NBA Trade Deadline: Breaking Down Trades That Shook Up League
When the trade deadline hit on Thursday, there was no Dwight Howard deal and Michael Beasley stayed with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
However, there were, nonetheless, some big trades that shook up basketball.
Here's a look at the trades that will have a significant impact on the NBA.
New Jersey Nets acquire Gerald Wallace
I honestly feel sorry for Nets fans.
If the Orlando Magic would have traded Howard, it probably would have been to the Nets. Instead, Deron Williams will probably leave in free agency and Gerald Wallace is the consolation.
Wallace is a fine player, don't get me wrong, but it's a bit of a downgrade considering the Nets could have potentially landed Howard and kept Williams in the process.
The Nets gave up Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams and their 2012 first-round pick for Wallace. The pick is top-three protected, which means the Nets probably won't be able to keep it.
Three-way trade: Washington, Denver, Los Angeles Clippers
In perhaps the most shocking trade of the afternoon, the Denver Nuggets traded Nene to the Washington Wizards for JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf. The Los Angeles Clippers gave the Wizards Brian Cook and a future second-round pick for guard Nick Young.
Just a year after trading away Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets decided to trade their other star, Nene, effectively making them starless.
However, that's not exactly a bad thing. Coach George Karl made it known last season that he wanted to win with depth, not star power. This gives Denver depth and a premier shot-blocker in McGee.
If this works, Karl is a genius. If it doesn't, he's going to get blasted.
Los Angeles Lakers get their point guard
The Lakers haven't been able to get it done this season with Derek Fisher and Steve Blake at point guard.
Well, they not only traded away Fisher, they picked up Ramon Sessions from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
For Sessions and guard Christian Eyenga, the Lakers gave up Luke Walton, Jason Kapono and a first-round pick.
Sessions isn't a very good defensive player, but he is a playmaker on offense and should inject some life into the Lakers, who are gunning for another title before Kobe Bryant calls it quits. In 38 starts for the Cavaliers last season, Sessions averaged 14.5 points and 6.0 assists despite not having much talent around him.
Will it be enough to catapult the Lakers past the Oklahoma City Thunder, though?
I'm not so sure about that.
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