NBA Trade Deadline 2012: Why Rumored Deals Fell Apart

The NBA trade deadline is now past, and while there were many interesting trades made, even more interesting almost happened, but failed in the end.

Pau Gasol is still a Laker; Michael Beasley is still in Minnesota, and Jamal Crawford is still a Trail Blazer. But why?

Here are some of the most-talked about deals that didn't happen and why.

Pau Gasol to the Chicago Bulls

The Gasol to Chicago trade humors heated up in the last few days before the deadline. Apparently, the Chicago Bulls wanted to deal Carlos Boozer straight up for Pau Gasol, whereas the Los Angeles Lakers wanted a package of players rather than just Boozer and his undesirable contract.

Neither team budged on what they wanted, so no trade happened. Pretty simple.

Jamal Crawford to the Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers were busy bees around the trade deadline, looking for whatever they could to improve themselves. According to ESPN, a three-way trade with Minnesota and Portland that would have sent Jamal Crawford to LA, Derek Fisher to Minnesota and Anthony Tolliver to Portland was nixed at the last second.

Minnesota pulled out, probably because they didn't want to be responsible for paying the ancient Derek Fisher over six million dollars for the next two years.

Michael Beasley to the Los Angeles Lakers

This deal looks like it was a variation of the one that would have sent Jamal Crawford to the Lakers. According to Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld.com, this trade would have sent Derek Fisher and Jamal Crawford to Minnesota, Steve Blake and a first round pick to Portland, and Michael Beasley to the Lakers.

It appears the same thing happened to this deal as well. Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com reported that Minnesota backed out on this deal too.

Rajon Rondo-Pau Gasol Swap

This would have been a much more interesting trade had it persisted a bit longer, but the kibosh was put on it pretty quick. The Celtics were reportedly willing to trade Rajon Rondo to the Lakers in exchange for Pau Gasol, but the Lakers were completely unwilling to make the deal.

At the time, people questioned that move by the Lakers, but now that they have gotten Ramon Sessions for so little, it looks like a great one.

Monta Ellis to Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic had reportedly wanted to trade for Golden State Warrior guard Monta Ellis as a complimentary piece to Dwight Howard, in the hopes that it would convince Howard to stay with the franchise.

It never happened, as Ellis was sent to Milwaukee, but why is a bit of a mystery. My guess would be that the Magic simply had nothing to offer that the Warriors wanted other than Howard. That makes the most sense, because the Magic failed to make any trades.

Boston Celtics Trading Any of the Big Four

The Boston Celtics were a team that many thought needed to make a trade to strengthen its team and get younger. According to Sports Illustrated, Celtics' GM Danny Ainge was discussing trades that involved building for the future and getting pieces for a playoff run, but he did neither because "Nothing seemed good enough to do."

It makes sense. If you can't get something you want, you shouldn't pull the trigger. Too many teams agree to deals just because they feel like they need to do something and ignore whether or not it is the right deal.