Trade Deadline Deals Don't Benefit the Miami Heat

While the landscape of the Eastern Conference wasn’t dramatically changed by any of the trades that took place before the trade deadline that passed this afternoon, there were a few that might affect the future of the Miami Heat to a great degree.

Thankfully the Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t successful in enticing the Phoenix Suns to part with All-Star center Shaquille O’Neal for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic (supposedly that just wasn’t enough payroll relief for the Suns to pull the trigger on the deal).

The Cavs also failed in prying Amar’e Stoudemire away from the Suns in exchange for Wally Szcerbiak’s $13.8 million expiring contract; which they dangled at Milwaukee for Richard Jefferson, New Jersey for Vince Carter, and Washington for Antawn Jamison—no takers.

The Boston Celtics didn’t seem to be in the mix of any trade rumors at all coming down to the wire, which leaves only the Orlando Magic as one of the big three in the East who were able to do something to improve their team.

Now, they didn’t land any players that will drastically alter the Eastern Conference landscape, but they did improve their chances significantly of maintaining their place as one of the three teams in the East at the top of the heap.

It was announced 15 minutes after the trade deadline had passed that the Orlando Magic had pulled off a three-way trade between the Rockets and Grizzlies, that landed them point guard Rafer Alston.

This move was essential for the Magic, as their All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson is likely to miss the rest of the season with the shoulder injury he sustained on Feb. 2 in a 105-95 loss to the Dallas Mavericks at Amway Arena.

While Alston isn’t an All-Star like Jameer Nelson, he does match Nelson in all statistical categories except scoring, with a statline for the season of 11.5 PTS, 3.0 REB, 5.4 AST, 1.8 TO, 1.2 STL.

Nelson averaged five more points per game, but that scoring will likely be offset by Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Hedo Turkoglu picking up their offensive output.

Alston is also a veteran presence in the lineup who will certainly give the Magic some stability while they make a push for the playoffs. He’s also a danger from downtown, making 80 shots from beyond the arc, and should fit well into the Magic’s offensive scheme; which relies heavily on outside shooting.

This can only mean a tougher road for the Miami Heat. While trying to pass the Atlanta Hawks to secure a fourth seed and home court in the playoffs, the Heat certainly were looking to have, because of Nelson’s injury, an easier road in the Eastern Conference semifinals had they faced the Magic.

Also, while the Chicago Bulls are currently in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, their deals before the trade deadline have obviously made them another team in the East looking to make a playoff push this year down the stretch. And while it’s not likely they’ll ever face Miami, who knows.

Chicago sent Larry Hughes to the Knicks for Tim Thomas and Jerome James, and more importantly acquired Brad Miller and John Salmons from the Sacramento Kings for four players, including forwards Drew Gooden and Andres Nocioni. They then sent Thabo Sefolosha to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a first-round draft pick.

To top it off, the Bulls’ deals were done not only for this season and a desire to make a push for the playoffs, but also with a financial aspect in mind in order to make the Bulls a serious player in the 2010 free-agent sweepstakes.

Nothing good can come of it for the Miami Heat; having another serious player trying to vie for the services of the big-name players they covet.

Again, while none of these trades alter the pecking order of the Eastern Conference to any great degree, none of them benefited the Miami Heat in any way either. I was hoping for better things, especially considering how disappointing our own trade acquisitions were in their debut with the Heat.

Miami fans can only hope none of this ends up making anything the Heat desire to accomplish, either making a splash in this year’s playoffs or the 2010 free agent bonanza, more difficult—only time will tell.