster: an entertaining player that would be much better suited playing streetball.
Playing alongside John Wall (fun to watch but has little to no idea of how to operate a team), Nick Young (a top-ten chucker in the league), and Jordan Crawford (Jamal Crawford 2.0), Javale McGee found himself only as another valve of entertainment for the Wizards. This would explain why it came as a surprise to most fans across the nation when McGee was traded to the Nuggets for Nene, one of the most skilled big men in the league.
While McGee finds himself as a human highlight reel, Nene’s style of play is a polar opposite. Rarely will you find Nene on SportsCenter’s top plays, but you will most definitely find him on almost every coach’s wish list. With an array of post moves and vision unparalleled to any other big man in the league, Nene is an enhancement for any team that’s lucky enough to have him.
As for Nick Young, I think I speak on behalf of all Wizards fans when I say: Thanks for nothing man. If you’re averaging 17 points and your team is still 21 games back from the playoffs, I simply don’t want you. Not only that, but when you take 17 shots a night and only manage to get 17 points, you should leave. Just to put that in perspective: Dwyane Wade takes 17 shots a night.
While the era of Nick Young comes to an end (yes!!), Nene steps into the spotlight. So.. good trade right? Not exactly.
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Rockets happy with deadline acquisitions
HOUSTON — On the Toyota Center practice court several Rockets lauded former Lakers guard Derek Fisher, appearing genuinely enthusiastic in anticipation of what Fisher could supply their generally youthful roster.
In the bowels of Toyota Center Rockets general manager Daryl Morey opted not to call Fisher by name, practically confirming speculation that the franchise and Fisher were negotiating terms on a contract buyout and ostensibly guaranteeing that Fisher won’t suit up for the Rockets.
The aftermath of the Rockets’ trade-deadline acquisitions offered as much intrigue as the acquisitions themselves. Having on Thursday jettisoned three of the four 2009 lottery draft picks acquired by Morey, the Rockets waived the fourth — swingman Terrence Williams — Friday.
Even with the addition of veteran center Marcus Camby, the Rockets’ net loss of personnel was three as they boarded their charter for Los Angeles, where the Rockets (24-20) will play the Clippers (24-18) on Saturday.
Camby took his physical on Friday morning and was scheduled to travel with the team. However, his status against the Clippers is unknown. Add that uncertainty to that of shooting guard Kevin Martin (strained right shoulder), and the Rockets could feature just nine healthy bodies, including little-used rookies Marcus Morris and Greg Smith, Saturday.
“We’re constantly evaluating as folks here know,” Morey said in reference to the roster deficits. “We’re almost always at 15 (players on the roster) and that’s because we’re always trying to maximize, whether it’s looking at a young player or shoring up depth or things like that. So I would be surprised if we didn’t bring in some folks, but I don’t have any names right now to talk about.”
Without Fisher and Jonny Flynn, who the Rockets shipped to Portland in exchange for Camby, the Rockets are in the market for a point guard to relieve Goran Dragic, at least until Kyle Lowry returns from his bacterial infection. There were published reports that the Rockets have interest in veteran guard Anthony Carter, who the Raptors released this week, but Morey declined comment when specifically queried about Carter.
Morey gleefully addressed Camby by name. He’s an elite rebounder, was the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year, and is second to Magic center Dwight Howard among active players in career defensive rebound percentage (27.80 percent) and total rebound percentage (19.12 percent). He leads active players in block percentage at 6.09 percent.
Rockets center Samuel Dalembert ranks just behind Camby among active players in career block percentage at 5.63 percent, meaning the Rockets won’t experience any drop-off on defense or on the glass when Camby spells Dalembert. Given the disparity in their ability to protect the rim when Dalembert sits, adding Camby bolsters their second unit.
“I think Marcus Camby is somebody we’re really excited about what he can bring to our bigs rotation,” Morey said. “He’s a really effective defensive player. People are obviously very familiar with his game having been in the league for quite awhile. I think people aren’t familiar with how effective he still is.
“He’s the No. 1 defensive rebounder this year, the year before (and) the year before that. He was recently Defensive Player of the Year, recently top defensive teams (All-Defensive first team in 2007, ’08) and still was giving Portland quality minutes; their defense was very good when he was in there.”
While Morey earned applause for another shrewd deadline deal by essentially landing a player in the final year of his contract, and one sure to help the team’s postseason push, at the cost of a second-round pick, the Rockets were happiest with what Camby can do for their inconsistent defense and their deficiencies on the backboards.
When they lost reserve center Jordan Hill to a strained MCL, the Rockets tumbled into a stretch of games where they were thrashed on the glass. When Hill returned he helped balance the scales, and Hill pales in comparison to Camby in relation to rebounding prowess. And for all of those times when the second unit was exposed in the pick-and-roll, Camby offers a back line of defense to protect their gambling guards.
“Especially for our guards it’s easier because on pick-and-rolls if you want to play pressure you know sometimes they’re going to break down defenses and they’re going to penetrate,” Dragic said. “But now we have Marcus Camby behind us. You know that’s maybe going to be 50 percent missed shots or blocked shots. It’s a great feeling.
“He’s going to be so great here with us. He’s going to help us a lot.”
Change has been a constant for the Rockets this season, from the addition of Dalembert through the emergence of rookie forward Chandler Parsons and this recent roster overhaul engineered by Morey. It wasn’t lost on anyone in attendance Friday that Dragic, Martin and forward Luis Scola, the three particulars in the post-lockout deal for Lakers centerforward Pau Gasol snuffed by NBA commissioner David Stern, had survived the latest round of deadline deals.
Dragic will be an unrestricted free agent this summer while Martin enters into the final year of a contract paying him 12.9 million next season. Both, and perhaps Scola, could be gone by the time the offseason is complete, but for the time being they all remain, with the collective focus shifting to what is left of this season and a potential playoff surge.
“I was just anxious to see how our team was going to look today,” Scola said. “I’m happy that we bring some winner personalities to our locker room. We can finally make that final push to the playoffs. I feel really confident.”
Follow me on Twitter at moisekapenda
View full post on Yardbarker: NBA
NBA Trade Deadline 2012: 5 Trades with Strongest Playoff Implications
The 2012 NBA trade deadline featured a slew of activity, as many teams shook up their roster with thoughts of the postseason engrained in their minds.
But as we move through the deadline into the final stretch of the 2011-2012 season, which moves will have the greatest implications on this year’s playoff picture?
Let’s take a look.
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
NBA Trade Deadline 2012: Why Derek Fisher Deal Was Thursday’s Biggest Shocker
It might be a bit surprising to Laker fans to see longtime Laker Derek Fisher dealt at the trade deadline. Fisher, alongside the 2012 first-round pick the acquired from Dallas,was sent to the Houston Rockets, in exchange for reserve center Jordan Hill. It was widely expected that Fisher would finish his career in purple and yellow, despite Fishers rapidly declining skill-set. However, the move will likely end that possibility.
Fisher, who played a vital role during the Lakers two title runs in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 as the team’s starting point guard and as a key reserve in Lakers three consecutive titles from 1999 to 2002 was a fan favorite. His most recent heroics included serving as president of the NBA Players Association and played a key role in ending the lockout in 2011.
Fisher was a virtuoso at leading former head coach Phil Jackson’s triangle offense before the Hall of Fame coach entered retirement before this season. However, as the team shifted gears this season with the hire of Mike Brown to replace Jackson, the 37-year-old Fisher struggled to adjust to Brown’s system.
Brown likes to run a more traditional NBA offense, emphasizing a lot of off ball movement and living by the pick-and-roll. Fisher’s age and deteriorating athletic skills made him a bit of a liability in Los Angeles for Brown, as he lacked the explosion and quickness to effectively run the offense.
The Lakers solved this problem yesterday by acquiring Ramon Sessions from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sessions ran Brown’s offense when he was last head coach of the Cavs in 2010, making Sessions and ideal candidate to bring to L.A. Before Fisher’s trade, it was largely expected that Sessions would split time with Fisher for the final stretch of the season.
However, when the Lakers sent Fisher packing, it became clear that the team would move forward with Sessions as the full time starter, rather than watching Fisher fizzle and slowly have his role usurped by the more adept Sessions.
Hill was a solid add by the Lakers, giving them a reliable reserve forward/center off the bench who is solid on the glass and can block shots. A 2009 eighth overall pick going to the Knicks, Hill undoubtedly has the talent.
As far as Fisher’s future goes, it was predicted that he would serve as a back-up point guard to Goran Dragic as Kyle Lowry continues to miss time with a bacterial infection, and the with Houston dealing third string guard Jonny Flynn to Portland. However, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reported via Twitter that Fisher’s $3.4 million salary with an option for next season will likely be bought out by the Rockets, so one can only suspect that Fisher’s NBA career might be coming to an early close.
And while Fisher and fans alike might be crestfallen to see the guard leave the organization in such a manner, the trade made sense for the franchise as they gear up for another run at the NBA Finals. Fisher was a worn out shell of his former self, and his deep ties to the organization were holding the Lakers back from truly contending.
Sessions and Hill were two pivotal acquisitions for the team, and should improve the Lakers title odds immediately. Fans must be excited for the team going forward as the Lakeshow chases another Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Success often times comes at a great cost, and moves like this are why the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most iconic and successful franchises in sports. Fisher had his time, and it was fun for fans while it lasted, but it’s time to move on.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
NBA Trade Deadline: Dwight Howard Returning but Not Committing
On a day where the Orlando Magic and the rest of the NBA were expecting a yes-or-no decision with the Dwight Howard saga, they instead got a definite maybe.
Orlando sports rides on the broad shoulders of one man, and on this day, the Magic couldn’t pull the trigger to put this painful indecision out of it’s misery.
Howard has been the darling of this town for quite some time, with his fun-loving personality and bright smile. But a cloud that has hung over the Magic all season has managed to remain over them for what could be another season. And it’s all due to the lack of commitment by Howard.
With his option picked up for next season, the All-NBA center will once again have the chance to survey the NBA landscape to see where he may want to take his talents (I know that phrase is getting old), holding Orlando hostage in the process.
Sure, as much as Howard has demanded and flip-flopped back and forth, he has more than managed to keep his production up to snuff on the court. But Orlando still must feel a sense of abandonment, and he hasn’t even left. At least not yet, anyway.
On top of the burden Howard has thrust upon the Magic, he has also slighted Brooklyn in the process. Orlando thought Howard wanted to be with the Nets, and so did the Nets. Now he can’t choose between the two. And Nets power forward Kris Humphries thought he had seen commitment problems before, but this is a whole ‘nother dilemma.
With all the uncertainty, Orlando fans may still rest in the fact that Howard will at least be in a Magic uniform for one more season. And only positive thoughts come out of seeing a superstar in a small market (Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Howard).
But the fact that this organization will have to go to hell and back once again is beyond preposterous. Yet they couldn’t pull the trigger.
Not with their big-man leading them to a high seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, which has clearly been overshadowed by the constant changing of Howard’s mind.
And now we have yet another season to suffer through Howard’s nonstop reversals. There is no way the Magic sign him to a long-term deal over the summer. The best thing for the organization could very well be to trade him. That is if they can muster up the fortitude to do so.
But by this option being picked up, the Magic are allowing Howard to see where Deron Williams and Chris Paul land, to find out if Mark Cuban can dump enough salary in time for the 2013 off-season, and once again to exhaustively consider his possibilities.
Howard may say he is loyal, but with loyalty comes commitment. Orlando has yet to receive that from the star center, leaving them in a predicament that will carry over to next season.
Howard expressed his readiness to move on with Orlando’s season after the option was picked up, communicating the fact that things were at peace.
For now, anyway.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
NBA Trade Deadline: New Jersey Nets and More Teams That Squandered Deals
The 2012 NBA trade deadline was a frenzy of desperate teams trying to position themselves for the future or get ready to make a run in the postseason.
Some squads accomplished that, like the San Antonio Spurs, who added Stephen Jackson for their playoff push.
Others did not and most likely ended up doing nothing but setting their respective franchises back a bit.
Here is a look at some of those teams.
New Jersey Nets
The Nets made a huge mistake by shipping away Shawne Williams, Mehmet Okur and a 2012 first-round pick (top-three protected) to the Portland Trail Blazers for Gerald Wallace.
By throwing in that pick, which is certainly going to be high in the lottery, the Nets have decided to trash their future to get a decent player who becomes a free agent at the end of the season.
It was simply a ludicrous move and one that almost ensures they will have a terrible roster when they move to Brooklyn.
Wallace certainly isn’t convincing Deron Williams to stick around and GM Billy King better have some tricks up his sleeve this offseason.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors moved the newly acquired Jackson and turned him into Richard Jefferson, a retiring TJ Ford and a late-first round pick from San Antonio.
This move makes no sense for a rebuilding franchise that just traded away a young star in Monta Ellis. They took on RJ, who isn’t a free agent until after the 2013-14 season, while S-Jax was only on the books until after next year.
They just destroyed their cap room until that summer and guaranteed they will not be contenders without a major shakeup soon.
Washington Wizards
The Wizards move to get Nene wasn’t terrible, but they gave up a player with a lot more upside in JaVale McGee.
It helped that they got rid of an inefficient chucker in Nick Young, but Nene isn’t going to impact this franchise and make them anywhere near contenders.
They’ll have to hope their first-rounder in 2012 really pans out and makes an impact.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
NBA Trade Deadline: Lakers Stronger Despite Losing Fan-Favorite Derek Fisher
Derek Fisher is no longer part of the Los Angeles Lakers, meaning the incoming pieces have a great deal to live up to.
First, the important aspects to a wild Thursday that ended with one Lakers star being sent packing and a young guard with pick-and-roll sensibilities coming in.
Here is a breakdown of the trades that affected the Purple and Gold at trade deadline time. Via ESPN.
Trade 1
Lakers trade: Derek Fisher and 2012 first-round pick to Houston Rockets.
Lakers receive Jordan Hill.
Trade 2
Lakers Trade: Luke Walton, Jason Kapono and Lakers’ 2012 first-round pick (Right to swap Heat‘s 2013 first-round pick with Lakers’ first-rounder) to Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lakers Receive: Ramon Sessions, Christian Eyenga.
Analysis
The Lakers get two crucial upgrades in places they need it most. They may still lack an upgrade at small forward, but they get a big man coming off the bench that will ease the burden on Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.
They also get a point guard that is a boost in athleticism and offensive production in the way of Ramon Sessions.
The day would have been a real treat had they pried away Michael Beasley, answering every last issue in one fell swoop.
Derek Fisher was a ghost of his former self and running a stagnant offense at times. Sessions may not be the marquee name Lakers fans craved, but he can run the ball far better at this point in his career and gives the Lakers a dynamite pick-and-roll operative.
Jordan Hill isn’t a superstar by any means either, but he is an upgrade to the slop that was coming off the bench prior to the trade.
Far less Troy Murphy is a good thing.
The rotations are a tad deeper and the bench isn’t as big of an issue. That is not the biggest part of the story.
Derek Fisher
From dropping a shot with .4 seconds on the clock to being a friend and mentor to every Lakers player through the years, Derek Fisher has been the most beloved player in Purple and Gold not named Kobe Bryant.
It doesn’t pay to add emotion into business decisions, and so is the hope that this calculated move pays dividends for a team that craved youth.
It doesn’t make the sting of a tremendous loss any easier to stomach.
Fisher will one day retire, and he will do it with another team. That doesn’t take away from the fact that he will always be a member of the Lakers in the heart of every fan that had the privilege of watching him play in Los Angeles.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
