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.

NBA Playoff Predictions

    Now that the NBA season is over, it is time for the most exiting part of the NBA season to me, the Playoffs! Before we start my predictions, lets look back at how I did from my pre-season predictions.

    In the Eastern Conference, all the divisions I predicted very well. The Atlantic and Southeast divisions I was close to perfect, but I had two teams one spot higher and one spot lower then where they actually finished. In the Central, I had the Bucks at number two, Pistons at three, and Pacers at four. Yet the Pacers finished second, Bucks third, and Pistons fourth.

    I did great in my Eastern playoff predictions. I had seven of the eight teams I picked to make the playoffs, make it to the playoffs. The odd team out is the Milwaukee Bucks who were a disappointing team this year, and instead the Pacers took that spot. The seeding was well chosen too, as all teams had the correct seed or were one spot away. The exemptions were the Magic and Knicks, who were two spots away, and the Bulls who were three.

   As for the Western Conference, things did not go to well. I did a poor job in predicting the Southwest and Northwest divisions. I did predict the division winners correctly at least. The Pacific division was better, but not as good as any of the Eastern divisions. I predicted the Lakers and Suns at one and two respectively, and that played through. The fault though was that I had the Kings at number three and Warriors at five. If I had those teams flipped, I would have had a completely perfect division.

    For the Western playoffs, I only correctly predicted five of the eight teams. This being the Lakers, Spurs, Mavericks, Thunder, and Trail Blazers. I would like to add though that the other three teams I had in the playoffs were the last three teams to not get in. For seeding, the five teams I had in the playoffs were very close to their real seed. Except the Trail Blazers, who were three seeds off. Besides the Trail Blazers, the three teams i did not have in the playoffs held one of the bottom four seeds.

    So overall, I would say I did pretty good. Especially in the East. Now though, lets look at my playoff predictions for the real playoffs. And please remember, I still stand by my pre-season playoff predictions, and can only be held accountable for those predictions.


EASTERN CONFERENCE


Round 1:

1-Chicago Bulls over 8-Indiana Pacers, 4-0


    Bulls have not been a number one seed for a long time. But they are a determined team and Derrick Rose is the best point guard in the NBA. Bulls dominate Pacers and finish with a quick sweep.

Dwight Howard, Magic

5-Atlanta Hawks over 4-Orlando Magic, 4-2

    Orlando has looked weak at times this season and always has seemed to lose the games against talented teams as of late. Atlanta is tired of being bounced by the Magic the last two years, and makes sure it does not happen again. Atlanta will win the first two in Orlando and go up 2-0, which will lead to a series win due to the strong start. 

3-Boston Celtics over 6-New York Knicks, 4-2

    A great series here as New York will give Boston more then they expect. But Carmelo has never had much playoff success, and Amare Stoudemire has never had any as the leader. Boston has the experience which will lead to the win.

2-Miami Heat over 7-Philadelphia 76ers, 4-3

Dwayne Wade, Heat

    This is hard because I think the Heat will struggle and barley pull out the first series or two, much like the Celtics in their first year together in 2008, as they went to seven with Atlanta. Yet the 76ers have little playoff experience. But neither did Atlanta in 2008. So Heat win in seven, but only due to this being the first playoff series for the Big three.
 .
Eastern Conference Semis:

1-Chicago Bulls over 5-Atlanta Hawks, 4-2

Ray Allen, Celtics

    Bulls keep rolling, and Rose is playing like the MVP he is. Hawks put up a fight, but Bulls are a better team when it comes down to it.

3-Boston Celtics over 2-Miami Heat, 4-3

    Miami and Boston put on the best series in the playoffs, of hard fought, really rough play. Many technicals and lots of shoves. The Celtics are lucky the heat don't have two great big men now that Kendrick Perkins is gone. But at least there wont be as many technicals. And its not like Bosh is that good anyway. Celtics pull win and LeBron still has no ring.

Eastern Conference Championship:

3-Boston Celtics over 1-Chicago Bulls 

    Once again, experience pulls the Celtics through as it has many times before. Celtics reach Finals for third time in four years, hoping to win one more ring. But Bulls will be much better next year, and have a great shot at getting that title.

Western Conference

Round 1:

Tim Duncan, Spurs

1-San Antonio Spurs over 8-Memphis Grizzlies, 4-1

    Spurs are just to good. Even if Manu Ginobli does not play, Spurs still win this series. Grizzlies are on the right track to getting better. Yet they are still missing that one piece. Even one more good player could help this team. The Pistons were a team with only good but not great players in 2004, and they one a championship... but in 2011, Spurs win.

4-Oklahoma City Thunder over 5-Denver Nuggets, 4-3

   

Brandon Roy, Trail Blazers

6-Portland Trail Blazers over 3-Dallas Mavericks, 4-3

    Tough series here and hard to predict. Could go any way. But I think Portland pulls the upset. The difference maker? Gerald Wallace. He brings the tough mentality the Trail Blazers need to be better. He adds the extra piece to Portland. And that is why Portland sneaks out of this series with the 4-3 advantage.

2-Los Angeles Lakers over 7-New Orleans Hornets, 4-1

    The Hornets have Chris Paul back which is what kept them out of the playoffs last season. But their playing the Lakers. And there is no way the Lakers loose in round one. Not a chance. New Orleans gets one win late in the series, but LA takes this one easily.

Conference Semis:

1-San Antonio Spurs over 4-Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-2

Kevin Durant, Thunder

    In my pre-season predictions, I had the Spurs going to the Western Conference Finals. I still think they will. Many people did not have them having the same amount of success. I did and that was one thing that I did very well on. In this series the Spurs play at a higher level then the Thunder, who have the least amount of playoff experience of anyone in the west besides Memphis. Spurs win this series. The only reason I see that would let Oklahoma City win is if Manu Ginobli still is not healthy. 


2-Los Angeles Lakers over 6-Portland Trail Blazers, 4-2

    The Lakers have dominated Portland year after year. Except when they play in Portland. The Lakers are just too good. Portland squeaks out one or two wins in Portland, but Lakers dominate this series. Kobe will play at a high level, but I think the biggest difference maker I think will be Pau Gasol in the paint.

Conference Championship:

2-Los Angeles Lakers over 1-San Antonio Spurs, 4-3

Lamar Odom, Lakers

    The Spurs and Lakers are the best two teams in the West no question. Yet I still think the Lakers are the better team. Kobe Bryant has made it a mission to win six championships like Michael Jordan. This year would be #6. Assuming my prediction is correct as to the Celtics making it from the East, Shaquille O'neal would win his fifth ring. Bryant knows this is such a big deal and will make sure his team wins their third championship in a row. 

NBA Finals: 

3-Boston Celtics over 2- Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3

Garnett in 2008

    I hate to see it as much as anyone. The Lakers and Celtics are both back in the Finals. Again. Its boring. Nothing changes. But the NBA has always kind of been that way. So here we go again. Lakers and Celtics. The good news is that I see a very good, very hard fought series here that goes to seven games. But I think the Celtics pull one out and the original big three wins one more ring. Lakers come close, and almost win. But the Celtics will play like they did in 2008 against the Lakers and win. However I still could see the Lakers winning this one. But because I have to pick one winner, the Boston Celtics win the 2011 NBA Finals.

    The good news is that both teams are aging. Next season I don't think we will see either of these teams in the Finals. The Bulls, Thunder, Knicks, and Heat will have a great shot. The Celtics are old and the window of greatness is closing fast. The Lakers are going down too, just not as fast at Boston. 

    If I were the Celtics, I would start to transition, so that I do not have a long stretch of mediocrity. Build the team around Rajon Rondo. Sign a huge, young free agent. Try to trade for a lottery pick and get a top-5 talent. Because if they wait to long and rely on Garnett, Pierce and Allen, they will have a long stretch of bad years. Rajon Rondo is not going to carry this team to the Finals. He is no LeBron James or Kobe Bryant. Let Allen go, and mentor young guys with Garnett and Pierce. Then they will not skip a beat and keep on winning. But if they do not do something fast, this will be the Celtics last Championship for a long time.

Boston Celtics, 2011 NBA Champions

    


Awards: 
  
MVP: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Defensive Player of Year: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Most Improved Player: Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves

Rookie Of Year: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers

6th Man:  Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers

Coach of Year: Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls

MVP Derrick Rose, Bulls

 
    
    
    So there you have it, my 2011 NBA Playoff predictions. I hope you enjoy them and I am exited to get the games started! Thanks for reading!