Just when I was starting to come up with clever analogies for how anticlimactic the 2014 NBA trade deadline has been, the Indiana Pacers pulled off a major deal in their hopes of dethroning the Miami Heat as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference by acquiring Evan Turner from the Philadelphia 76ers for Danny Granger. Still, for the second straight year it was a rather dull trade deadline. Here is a breakdown of the deals that were made.
Indiana Pacers get Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen
Philadelphia 76ers get Danny Granger and 2015 second round pick
As Ricky Bobby would say, “I play for keeps.” This is clearly what the Pacers are doing right now. They are giving the all-in, stand-up, pace around moment at the poker table by flipping Granger’s expiring contract for Turner who should end up being one hell of a sixth man for Indiana. The Pacers entered the day with the second best record in the league and while most of the top teams around the NBA (including the Heat) either did nothing at the deadline or made a very minute, non-impactful deal, Indy added a dynamic, versatile wing player who could cement their status as the team to beat in the East.
Meanwhile, the 76ers continue to blow up their roster faster than the exes blew up the fun for the original six of this season’s Real World Ex-plosion cast. 76ers GM Sam Hinkie is taking tanking to a whole new level. Click here for more on the Turner trade.
Cleveland Cavaliers get Spencer Hawes
Philadelphia 76ers get Earl Clark, Henry Sims, and two second round picks
With Andrew Bynum flaming out in Cleveland and Anderson Varejao once again banged up, the Cavs add a needed big man without really having to give up anything of real value. Hawes adds some needed versatility to the Cleveland frontcourt since he can stretch defenses with his outside shooting (did you know he’s shooting nearly 40% from three this season?) I actually really like this deal for the Cavs even if Hawes is terrible defensively… then again, so are the Cavs as a whole.
Charlotte Bobcats acquire Luke Ridnour and Gary Neal from Milwaukee Bucks for Ramon Sessions and Jeff Adrien
Ridnour and Neal add depth to the Bobcats backcourt but I can’t see them being a huge upgrade over Sessions unless you talk about needing some shooters. The Bucks save about $3.25 million in cap space by shedding an unhappy Neal. If I were the Bucks, I would have given away anyone on my roster not named Giannis or John.
Washington Wizards get Andre Miller
Denver Nuggets get Jan Vesely
Sixers get Eric Maynor, Washington’s 2015 second round pick, Denver’s 2016 second round pick
The Wizards were looking for an upgrade at guard behind John Wall and Bradley Beal and Miller brings experience and leadership to a team looking to make a playoff push. The Nuggets made this move to shed the $4.6 million that the unhappy Miller is owed next year but I would have liked to see them get more in return. The Sixers got involved in this deal because they now love second round picks more than I love Jimmy Fallon (and I LOVE Jimmy Fallon.)
Sacramento Kings get Jason Terry and Reggie Evans
Brooklyn Nets get Marcus Thornton
Thornton is making $8.7 million next season. That’s a ton to pay for a chucker who doesn’t do much besides occasionally blow up for a 30-plus game. I guess Terry and Evans weren’t doing anything special in Brooklyn though and the team needed to swing for the fences a bit to try and add a spark for their hopeful playoff push.
Golden State Warriors Get Steve Blake
Los Angeles Lakers get SG Marshon Brooks and SG Kent Bazemore
This was a straight salary dump for the Lakers who save about $4 million in luxury tax. Golden State recently traded for Jordan Crawford but were still looking to add some backcourt depth and Blake is still good for 12 minutes a night behind Stephen Curry. Warriors win this trade big time since Brooks and Bazemore weren’t really factors in their rotation.
Houston Rockets get Jordan Hamilton
Denver Nuggets get Aaron Brooks
Brooks replaces Miller as Denver’s backup point guard. Hamilton adds some depth and athleticism to Houston’s wing. Yawn.
Toronto Raptors get Nando De Colo
San Antonio Spurs get Austin Daye
This isn’t even worth 140 characters.
Philadelphia 76ers get Byron Mullens
Los Angeles Clippers get 2nd round pick
The Sixers own about 612 second round picks and needed to add a big since they dealt Hawes and Allen earlier in the day. I don’t get this trade from the Clips standpoint since it depletes their thin frontcourt even more.
Atlanta Hawks get Antawn Jamison
Los Angeles Clippers get draft rights to Cenk Akyol
This is a worthless NBA trade deadline deal like the Kings acquiring Roger Mason from Miami. Both are all about saving some coin in the luxury tax and opening up a roster spot to sign a potential free agent since both Jamison and Mason will be released.
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu to Milwaukee. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet , AND the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft. (Yup, nearly 3peat champ… #humblebrag.)
You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.