OT: NBA Trade Deadline at 3PM ET Today

Submitted by West German Judge on

Just a heads up and something to keep an eye out for.  

I hope the Pistons can find a taker for Josh Smith and/or find a way to bring in Rondo from Boston or Deng from Cleveland.

I hope Joe Dumars gets kicked in the nuts for not acquiring Spencer Hawes for the two 2nd rounders that Philly accepted for him.

So far things have been pretty quiet but there's generally a flurry of small moves made at the eleventh hour.

Sleepy

February 20th, 2014 at 10:20 AM ^

As a 35-year old Bulls fan who spent his formative years loathing the Bad Boys, watching Joe D run the Pistons into the ground over the past ten years has been quite enjoyable.  And yes, I apologize for the dickishness of this comment.  Sort of.

93Grad

February 20th, 2014 at 4:27 PM ^

The Bad Boys were getting up there in age.  It certianly did not help losing Mahorn in the expansion draft.  Its hard to see, even in retrospect how they could have kept a team that would have been capable of beating the Bulls without some major infusions of younger talent and that was tough to do with late round picks and not many high value assets to trade.

not TOM BRADY

February 20th, 2014 at 10:25 AM ^

High second round picks are more valuable than a late 1st. The second round picks money is not guaranteed. And the player can be just as good as a late first. Exampe- Kyle Singler. Trading a second round pick for a average nba player would be a terrible move.

West German Judge

February 20th, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^

I understand the value of early 2nd rounders.

But 25 year old starting centers that put up 13/8.5/3 with competence from the FT line and beyond are above "average".  Acquiring Hawes at that price could have given us the additional flexibility to pull the trigger on a Monroe or Smith trade.

West German Judge

February 20th, 2014 at 11:43 AM ^

Spencer Hawes has a solid back-to-the-basket game and would likely do a better job at stretching the floor at either frontcourt position than Villanueva and Smith would.  We currently don't *have* a backup C, and Hawes would be a great value to have coming off the bench, able to spell either Monroe or Drummond.

I'm not really sure what I have to explain here?  No, he's not Tim Duncan.  But he is a very serviceable, versatile, young, affordable big that was acquired for cheap and would both fill a hole in our roster and potentially facilitate other moves.

not TOM BRADY

February 20th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^

The pistons are in no position to win. Why would they make a move that wouldnt make them that much better. I would rather ride it out  and tank with the guys we have than waste assets on an average or slighly above average player. The move doesnt make them better and giving up an ealry second round pick for next years draft class would be awful, because next years class is very deep and there will be talent to be had in the second round.

This team is not in a position to win right now. Id rather have two young cheap players than a big man who is going to get overpaid after this off season. If Spencer Hawes was this outstanding role player, why didnt other teams try to make this move. The Cavs gave up way to much for an average NBA player, that will most likely bolt after the season is over unless he gets a 4-5 year deal in the 8 million dollar range to stay. Id rather take my chances at drafting a shooter or another big  early in the 2nd round the next two years and only pay them under a million dollars for 3 seasons, espicially if Joe D is gone and somebody else drafts the player. 

West German Judge

February 20th, 2014 at 12:32 PM ^

I'm truly at a loss. I don't care this much about Spencer Hawes to keep espousing his virtues.

I think you are vastly overrating the value of a 2nd round pick and the breadth of this draft class.  

When a team has been given an edict to make the playoffs and are currently 9th place in the conference, you make the essentially free and immediate move that could push you over the edge (at the cost of, what, cutting NBDL Peyton Siva?).  Two 2nd rounders that may never play a minute in the NBA don't come close to equaling the value of a rental (with free agent rights) that could be the 6th-8th man on the team at a shallow position or start in case of injury.

I see that you've turned into a bratty six year old in the time it took me to compose this response, so have fun with that.  Farewell.

mGrowOld

February 20th, 2014 at 11:33 AM ^

Cavs have won 6 in a row and havent lost since the GM Grant was fired.  His termination woke the team up and since his departure they've actually listened to HC Mike Brown regarding defense.  Plus Dion Waters is playing like a man possessed and Anthony Bennett has three double-double's in his last four games (shocking but true).

The Cavs may be going nowhere but they're about to pass the Pistons in the standings and will probably make the playoffs.  Look for charity elsewhere my friend.

samdrussBLUE

February 20th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^

NBA is a joke.  Wake me up when the 3-point contest is not out of 34 points and the dunk contest actually becomes competitive and not just a bright light show.  I long for the golden age of basketball again.

LSAClassOf2000

February 20th, 2014 at 11:48 AM ^

Sports Illustrated is providing regular updates and analysis - LINK

You can check it out if you would like - the latest one is sort of interesting, however. As of 11:20 AM EST, Sacramento agreed to acquire Roger Mason from Miami, but it is a cash-only proposition as the Kings will apparently, in turn, waive Mason. Also, the Cavaliers are exploring options on a Luol Deng deal as well. 

Simps

February 20th, 2014 at 11:48 AM ^

Being a Pistons and Lions fan sucks. Having to endure Dumars and Millen as GMs of my favorite teams has caused me to begin balding at age 28. We used to have the WIngs, but now they've been sliding. It's a craptacular time to be a Detroit fan. In the late 90s-early aughts I never would have guessed that the Tigers would be the brightest light in an otherwise sad fandom. 

Bergs

February 20th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^

I understand Dumars has been unpopular since about 08, but the man is responsible for the team that won an NBA title, had back to back NBA Finals appearances and how many consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances? He's not even close to Matt Millen bad.

Simps

February 20th, 2014 at 12:21 PM ^

I can agree with that. I loved that 04 team, and have never enjoyed watching the NBA as much as I did during those years. I will give him credit for that. And the levels of bad are definitely varying between the two, but Dumars has been bad for awhile now. Add that to an inexperienced owner and it's a disaster. 

West German Judge

February 20th, 2014 at 12:42 PM ^

Very disappointing that we're setting the bar higher than "mere" expirings.  Smith is such a toxic contract that the expirings of Stuckey or Villanueva should even be thrown in as enticement in exchange for 2-3 smaller contracts.

It's going to take some work and compromise to move Smith.  Joe did this to himself, though.

MGoChippewa

February 20th, 2014 at 12:48 PM ^

isn't nearly as toxic as Charlie or Ben.  He had an established run of success in Atlanta.  The problem is, that run is at PF, not SF.  Any team trading for him to fill their void at PF would be making a very smart move, especially since the price is going to be low.  He fits his years and dollars pretty well with his production at PF.

West German Judge

February 20th, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^

I have similar thoughts about Gordon.  I don't think he would have become a toxic asset had we given him the minutes, shots, and role he was accustomed to with Chicago.  Instead we played musical chairs with the guard rotation and made bizarre coaching decisions.  

The fact that we gave up a possible lotto pick just to open up the capspace to make the same mistake again with Smith, just, boggles the mind.

I agree that Smith at PF brings a far better return on investment and it saddens me that we didn't find a way to showcase him more at that position.  I had been in favor of bringing him off the bench with about 12 minutes at SF and the other 24 or so at PF for a rotation of

SF KCP and Singler and Smith 12

PF Monroe 16/Smith 24/WXYZ 8

C Drummond 32/Monroe 16

MGoChippewa

February 20th, 2014 at 12:46 PM ^

CHA receives: Gary Neal, Luke Ridnour

MIL receives: Jeff Adrien, Ramon Sessions

Also,

WAS receives: Andre Miller

DEN receives: Jan Vesely

PHI receives: Eric Maynor, two 2nd round picks.

The 76ers now own 9 2nd round picks in this year's draft.

Niels

February 20th, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^

Grew up in Philly with the Dr J, Moses, Andrew Toney teams and have been depressed ever since Harold Katz ok'ed the worst day of NBA deals in history.

Now they have an owner who is happy tanking in ordet to win later.The current GM (Sam Hinkie) should be arrested for stealing for some of his deals.

The Hawes trade is a great example. The 2nd round picks are those of the Cavs and Magic, which is not a bad thing this year. Hawes was going to be let go anyway and the Sixers sold high (his numbers are seriously misleading given the Sixers pace this year). 

I hope that the Pistons get a decent GM soon so that they can experience as well the excitement of someone who knows what they are doing, though the only GM's left to sucker at that point may be Billy King and MJ.