NBA Trade Deadline: Projecting Knicks, Nets, Celtics and Each Team's Records
The time leading into the 2011 NBA trade deadline was one of the busiest and most high-profile transaction periods in recent memory.
In an unprecedented series of events, two All Stars were traded, as Carmelo Anthony was sent to the New York Knicks and Deron Williams was acquired by the New Jersey Nets.
Even the 2009-10 runner-up Boston Celtics made a move, dealing away their starting center Kendrick Perkins.
And with other big names like Gerald Wallace, Mo Williams, Baron Davis and Jeff Green all changing teams, it is clear that the NBA landscape has been altered.
Consequently, there are a number of teams whose 2010-11 season outlooks have been drastically modified.
As a result, this slideshow will take a look at the transactions made (or not made) by every team, assess how the changes (or lack thereof) will affect the squads and project an end-of-season record for each franchise.
Additionally, all of the teams' records in this slideshow account for the 1230 total wins and 1230 total losses which must mathematically occur during each NBA season.
Atlanta Hawks: 52-30
1 of 30
Just prior to the trade deadline, the Atlanta Hawks sent starting point guard Mike Bibby, second-year guard Jordan Crawford and veteran wing Maurice Williams to the Washington Wizards for point guard Kirk Hinrich and backup big-man Hilton Armstrong.
Resulting from this deal, the Hawks may have lost some depth, however, they have become significantly improved a the point guard position, as the presence of Hinrich provides an immediate upgrade over the declining play of Bibby, who turns 33 this spring.
Moreover, Hinrich, a former member of the NBA All-Defensive Team, will shore up the team's defense, whereas Bibby had been a liability defensively.
Consequently, once Hinrich becomes acclimated with the team, Atlanta can expect an improvement in their already-impressive level of play.
And further adding to this expected improvement is the fact that the Hawks have played significantly more games away than at home—a fact which will make their upcoming schedule easier.
So seeing as though they already have achieved a 35-23 record—even while fighting through a long stretch of play without star guard Joe Johnson—the Hawks can reasonably expect to go 17-7 down the stretch, resulting in a final record of 52-30.
Boston Celtics: 58-24
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Through the early part of the 2011-12 NBA season, the Boston Celtics have been the best team in the Eastern Conference.
Therefore, it seems puzzling that they would deal away their starting center, and crucial interior defender, Kendrick Perkins, along with Nate Robinson, to the Oklahoma City Thunder for talented, young forward Jeff Green and center Nenad Kristic.
However, that wasn't their only trade, as the C's also sent backup bigs Semih Erden and Luke Harangody to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and backup forward Marquis Daniels to the Sacramento Kings, while only receiving a couple of second-round picks.
And with center Shaquille O'Neal day-to-day with a minor Achilles injury and center Jermaine O'Neal possibly looking to return around late March from knee surgery, the Celtics—whose strength was once their size—now appear to have a relatively small lineup.
Nevertheless, Krstic, who achieved notoriety in an FIBA brawl over the summer, would still provide the team with some size and toughness for the short term.
And so long as the O'Neals can return and stay healthy, Boston should be as strong as ever come playoff time.
So while they might witness a short drop in production, if the rest of their Big Four remain in good health, they should have no trouble finishing off the year 16-9, resulting in a solid 58-24 record.
Charlotte Bobcats: 34-48
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After a playoff showing last season, the Charlotte Bobcats struggled out of the gate in 2010-11.
And despite team management claiming that they're still aiming for a postseason run, it seems apparent that they thought it was time to blow up their roster and start over, which explains their trading of star forward Gerald Wallace.
Wallace was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for young power forward Dante Cunningham, big men Joel Przybilla and Sean Marks (both expiring contracts) and two future first-round picks.
Furthermore, the team sent center Nazr Mohammed to the Oklahoma City Thunder for another young forward and another expiring contract, in D.J. White and Morris Peterson, respectively.
So with the team trading away one of their best players for young talent, expiring contracts and draft picks, it's pretty clear that the Bobcats aren't looking to win right now.
And even though guys like Gerald Henderson will help to fill the void for Charlotte, they will probably struggle down the stretch, going 8-15, on their way to a record of 34-48.
Chicago Bulls: 58-24
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The Chicago Bulls were one of the teams which decided to keep their roster intact, for the most part, before the trade deadline.
And while they did ship off little-used forward James Johnson to the Toronto Raptors for a first-round pick, what is really important is that their two marquee big men—Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer—are finally healthy at the same time.
Therefore, with a now-healthy squad firing on all cylinders behind MVP-candidate Derrick Rose, the Bulls should look to improve upon their 40-17 record.
As a result, an 18-7 finish isn't out of the question, allowing Chicago to end the season with a 58-24 mark.
Cleveland Cavaliers: 16-66
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The Cleveland Cavaliers' 2010-11 season will forever be remembered for their post-LeBron record losing streak of 26 games.
And while they have picked up their level of play since that time, the Cavs still sit at only 11-48.
Furthermore, prior to the trade deadline, Cleveland dealt away Mo Williams—arguably their best player—along with Jamario Moon for the Los Angeles Clippers' point guard Baron Davis and a first-round pick.
Yet Davis, who is currently limited by a knee injury, has been known to slack off when playing for sub-par teams, making this seem to be a poor trade for for the Cavs in the short term.
Nevertheless, the team also acquired Semih Erden and Luke Harangody from the Boston Celtics for a future second-round pick, effectively adding some youth and size to their lineup after standout big Anderson Varejao went down for the season.
Consequently, although the team has worked to set the stage for future improvement, they will likely gain little right now.
Therefore, they should look to finish out the season slightly better than they started, going 5-18 on their way to a 16-66 record.
Dallas Mavericks: 60-22
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After a blistering 24-5 start to the 2010-11 season, the Dallas Mavericks were forced to deal with a knee injury to perennial All-Star Dirk Nowitzki.
During the nine games he missed, the team went 2-7, and their problems were compounded by the loss of Caron Butler—an essential contributor to the team—for what will likely be the rest of the regular season.
Nevertheless, with the return of Dirk the Mavs have rebounded, going 17-4, and even winning 16 of their last 17 games.
Therefore, sitting at 43-16, the team did not feel that they really needed to make any moves at all.
And with the recent return of quick, young point guard Rodrigue Beaubois, Dallas will only look to continue their string of impressive play.
So finishing the season 17-4 should be easy for this Mavericks squad, which would then allow the team to end up 60-22 on the year.
Denver Nuggets: 44-38
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A few days before the trade deadline, the Denver Nuggets were involved in what was the most high-profile, elaborate trade of the year.
In the transaction, they sent perennial All-Star Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks, along with Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman and Shelden Williams.
In return, they received Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, two second-round picks, a first-round pick and cash from the Knicks.
Moreover, center Kosta Koufos was also sent to Denver from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
And even though the Nuggets did give away their two best players in the deal, they did receive a pretty decent value in exchange.
So while the team now lacks their previous star power, they are pretty deep and still have a decent amount of talent on their roster.
Consequently, following a rough adjustment period, a 10-12 stretch, leading to a 44-38 overall record, should be attainable for the Nuggets this season.
Detroit Pistons: 28-54
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While the Detroit Pistons failed to make a move at the trade deadline, they would likely be better off if they had.
In recent days, it was revealed that long-time Piston Richard Hamilton has long been feuding with head coach John Kuester—even publicly berating him and playing an important role in orchestrating a boycott of a team shootaround.
Consequently, it should come as no surprise that the franchise tried to deal Rip to a few teams, although they had little luck.
So now it appears that Detroit is left with a team divided, with some behind Rip and others siding with their coach.
And seeing as though a divided team is almost never a successful team, look for the Pistons to struggle down the stretch, going 6-15 on their way to a woeful 28-54 record.
Golden State Warriors: 36-46
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The Golden State Warriors only took minor action before the trade deadline, dealing seldom-used bigs Branden Wright and Dan Gadzuric to the New Jersey Nets, in return of Troy Murphy, whose expiring contract will likely be bought out.
So when one considers that the team basically made a salary dump and that they're five games out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference, it seems as though they are putting forth little effort to make a playoff push.
Consequently, it wouldn't be too surprising if the team finishes out 2010-11 by going 10-14, ultimately ending up with a record of 36-46.
Houston Rockets: 38-44
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The Houston Rockets were a rather busy team prior to the trade deadline, participating in two separate trades.
First they sent disgruntled point guard Aaron Brooks—who had failed to win back his starting job after an injury—to the Phoenix Suns for point Goran Dragic and a first-round pick.
Then, the team dealt defensive standout Shane Battier to the Memphis Grizzlies, along with Ishmael Smith, for the so-far-disappointing center Hasheem Thabeet, forward DeMarre Carroll and another first-round pick.
So while Houston did receive some talent in addition to the future picks, what they gave away was of a higher caliber.
Therefore, it's safe to say that Houston was made worse, in the short term, by their trades.
So ending the year 8-13 isn't out of the realm of possibility, which would cause the team to finish with a 38-44 mark overall.
Indiana Pacers: 38-44
11 of 30
The Indiana Pacers made a strong push to acquire Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo just prior to the deadline, but ultimately, their efforts fell short.
As a result, the Pacers didn't make any moves, and although they're only 26-32 at this point, they are still in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
So while the team likely won't see much of an improvement in their level of play, the motivation of earning a postseason berth should be enough to inspire them to play .500-ball down the stretch, going 12-12 to earn a 38-44 record.
Los Angeles Clippers: 31-51
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The Los Angeles Lakers made a surprising move just before the trade deadline, dealing away veteran point guard and LA-native Baron Davis—who had largely underachieved in his tenure with the franchise.
Davis ended up on the Cleveland Cavaliers, sent along with a first-round pick, in exchange for guard Mo Williams and wing Jamario Moon.
So by acquiring Williams, and playing him in an imposing backcourt alongside a healthy Eric Gordon, LA will certainly look to open up the floor even more for Rookie of the Year favorite Blake Griffin.
And with the return of Chris Kaman, the team could be even better.
However, given their current mark of 21-39, the expectations should not be set too high for this talented, young club.
Consequently, a slight improvement would allow them to round out the season at a 10-12 clip, ultimately giving the Clippers a 31-51 final record.
Los Angeles Lakers: 56-26
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Seeing as though the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers have largely maintained their proven roster, it is apparent that their squad has little need for improvement.
Consequently, it should come as no surprise that the team made no moves leading up to the trade deadline.
So, once again, the the Lakers will be in the running for the title, and even leaving room for a few late-season hiccups, they should easily be able to finish out 14-7, and with a end-of-season record of 56-26.
Memphis Grizzlies: 42-38
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While the Memphis Grizzlies did take part in one pre-trade-deadline deal, it is the injury to star forward Rudy Gay—which may keep him out for the remainder of the season—which will have the biggest impact on the team.
With Gay out, the team will be missing their second-best scorer, as well as one of their best defenders.
And although bringing in Shane Battier, along with Ishmael Smith, from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll and a first-round pick, will help to some extent, it will be tough for the squad to replace Gay.
As a result, they will more than likely struggle for the rest of the year, going 9-10 and finishing 42-38.
Miami Heat: 60-22
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Prior to the start of the 2010-11 NBA season, much ado was made about how well the Miami Heat would perform—with some even claiming that they would challenge for the all-time best regular season record.
However, they struggled early on, only earning a 9-8 record.
But since then, much has changed, as the Heat have come together to win 36 out of their next 45 games.
Consequently, the team had no need to make any changes at the trade deadline.
And as they continue to get better and better at playing with one another, expect their success to magnify, allowing them to go 17-5, with a final record of 60-22.
Milwaukee Bucks: 33-49
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The 2010-11 NBA season has largely been a disappointment for the Milwaukee Bucks thus far—especially after their playoff appearance last year, in which they nearly defeated the Atlanta Hawks.
However, with sophomore point guard Brandon Jennings missing time due to injury and center Andrew Bogut not playing at 100 percent—and likely needing another elbow surgery—the Bucks have had a tough going, only maintaining a record of 22-36.
And seeing as though the team didn't make any trades, their only real improvement could possibly come from Jennings return to pre-injury form.
Therefore, look for them to go 11-13 as the season winds down, allowing them to finish with a mark of 33-49.
Minnesota Timberwolves: 19-63
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Despite all that has been made about the play of Kevin Love in 2010-11, his Minnesota Timberwolves have been among the worst teams in the NBA, only managing a record of 14-46 at this point.
And seeing as though their only move was shipping rotation-player Corey Brewer to the New York Knicks and backup center Kosta Koufos to the Denver Nuggets, while receiving the talented, yet inconsistent Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry's expiring contract, it doesn't look like the team is going to get any better this year.
Therefore, the T'Wolves could very well finish out 5-17, only earning a final record of 19-63.
New Jersey Nets: 29-53
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After a horrendous 2009-10 campaign, the New Jersey Nets have done much to turn around their fortunes.
Just prior to the trade deadline, the team came out of nowhere to trade for All-Star point guard Deron Williams, achieving this by sending point guard Devin Harris, 2010 No. 3 pick Derrick Favors and two first-round picks to the Utah Jazz.
However, they weren't done there, as the Nets also sent Troy Murphy and his expiring contract to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for promising, young forward-center Brendan Wright and backup center Dan Gadzuric.
And while they have lost both games since these trades, currently sitting with a 17-42 record, the team should ultimately improve due to their now-solid point guard play.
As a result, New Jersey could end up finishing out the year with a 12-11 mark, and in the end, a mark of 29-53.
New Orleans Hornets: 44-38
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The New Orleans Hornets were one of the big surprises early on in the 2010-11 NBA season, winning their first eight games, and 11 of their first 12.
Shortly thereafter, they fell back to earth, to some extent, yet they soon got hot again, this time winning 10 in a row.
But the Hornets were, again, unable to maintain that level of play.
Currently, they stand at 35-26, and their only move was dealing sophomore two-guard Marcus Thornton to the Sacramento Kings in return for forward Carl Landry.
And while Landry will provide the team with some much-needed size, New Orleans' recent struggles—going 4-10 in their last 14 games—don't paint a pretty picture for the end of their season.
Consequently, going 9-12 down the stretch is well within the realm of possibility, which would cause the Hornets to end up with an end-of-season record of 44-38.
New York Knicks: 45-37
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In easily the biggest move by any NBA team, the New York Knicks were able to trade for Carmelo Anthony just days before the trade deadline.
Along with Melo, the Knicks acquired Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman and Shelden Williams from the Denver Nuggets, as well as Corey Brewer from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
However, they had to pay a steep price in order to do this, sending Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, two second-round picks and a first round pick to Denver, and Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph to Minnesota.
Nevertheless, New York now has two of the league's biggest stars on one club, along with one of the NBA's better point guards.
And while they are lacking in depth, size and rebounding, they should still be able to improve upon their thus-far-mediocre season, going 15-10, on the way to a 45-37 mark.
Oklahoma City Thunder: 50-32
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Just before the deadline, the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled off what may turn out to be one of the most important trades of the year.
In doing so, they sent forward Jeff Green and center Nenad Krstic to the Boston Celtics, in exchange for center Kendrick Perkins and guard Nate Robinson.
And while losing Green will certainly hurt, James Harden should be able to pick up some of the scoring and the addition of Perkins will finally provide the team with the tough, physical and defensive-oriented inside presence which the Thunder have long been lacking.
But that was not all, as OKC also sent reserves Morris Peterson and D.J. White to the Charlotte Bobcats for veteran center Nazr Mohammed—who will further shore up the team's interior play.
Nevertheless, Perkins recently went down with a minor injury and is expected to miss a couple of weeks, so the Thunder may struggle a bit until he returns.
Therefore, it's likely that they could wind up going 14-10 down the stretch, finishing at 50-32 and ultimately presenting a tough matchup to anyone they happen to face in the playoffs.
Orlando Magic: 52-30
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The Orlando Magic kept quiet before the trade deadline, however, that is largely because they had already made a couple of high-profile deals this season.
In trading for Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Gilbert Arenas earlier in the year, Orlando management had already surrounded their dominant center Dwight Howard with some great shooters and ball handlers.
Consequently, the team will continue to rely upon Howard's interior play, as well as the rest of the team's outside shooting to overcome the opposition.
And should they get hot at the right time, they could go on another one of the multiple runs which they've had thus far in 2010-11—even possibly making some noise in the playoffs.
Nevertheless, look for them to go around 14-8 down the stretch, with a final record of 52-30.
Philadelphia 76ers: 44-38
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Early in the 2010-11 season, it appeared as though the Philadelphia 76ers were in the midst of another unimpressive season, as they started out 3-13.
However, behind the resurgence of Elton Brand, and the solid play of Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia has since been playing at a much higher level.
As a matter of fact, the Sixers have caught fire of late, winning six of their last seven games, and finally achieving a winning record.
And even though they made no trades, their recent strong play should be enough to carry them to a 14-9 finish, giving the 76ers a 44-38 mark on the year.
Phoenix Suns: 45-37
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Earlier in the year, the Phoenix Suns acquired veteran wing Vince Carter and center Marcin Gortat from the Orlando Magic and started to turn their season around.
However, they weren't done making moves at that point, as they next brought in point guard Aaron Brooks from the Houston Rockets just before the trade deadline.
The Suns gave up Goran Dragic and a first-round pick to do this, but with his passing and outside shooting abilities, Brooks should step in and be a huge contributor for this Phoenix squad right away.
Consequently, the Suns should easily be able to manage a 15-10 finish, on their way to an end-of-season record of 45-37.
Portland Trail Blazers: 48-34
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The Portland Trail Blazers were putting together another good, but not great season in 2010-11, before they made a huge trade just prior to the deadline.
In the transaction, the Blazers brought in talented forward Gerald Wallace, in return for Dante Cunningham, Joel Przybilla, Sean Marks and two first-round draft picks.
And with Wallace now shoring up Portland's thin frontcourt, coupled with the return of Brandon Roy from a knee injury, the Blazers are certainly looking like they could become a dangerous team down the stretch.
Consequently, finishing 15-9 should not be a stretch for this team, as it would give them a 48-34 record in the end, while certainly assuring them a playoff spot.
Sacramento Kings: 20-62
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By and large, the 2010-11 season has not went as planned for the Sacramento Kings.
And while their lottery pick DeMarcus Cousins has played relatively well, he has reportedly clashed with some of his teammates.
Moreover, sophomore guard Tyreke Evans has regressed since his rookie year, and he is now sitting out with plantar fascitis.
And seeing as though the Kings' only moves were trading forward Carl Landry to the New Orleans Hornets for guard Marcus Thornton, and swapping a second-round pick for the Boston Celtics' Marquis Daniels, it doesn't appear that they will improve too much as the season rounds out.
Therefore, look for Sacramento to go 6-19, on their way to a final mark of 20-62.
San Antonio Spurs: 67-15
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Throughout the 2010-11 season, the San Antonio Spurs have been the cream of the crop among NBA teams.
With their reliable old lineup of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, among others, the squad has played their way to a league-best 49-10 mark.
Therefore, it's easy to see why the Spurs made no trades during the season.
So barring any significant injuries, San Antonio could reasonably finish off the year going 18-5, earning a 67-15 record—the best mark since the Dallas Mavericks achieved it during 2005-06 season.
Toronto Raptors: 21-61
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The Toronto Raptors have been playing dreadfully of late, only winning three of their last 23 games—including a stretch of 13-consecutive losses.
Moreover, the team has done little to improve their roster, as their only move was sending a first-round pick to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for forward James Johnson.
Therefore, it's unlikely that the Raptors will do anything but struggle as the season winds down, going 5-19 and only ending up at 21-61.
Utah Jazz: 41-41
29 of 30
After long-time head coach Jerry Sloan resigned from the Utah Jazz, following what was perceived to be a conflict with point guard Deron Williams, many people believed that management had chosen the player over the coach.
However, shortly before the trade deadline, the Jazz proceeded to deal Williams to the New Jersey Nets for Devin Harris, 2010 No. 3 pick Derrick Favors and two first-round picks.
And although Harris is a solid point, he's certainly not an All-Star-caliber player like Williams, so while Utah built for the future, they should expect a short-term drop in their level of play.
Consequently, the Jazz could go 9-13, as their campaign dwindles to an end with a record of 41-41.
Washington Wizards: 21-61
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Although they have a talented, young core of players, the 2010-11 campaign has been a tough one for the Washington Wizards—who have only managed one road win on the year.
And while they made a few moves this season—namely swapping Gilbert Arenas for Rashard Lewis, and Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong for Jordan Crawford, Mike Bibby and Maurice Evans—the Wizards will likely see few immediate benefits.
Their players need more time to develop and get used to playing alongside one another.
Consequently, Washington could go 6-18 to round out their year, ultimately finishing up with a win-loss total of 21-61.
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