NBA Trade Deadline Occurs; Players on Move

    On one of the busiest days in sports of all year, with March Madness, and NFL Free Agency, the NBA had it's share with the trade deadline. Every deadline, multiple trades go down and this year was no different. Dwight Howard and Rajon Rondo were not moved though, but Monta Ellis was a couple of days ago. Still, players were moved all over the league, including some coaches being fired players being waived.

    A three team trade involving the Wizards, Nuggets, and Clippers happened on Thursday, with both players and picks involved.

                                                       

Nene

Clippers Receive:

Nick Young - SG (WAS)

Wizards Receive:

Nene - C (DEN)

Brian Cook - PF (LAC)

2015 2nd Round Pick (LAC)

Nuggets Receive:

JaVale McGee - C (WAS)

Ronny Turiaf - PF (WAS)

    

    For Denver, this trade makes a lot of sense. The team has wanted to go younger, and recent play of rookie Kenneth Faried means Nene could be let go. Nene has been injured much of his career, and is also 29-years old. He signed a five-year extension with Denver last season, for $67 million. McGee is a headache for teams, but also is young and very talented. A winning environment in Denver can bring him back to Earth. He also is younger then Nene and can be worked in with Faried while demanding less minutes. Turiaf is expected to be cut within the next few days.

Nick Young

    For Los Angeles, the deal adds an offensive player in Nick Young. Loosing Cook, who never plays, for Young along with a round two pick is a steal for the Clippers. Young is an LA native before playing at USC. A five year pro, Young is averaging 16.6 ppg this season. 

    For Washington, they add a mature player in Nene to help John Wall and this team rebuild. McGee and Young were very immature and would bring the team down it seemed sometimes. Loosing them can help Wall focus and with a veteran like Nene it only helps. The team also picked up a future 2nd round pick. Brian Cook is also expected to be cut.

    The next trade we saw was between the Lakers and Rockets. A deal that was only made for as a result of a bigger trade which we will talk about next.

Lakers Receive:

Jordan Hill - PF (HOU)

Rockets Receive:

Derek Fisher - PG (LAL)

2012 First round pick (LAL)

   The Lakers had to give up one of their three PG's, and decided to go with youth and kept Steve Blake and Darius Morris. That ment that 37-year old Fisher was the one to be traded. In return the team got Jordan Hill, a former lottery pick by the Knicks. Hill is a solid backup who is averaging  5.0 ppg, and 4.8 rpg this season. The acquisition ruled out any chance that LA would get Michael Beasley from Minnesota. Beasley was not moved during the deadline. Overall, a good pickup for the Lakers, but this was not their biggest trade.

    For Houston, the trade brings in a veteran who can give support at PG. They also pick up a first round pick, which was the main reason they gave up Hill.

    The Lakers best trade on Thursday though, was the one with Cleveland to land Ramon Sessions and fill the hole at PG. 

Lakers Receive:

Ramon Sessions - PG (CLE)

Christian Eyenga - SF (CLE)

Cavilers Receive:

Luke Walton - SF (LAL)

Jason Kapono - SF (LAL)

2012 1st round pick (LAL)

   Los Angeles added a young and talented PG in Sessions who can fill the need of a true PG and help the Lakers get back in the title discussion. Sessions has shown he is a solid player in his career with Milwaukee and Cleveland. Though questions do remain. Does he truly make the Lakers a title contender now? While Sessions was able to average 10.5 ppg backing up Kyrie Irving in Cleveland so far this season, he has not proven he is more then an average starter in this league. 

Ramon Sessions

       

The move certainly helps LA, but does it really help as much as people say? Eyenga is expected to be assigned to LA's D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

    Cleveland adds some depth to the back end of their rotation with Walton and Kapono. They also pick up a first round pick which never can hurt. While Cleveland has along way to go, they still made a good trade.

    

Nate McMillan

    Along with the Lakers and Rockets, Portland was one of the most active teams at the deadline, if not the most. The team made two big trades, overhauling the starting rotation. On top of that, the team fired its coach Nate McMillan after going 20-23 so far this year. 

    McMillan was brought in to Portland in 2005 to rebuild the team. While he as done that, the team has failed to make it past the first round of the playoffs every year. Blame though should go to injuries, as no team in recent memory has ever been hit harder by the bug then Portland. The team's two building blocks in Brandon Roy and Greg Oden both have had their careers cut short by injuries. 

    Still, though the injuries have hurt Portland, the team decided to go in a new direction and fired it's coach. Caleb Kanales will be the intern head coach.

    2007 first overall pick Oden was also cut, as the team needed room for it's new players acquired in trades. Some team will most likely take a risk on him and bring him in on a one year deal, but it still is unknown for sure. Oden still needs to recover from his third knee surgery.

    Portland also made two big trades, the first involving center Marcus Camby.

Portland Receives:

Hasheem Thabeet - C (HOU)

Jonny Flynn - PG (HOU)

Future 2nd round pick (HOU)

Houston Receives:

Marcus Camby - C (POR)

Hasheem Thabeet

    In this trade for Portland, they unload the aging Camby for two former top 6  picks who both have ended up complete busts, and will make the Blazers their 3rd home in their 3-year NBA careers. Thabeet (selected in 2009, 2nd overall by Memphis) became the highest drafted player to be sent to the D-League as a rookie, and ever since has only been able to average 2.2 ppg and 2.7 rps on his career.

    Flynn (2009, 6th overall by Minnesota) has also been awful and played worse then almost every first round pick in 2009 aside from Thabeet. Hopefully, both can tap into their potential in Portland and find some success.

    Houston adds Camby a veteran center who can still put up some decent numbers for them, but better numbers then Thabeet.

    Portland's next trade was with New Jersey. The Nets failed to get Dwight Howard and this trade was a last resort effort to get anyone to come play with Deron Williams.

Nets Receive:

Gerald Wallace - SF (POR)

Trail Blazers Receive:

Mehmet Okur - C (NJ)

Shawne Williams - SF (NJ)

Future 1st round pick (NJ)

    Portland unloads another star for a decent scoring center in Okur, and a solid bench player in Williams who can contribute a couple points each night, along with a first round pick.

    The Nets were apparently close to a deal to get Dwight Howard, forming a Big Two with star PG Deron Williams. But the deal feel through, and Howard announced he will stay with Orlando though next season. The Nets took the best player they could and in return picked up Wallace, a superb defender who can score points too. Solid pick up, but not exactly what Williams had in mind...

Gerald Wallace

    San Antonio also got in on the action, and made a deal with Golden State, who earlier made the biggest trade of the deadline by sending Monta Ellis to Milwaukee for Andrew Bougt.

    In that deal, the Warriors also received Stephen Jackson from the Bucks. But before Jackson could play a game for Golden State, he was sent packing again this time to the state of Texas.

Spurs Receive:

Stephen Jackson - SF (GS)

Warriors Receive:

Richard Jefferson - SF (SA)

2012 1st round pick (SA)

Rights to T.J Ford (SA)

Richard Jefferson

    The Warriors made this deal for the first round pick, and swapped two similar players in age and talent in Jefferson and Jackson. The biggest news in Oakland is still Bogut, but Jefferson, pending a physical, could be ready for Friday's game against Milwaukee, where Bogut will make his Warriors debut  vs. his former team of just three days ago, as will Ellis. 

    T.J. Ford announced his retirement on Monday after another spine injury. If he does make a comeback in the NBA, he will be under contract with Golden State unless cut or traded prior.

     Overall, good trade for Golden State.

   San Antonio gets Stephen Jackson which only can help this team who already seems poised for another deep run into the post season. Jefferson did not really work out as planned, so hopefully Jackson can play in the role Jefferson could not. Keeping the first round pick would have been nice though, as youth is becoming a need as the Spurs age.

    In a small trade today too, Atlanta sent a 2012 2nd round pick to Golden State for cash.

    Some other trades that happened on Thursday:

Raptors Receive:

2012 2nd round pick (IND)

Pacers Receive:

Leandro Barbosa - SG (TOR)

    Raptors also receive cash from Indiana, and waive guard Anthony Carter.

76ers Receive:

Sam Young - SF (MEM)

Grizzlies Receive:

Ricky Sanchez - SF (PHI)

    Ricky Sanchez is currently playing in Argentina. He was originally selected by the Trail Blazers in the 2nd round of the 2005 draft. He has spent time in the D-League with the Idaho Stampede, and in the countries of Venezuela, Mexico, Spain, and Argentina. If he ever comes and plays in America, Philadelphia will have the rights to him. 

Sam Young

    An eventful trade deadline, even though none of the biggest stars were traded aside from Ellis and Bogut. We will see how the season unfolds as we hit the home stretch before the NBA Playoffs.

CP3 Heads West to LAC

    The NBA-owned Hornets finally found a new home for Chris Paul. While he will be going to LA, he will not be joining Kobe Bryant, he will be going to the LA Clippers. Paul was traded along with two future second round picks to the Clippers for Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, Chris Kaman, and a first round pick that was Minnesota's.

Chris Paul

    The New Orleans Hornets are owned by the NBA, and the NBA was negotiating for the Hornets in this trade. Last week a deal with the Lakers and Rockets would have sent Paul to the Lakers, pairing him with Kobe and putting the Lakers back to a title favorite. However the deal fell through at the last minute because other owners became upset as the trade sent a superstar player to join another superstar player, something teams do not want to see another one of.

    The NBA and David Stern received heavy criticism from the public for killing the deal due to the complaining of other teams. In the end, he was not traded to an already championship caliber team and another "big 3" starting up was prevented. Instead Paul will be sent to the other LA team, the Clippers, who are not anywhere near the Lakers talent level.

"I knew we were doing the best thing for New Orleans and that was my job," David Stern said. "You have to stick with what you think was right. I must confess it wasn't a lot of fun, but I don't get paid to have fun."

    This time, Stern did not allow other teams opinions be brought into the equation.

    All of last season, and through the lockout, it appeared Paul would be going to the Knicks. But that never was even an option because of cap space. Paul now joins a Clippers squad who has made some key FA aquistions to try to get this team to the playoffs. They should be there now.

Eric Gordon

    The Clippers lost three very talented young players that really would be the future of this team. Eric Gordon, maybe the most underrated player in the league, is one of the best shooters in the game, but now will be a Hornet. Chris Kaman also is a very underrated player and now he will be shipped off. Al-Farouq Aminu is a young player who has a bright future and he will also be gone. As well as a first round pick that will most likely be a lottery pick.

    With the Clippers additions of Chris Paul, and FA's Chauncy Billups and Caron Butler, and of course Blake Griffin, the team can contend for a playoff spot in the stacked Western Conference. The point guard positron for LA now features Eric Bledsoe, Mo Williams, Paul and Billups.

    As for the New Orleans Hornets, the deal worked out better then most would think. They get three very talented players, and Eric Gorden can flourish as the go to scorer. But they will most likely not be in the playoffs for a few years.

    Overall, the trade left both teams in a better position. The Clippers became much better, and the Hornets while getting worse, still managed to bring in three players that they can build around for the future. They are much better off then most teams when a star is lost (Example: Cleveland Cavs).

 

College Football Week 12 Recap

    It has been along time since my last post, and so much has happened since then. Upsets, a showdown between #1 and #2, and of course Penn State. Week 11 just went by, and it turned the whole College Football world upside-down with four of the top 10 teams loosing.

USC celebrates a win over Oregon

    Oklahoma State played on Friday night, vs an Iowa State team that was looking for its sixth win to become bowl eligible. Many thought it would not come this weekend, and the #2 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys would continue its winning streak heading into a showdown with Oklahoma. But that was not the case as Oklahoma State QB Zach Weeden's pass was tipped and fell into Iowa State hands. The Cyclones won in double OT.

    The Oregon Ducks could clinch a Pac 12 Championship berth before they were upset by USC when the kicker missed a field goal, and Baylor upset Oklahoma at the end of the game. Clemson was demolished by NC State.

Top 25:


1. LSU 11-0
2. Alabama 10-1
3. Arkansas 10-1
4. Stanford 10-1
5. Oklahoma State 10-1
6. Boise State 9-1
7. Oregon 9-2
8. Houston 11-0
9. Virginia Tech 10-1
10. Michigan State 9-2
11. USC 9-2
12. Oklahoma 8-2
13. South Carolina 9-2
14. Georgia 9-2
15. Kansas State 9-2
16. Wisconsin 9-2
17. Michigan 9-2
18. Baylor 7-3
19. TCU 9-2
20. Clemson 9-2
21. Penn State 9-2
22. Virginia 8-3
23. Georgia Tech 8-3
24. Iowa State 6-4
25. Nebraska 8-3

Next 5 in: Rutgers 8-3, Notre Dame 8-3, West Virginia 7-3, Ohio 9-3, Arkansas State 9-2

What To Watch:


Iowa @ #25 Nebraska, Fri 12:00 PM ET, ABC, Prediction: NEB 37 IOWA 34

#8 Houston @ Tulsa, Fri 12:00 PM ET, Prediction: HOU 65 TULSA 56

#3 Arkansas @ #1 LSU, Fri, 2:30 PM ET, Prediction: LSU 35 ARK 25

#24 Iowa State @ #12 Oklahoma, 12:00 PM ET, FX,  Prediction: OK 41 ISU 17

#14 Georgia @ #23 Georgia Tech, 12:00 PM ET, ESPN, Prediction: UGA 23 GT 16

Ohio State @ #17 Michigan, 12:00 PM ET, ABC, Prediction: OSU 31 MICH 24

#2 Alabama @ Auburn, 3:30 PM ET, CBS, Prediction: ALA 30 AUB 6

#9 Virginia Tech @ #22 Virginia, 3:30 PM ET, ABC/ESPN2, Prediction: VT 27 VIR 20

#21 Penn State @ #16 Wisconsin, 3:30 PM ET, ESPN, Prediction: WIS 31 PSU 21

#20 Clemson @ #13 South Carolina, 7:45 PM ET, ESPN, Prediction: SC 17 CLEM 13

Notre Dame @ #4 Stanford, 8:00 PM ET, ABC, Prediction: STAN 26 ND 14

Yao Ming Retires

Yao Ming

    The tallest player in the NBA and one of the most popular may have retired. Yahoo! Sports reported that Yao Ming, the Houston Rockets center and Rockets #1 overall selection in 2002 retired on Friday. Injuries have caused the last few years for Yao to be difficult and he has missed many games. The retirement is not official yet as Yao's agent said that Yao had not informed the Rockets about his plans. Yao will hold a press conference in Shanghai, China to talk about his future plans. But all signs point to Yao retiring.

    Yao Ming is one of the tallest basketball players ever at 7'6, and has always been one of the most popular because of his height. He also is credited as to being the main factor for the NBA to be successful in China, where Yao grew up. After averaging 38.9 points per game and 20.2 rebounds per game in his last year in China, Yao would enter the 2002 NBA draft.

    Initially, CBA rules prevented him from playing in the NBA. But once they were changed, Yao was drafted first overall by the Rockets. At first, he struggled. Many experts did not think Yao would become a good player. But once he got going, Yao put up great numbers and finished second in rookie of the year voting, loosing to Amar'e Stoudemire. He also was unanimous first team All-Rookie.

    Yao continued to have success, and scored the most points of any center from 2002-2009. Teamed with Tracy McGrady in 2004, the Rockets had playoff berths every year from 2004. However the team was always known as a playoff disappointment as they did not make it past the first round until 2009, when they lost in round two.

    From then on, Yao's injury problems started, and ultimately caused him to retire. He sat out the entire 2009-2010 NBA season due to a foot injury. He returned for 2010-2011, but by December he would miss the rest of the NBA season with the same foot injury. He still was voted an all-star. Yao's recovery has reportedly been going slow, which appears to have caused him to retire.

    Yao Ming finishes is shorter then expected NBA career averaging 19.0 ppg, and 9.2 rpg. He also has 1.9 blocks per game. He averaged 19.8 ppg in the playoffs. His awards and recognitions include 8 All-Star games, 5 All-NBA awards (three second-team, two third-team), and was also Sporting News rookie of the year for the 2002-2003 season.

    Yao Ming will always be remembered as one of the NBA's most popular players, and for being the first Chinese NBA player to have success in the league. It is a shame that injurys caused him to retire early, as if he was healthy, he may have been able to play five or six more years.

    The Houston Rockets now can move on though, not having to hold back on adding players because of Yao Ming's presence and not knowing if he would have a productive year coming up.

    In the end, Yao will always be remembered for what he brought the game off the court, but not on it. He could have been better, but still had a good career. He is no Hall of Fame player, but was a good NBA players and at times was dominant. It is sad to see him go wondering what could have possibly been.

OKC, Boston, Memphis, Houston, & More Make Final Trades as Deadline Passes

    The NBA trade deadline passed just about an hour ago at 3:00 eastern. These are the trades that went down today:

Nate Robinson

    The Celtics and Thunder have agreed to a four-player deal. Nate Robinson and Kendrick Perkins are going to Oklahoma City, while Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic are going to Boston. Jeff Green was originaly drafted by Boston, but traded him to the then Seattle SuperSonics for Ray Allen and Glen Davis. The SuperSonics left for Oklahoma City in 2008.

    If the Sonics were still in Seattle, Nate Robinson would have his own homecoming. The Seattle native and former Washington Huskie would be back home. But he will be playing in Oklahoma City for the team that he might have a grudge against for leaving Seattle. I know all of Seattle does.

Morris Peterson

     The Celtics also traded rookies Luke Harangody and Semih Erden to Cleveland for a second round draft choice. The Celtics have traded away three post players today.

    It also wasn't the only trade of the day either for the Thunder. They sent D.J. White and Morris Peterson to Charlotte for center Nazr Mohammed.

Aaron Brooks

    A big clue to where Steve Nash will play after this year happened today, and it appears he might not be in Phoenix after this season. Today the Suns acquired young point guard Aaron Brooks from Houston for guard Goran Dragic, and a first round pick. Could Brooks be the point guard next year in Phoenix?

    Houston and Memphis also made a deal that will send Shane Battier to Memphis for center Hasheem Thabeet and a first round pick. Thabeet is a raw big man who was drafted with the second overall pick in 2009. People said he was drafted to early, and they were right. Poor play led to Thabeet becoming the highest overall pick to be sent to the NBA D-League. Houston did get a first round pick to replace the one they sent to Phoenix today.

     As I said yesterday, the Bobcats and Blazers were in serious talks about Gerald Wallace going to Portland. It went through today as the Blazers sent center Joey Przybilla and a seconed round pick to the Bobcats for Wallace. Przybilla will be the replacement for Nazr Mohammed who was traded to Oklahoma City. Andre Miller, the Trail Blazers point guard, is remaining a Blazer for the rest of the season as it seemed certain that he would be moved before the deadline.