[ESPN] Trade Winners, Losers, and In Between....

ESPN Insider-Trade Winners, Losers, and In Between....

Rox are in the "in between" group...

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SIXERS BIG WINNERS, KNICKS BIG LOSERS AT DEADLINE

By Chad Ford ESPN Insider


An unprecedented flurry of trades rocked the NBA on Wednesday. After GMs and agents warned as late as Tuesday evening that it could be a very quiet deadline day, four major trades and several minor ones went down at the 11th hour. The flurry should significantly change some of the NBA's landscape, especially in the Eastern Conference.

Big names like Chris Webber, Baron Davis, Antoine Walker, Gary Payton, Keith Van Horn and Glenn Robinson are changing uniforms, along with more than $100 million worth of contracts.

Who were the winners and losers at the NBA trade deadline? Insider breaks it down.


THE WINNERS


Philadelphia 76ers: The Sixers were going nowhere fast. Allen Iverson was pouting. The team seemed to be stuck in a rut between rebuilding and clawing for an eighth seed in the playoffs. No more.

Say what you will about Chris Webber. Call him crippled, overrated and selfish. But he's a better low-post presence than all three players the Sixers sent back combined. The fact GM Billy King was able to swing a deal for Webber without giving up cap flexibility or one of his nice young prospects is simply amazing.

The team's second trade is probably irrelevant. What Philadelphia really did was swap Glenn Robinson for Rodney Rogers. Jamal Mashburn is not expected to play again and likely will retire. The Sixers will owe about 20 percent of his salary next year, but apparently that was worth acquiring Rogers' services for the next few months.
While I don't think the moves turn Philly into a championship contender, they do make them the clear favorite in the Atlantic Division and a team that could make a little noise in the playoffs. Given where they were heading and what they had to give up, it's a significant improvement.



Dallas Mavericks: There's a reason it's tough to take Mark Cuban at is word. It seems like every time he tells you he's sitting out a trade deadline or a draft, he pulls one of the biggest surprises of the night.

I think the addition of Keith Van Horn will be significant. Van Horn is a perfect fit for the offense the Mavericks run. He's an above-average rebounder, especially when he's at the small forward position, and his defense isn't as bad as it's reputation.

The Mavs likely will use him the same way they do Jerry Stackhouse, as a super-sub off the bench. The Mavs didn't give up much to get him, and, for once, they didn't have to take on bad contracts to make a deal. Will it be the move that puts the Mavs over the top in the West? Probably not. But it will give the Mavs a better chance of making some serious waves in the playoffs.



Milwaukee Bucks: The real deal for Milwaukee had nothing to do with Keith Van Horn. It was Michael Redd's verbal promise to remain loyal to the Bucks in free agency that should have Milwaukee celebrating. If Redd remains true to his word, the Bucks are happy. Contrary to what's being reported, the Bucks won't have much, if any, cap room next season if they sign Redd to a max deal and also re-up Dan Gadzuric and Zaza Pachulia.

That's not why Bucks GM Larry Harris made the deal.

What Harris bought was some serious insurance in case Redd pulls a Carlos Boozer and bolts in the summer. If Redd leaves, the Bucks will have roughly $10 million under the cap to pursue their own free agent – guys like Ray Allen or Kyle Korver.


Golden State Warriors: I've been hard on the Warriors for years, and for good reason. They stink and constantly find new ways to emit their foul odor. So, when they make a trade like this, you have to step back and pinch yourself a bit.


This trade could work for the Warriors. They were in a rut and needed some star power, and Baron Davis can deliver when he's healthy. Of course, the key word here is healthy. He has a bad back, bum knees and an uninsured contract. If he comes up lame, he'll be the final nail in the coffin for Golden State.

But if he plays well, a backcourt of Davis and Jason Richardson could be something special.

The second trade, with Denver, was less impressive. The Warriors felt they needed to cut a little cap to help make room for Davis, so they swapped Eduardo Najera and a future first-round pick for the expiring contracts of Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Rodney White. The good news is that both Skita and White have enough talent they actually could turn out to be interesting prospects for the Warriors. But all in all, the second deal was a wash.



San Antonio Spurs: Everyone is going to focus on the big names that were traded, but perhaps the most important trade that went down was the Spurs acquisition of Nazr Mohammed for Malik Rose.

The Spurs needed more size, toughness and athleticism in the middle. For all Mohammed's faults, he can do that when he's motivated. Head coach Gregg Popovich should be able to light the fire and give the Spurs yet another piece to propel them to the Finals.

And did we mention that the Spurs saved more than $21 million on this trade? You've got to love Knicks GM Isiah Thomas, who now is officially running the NBA's biggest homeless shelter for bad contracts.




The LOSERS

New York Knicks: Even Isiah's biggest fans are scratching their heads right about now. Isiah, itching to shake up his team some more with so many other Atlantic Division teams making moves, traded away his starting and backup centers and his two backup point guards for two under-sized, over-paid power forwards in Mo Taylor and Malik Rose.


Is Isiah trying to start a team in a 6-foot-7-and-under league? Taylor and Rose join Mike Sweetney and Kurt Thomas as players who are at least a few inches short for their position.

Thomas did pick up two extra draft picks in the deal – likely the 29th and the 30th picks. Way to go.

But his most egregious sin was his repeated insistence in always taking back a bad contract or two with each trade. This time the Knicks added an extra $32 million in future salaries. In the Spurs' deal, the Knicks are sending out $5.5 million in future salaries and getting back the remaining four years, $27.3 million of Rose's contract. The Rockets' deal isn't as bad, as Isiah is sending out $8 million in future salaries and getting back $18 million. In total, the Knicks, who already have by far the largest payroll in the league, have just dug themselves further into the hole.



New Orleans Hornets: Here's the good news, Hornets fans (or fan). Pay $50 a seat to come and watch the Hornets' $17 million in cap room play every night. You better get used to it. Unlike the regular roster, which is a revolving door these days, that cap room might be around for a while.

Other bad teams know what the Hornets are about to find out. Cap room is great for teams that are actual-free agent destinations. But bad teams with cheap owners playing in a city that couldn't care less? Priceless.

The Hornets clearly are in rebuilding mode. With Jamal Magloire firmly entrenched as their centerpiece, the team is hoping it can build a young core of players like J.R. Smith, Dan Dickau, Speedy Claxton and Maciej Lampe to surround him.

But don't let them fool you with the cap space. They may make a phone call or two to a free agent this summer. Flirt a little. But the low payroll is to stop owner George Shinn from bleeding green while the league figures out what to do with the worst franchise in the NBA.


Minnesota Timberwolves: No, the Timberwovles didn't make a trade before Thursday's deadline. That's the problem. The team desperately needed to find a new home for both Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell.

Instead, they are trying to ride the wave of false euphoria that has surged into the building since Kevin McHale took over as coach. Once the wave recedes, the Wolves likely will be exposed for what they are – an over-the-hill, miserable team that missed its narrow window of opportunity.

The saddest thing is it didn't have to be that way.


Toronto Raptors: The Raptors didn't make a deal, though they had a couple of good ones on the table. Apparently new GM Rob Babcock, still traumatized from botching the Vince Carter trade, couldn't muster the courage to pull the trigger on a deadline deal for Donyell Marshall.

It's a shame. The Raptors could've swapped Marshall for expiring contracts and a prospect like Sasha Pavlovic or Dorell Wright. Instead, they'll just play out the next 20 games and watch Marshall walk out the door July 1.


Portland Trail Blazers: The most dysfunctional franchise in the NBA (though the Raptors and Hornets give them a real run for their money) decided to stand pat at the deadline.

They had more trade assets than anyone, with three major expiring contracts – Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Damon Stoudamire and Nick Van Exel – but couldn't manage a single trade.

The team thought it was close to a deal that would've netted them Michael Redd and Keith Van Horn, but the Bucks ultimately decided to hang onto Redd, leaving the Blazers high and dry.


SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN

Boston Celtics: It's hard to know what to think of Danny Ainge's whiplash reversal on Antoine Walker. One minute Ainge is bad mouthing him and shipping him out of town. The next, he's rolling out the red carpet in return.
Has Antoine changed? Has Danny? What happened to Jiri Welsch, the guy Ainge hyped for more than a year as the real key to the first Walker trade? Ainge jettisoned him to Cleveland for a late first-round pick in 2007, then promptly reclaimed Antoine.

What happened? According to sources, Ainge has been pursuing Walker for months. However, until this morning the team refused to include a first-round pick in any deal. After watching what the Sixers did Wednesday night, the Celtics upped the ante, and the Hawks made their second big trade-deadline deal in two years.

But will Antoine make a difference? Who will play point guard with Gary Payton now out of the picture? And what do the Celtics do with Walker's contract this summer if he plays well?

We'd like to think the team has answers, but given the shifting sands Ainge builds on, maybe you should consult the Tarot cards.

Sacramento Kings: We're still not sure how to balance the good with the ugly in this trade. Dumping Chris Webber improved chemistry, made Peja Stojakovic happy and allowed the Kings to bolster their depth in the frontcourt.

Those are all good things.

However, it's tough to ignore the hideous contracts they had to take on to make it happen. How the Sixers landed Webber without giving up any of their chips (expiring contracts or prospects) remains a mystery. Kenny Thomas, in particular, has a contract only Isiah would love. Corliss Williamson should be a good fit, and Brian Skinner was more like an afterthought ... but Kenny Thomas?

Still, we're reserving judgment for the moment. Kings GM Geoff Petrie has been so good over the years that he deserves time to let this deal work itself out. Still, with the Cuttino Mobley deal fresh in our minds, we have to start wondering whether he's slipped a bit.



Cleveland Cavaliers: The team took a direct hit when it learned the object of its free-agent desire this summer, Michael Redd, probably would be staying in Milwaukee.

Determined to address their need for another swingman now, the Cavs got their hands on Welsch – a good, solid player who isn't exactly a marksman from 3-point land. They gave up a future first-round pick to get him, so the loss wasn't significant. Overall, it was a pretty good move.

But the Cavs lost another opportunity to gain ground in the East when they couldn't convince the Raptors to pull the trigger on a deal that would've netted them Donyell Marshall.

While Welsch will help them in the short run, in the long run the team still has big issues to address.

Atlanta Hawks: Max contracts for sale. Will take expiring contracts and draft picks in return. Inquire within.

Oh, and by the way, here's the safest prediction of the trade deadline. Gary Payton never wears a Hawks jersey. Look for him to work a buyout and join the team of his choice within a week. Gary will get his wish after all.



Houston Rockets: The team now has five point guards, none of whom are really the type who can put the Rockets over the top in the West. Bob Sura has been good, though he may move to the two now, since he really isn't a point guard. Mike James should step into the lead role soon. He's a strong defender who should suit Jeff Van Gundy's taste.

In the end, the Rockets just wanted to dump Maurice Taylor and found one of only two teams (the Blazers were the other) willing to take him off their hands.



Denver Nuggets: It's about time GM Kiki Vandeweghe admits Nikoloz Tskitishvili was a bust.

Eduardo Najera may be many things. He hustles, can score a little and can add some toughness. But given his ugly contract, injury issues and limited upside, this trade is Kiki's admission that if he could do it all over again, he would've left Skita shooting jumpers in a gym in Italy.

The first-round pick helps the tough medicine go down smoother.

Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.