Those looking at March Madness betting will note how the 2011 NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone for another season. How did your team make out? Regardless of the outcome, teams are now stuck with what they got to either make a postseason run or to ride out the season until next year.
A total of 13 deals took place before the 3 p.m. deadline on February 24th. Those studying the March Madness odds note how it could of very well been 14, but the Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies were not able to get the finer details worked out on a deal that would have sent O.J. Mayo to the Pacers for Josh McRoberts and a first round pick.
With all trade deadlines, there are deals that will pay off for a teams immediately. Other deals will benefit teams in the long term once players involved mature and grow into their new surroundings.
The two biggest deals immediately changed the landscape of the Atlantic Division with both Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams moving over. The Knicks traded away most of their starting unit to get Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Renaldo Balkman, Anthony Carter and Corey Brewer.
Many fans and experts felt that giving up Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Timofey Mozgov, a 2014 first-round Draft Pick, a 2012 and 2013 second-round Draft Pick, Kosta Koufos and $3 million was too much.
But the Knicks got the superstar they wanted. They got the scoring machine they wanted. Most importantly they got more leverage for bigger signings this summer. The Knicks might not be a better team overall after the deal, but they are relevant again in the NBA and that is what matters.
The other big deal involving the Atlantic Division, was the New Jersey Nets landing Deron Williams from the Utah Jazz. The Jazz get Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and two first-round Draft Picks in return. This deal looks like a winner for the Nets up front but the real winner in this draft will be determined on how Favors works out as a budding star.
The Nets missed out on LeBron in the summer and Carmelo but they finally landed their big star in Williams. He is an elite point guard which is so coveted in the NBA.
Filed under: NBA
