Alliteration is fun!
Hello, I'm...aw hell, y'all know me by now. As we feverishly wait for the second half of the season to officially get underway, let's take a look back at all the "action" we've witnessed.
Movers and Shakers of the Underground
It's quite often in many walks of life for the fates of the elite to ultimately be controlled by those below. The NBA is no different, as those in lotto contention often find themselves using their cap to serve as power brokers, altering the landscape of title contenders in the process. Many a great team has been broken up due to the tax, and knowing when and how to cut costs is an art not often recognized.
Among this season's biggest money movers is the JNR, as 2 of his trades have had direct implications on top team's cap situations. The Randolph/Jianlian deal enabled the Wizards to save 11 points in tax penalties, as well as give them a more cost-effective player for next season, saving them around 2.5 million next season. Impressive, but a mere footnote compared to the next deal. JNR's agreement to take on Glen "Big Baby" Davis' bloated expiring gave San Antonio just enough room to strike a deal for star PF Zach Randolph without inflating their tax bill much.
Also a key broker is Tray, whose deal to bring Bynum to LA will certainly have a major ripple effect on the Eastern Conference as a whole. The Sixers will have three highly sought-after RFAs next offseason, and now that Bynum's 26 million next season will no longer be a factor, Balls can now comfortably match two, if not all, of his players with only approximately 49 million on the books for next season. As always, it's the little man with large cap space who has the biggest impact on deadline day.
A Tale of Two (Eastern) Cities
That's not to say that those on top are completely without power, however, as both Atlantic and Central Division leaders took measures to keep them in the hunt for the remainder of this year and beyond. The aforementioned Wizards contined to add versatility to their roster even as they shed salary in deals for 7' Yi Jianlian and the young DC native Patrick Patterson, who will be a RFA this upcoming offseason. Patterson and Jianlian help solve the problem of manning the middle should Biedrins command a high price in Free Agency. Thus, Washington's already-exorbitant cap figure is unlikely to reach astronomical levels next season.
Atlanta has a similar idea in mind, but as usual, takes it a step beyond. WigNosy is famed for playing chess when the rest of the league focuses on checkers, and he strikes again by trading Jeremy Lin to the Knicks. For the short term, Nate Robinson has proven capable of running the point over his last few seasons. For the long term, Lin's departure keeps the Hawks from having to add to their tax by matching whatever large RFA offer Lin will receive. This is not an issue for the rebuilding Knicks, who are about to be overflowing with young, cost-effective talent soon, but for the Hawks, currently in their second year of the tax, every dollar saved is crucial. For the longer term, the Rockets have been a shaky franchise for quite some time, and so ownership of their first could pay off in 2015. Acquiring Khris Middleton also gives them a young, cost-effective alternative to the aging Carmelo and upcoming UFA Rudy Gay. Wig now has other options beyond simply staying the course, and thus maintains the flexibility he's used so well over the years.
The Wilder, Wilder West
Surprisingly, despite the logjam at #3-#8 in the East, no team truly attempted to fully lay claim to a top seed via trade. Such was not the case in the West, where both the Spurs and the Warriors made moves to both challenge the Nuggets and fend off rivals like the Clippers, Kings, and Suns. Bow's flurry of deadline-day moves saw an assembly of 3pt snipers gathering around defensive wunderkind DeAndre Jordan, while the Spurs acquired the true grit-n-grind frontcourt partner for Josh Smith that he'd been waiting for in Zach Randolph. Both moves give them an edge when matched up against their conference foes. The Spurs no longer fear Denver or Sacramento's intimidating post play, nor do the Warriors lack the firepower to go the distance with the scoring ability of Phoenix and LA. Though the playoffs are always a wild ride, the West is shaping up to be a true slugfest.
And so we close out another trade season, though this one might have seemed quieter than others. As more and more money is being spent, cap control has become as important as talent acquisition. Still, having an eye to the future is valuable, as even the relatively small deals for the Hornets (Kyle O'Quinn), Bucks (Draymond Green), and Wolves (Otto Porter Jr.) showed long-term focus. There is no easy road to greatness, yet every team searches in their own way to find their path. This has been anoth- well, the first - edition of Deadline Dateline. Good night.
Hello, I'm...aw hell, y'all know me by now. As we feverishly wait for the second half of the season to officially get underway, let's take a look back at all the "action" we've witnessed.
Movers and Shakers of the Underground
It's quite often in many walks of life for the fates of the elite to ultimately be controlled by those below. The NBA is no different, as those in lotto contention often find themselves using their cap to serve as power brokers, altering the landscape of title contenders in the process. Many a great team has been broken up due to the tax, and knowing when and how to cut costs is an art not often recognized.
Among this season's biggest money movers is the JNR, as 2 of his trades have had direct implications on top team's cap situations. The Randolph/Jianlian deal enabled the Wizards to save 11 points in tax penalties, as well as give them a more cost-effective player for next season, saving them around 2.5 million next season. Impressive, but a mere footnote compared to the next deal. JNR's agreement to take on Glen "Big Baby" Davis' bloated expiring gave San Antonio just enough room to strike a deal for star PF Zach Randolph without inflating their tax bill much.
Also a key broker is Tray, whose deal to bring Bynum to LA will certainly have a major ripple effect on the Eastern Conference as a whole. The Sixers will have three highly sought-after RFAs next offseason, and now that Bynum's 26 million next season will no longer be a factor, Balls can now comfortably match two, if not all, of his players with only approximately 49 million on the books for next season. As always, it's the little man with large cap space who has the biggest impact on deadline day.
A Tale of Two (Eastern) Cities
That's not to say that those on top are completely without power, however, as both Atlantic and Central Division leaders took measures to keep them in the hunt for the remainder of this year and beyond. The aforementioned Wizards contined to add versatility to their roster even as they shed salary in deals for 7' Yi Jianlian and the young DC native Patrick Patterson, who will be a RFA this upcoming offseason. Patterson and Jianlian help solve the problem of manning the middle should Biedrins command a high price in Free Agency. Thus, Washington's already-exorbitant cap figure is unlikely to reach astronomical levels next season.
Atlanta has a similar idea in mind, but as usual, takes it a step beyond. WigNosy is famed for playing chess when the rest of the league focuses on checkers, and he strikes again by trading Jeremy Lin to the Knicks. For the short term, Nate Robinson has proven capable of running the point over his last few seasons. For the long term, Lin's departure keeps the Hawks from having to add to their tax by matching whatever large RFA offer Lin will receive. This is not an issue for the rebuilding Knicks, who are about to be overflowing with young, cost-effective talent soon, but for the Hawks, currently in their second year of the tax, every dollar saved is crucial. For the longer term, the Rockets have been a shaky franchise for quite some time, and so ownership of their first could pay off in 2015. Acquiring Khris Middleton also gives them a young, cost-effective alternative to the aging Carmelo and upcoming UFA Rudy Gay. Wig now has other options beyond simply staying the course, and thus maintains the flexibility he's used so well over the years.
The Wilder, Wilder West
Surprisingly, despite the logjam at #3-#8 in the East, no team truly attempted to fully lay claim to a top seed via trade. Such was not the case in the West, where both the Spurs and the Warriors made moves to both challenge the Nuggets and fend off rivals like the Clippers, Kings, and Suns. Bow's flurry of deadline-day moves saw an assembly of 3pt snipers gathering around defensive wunderkind DeAndre Jordan, while the Spurs acquired the true grit-n-grind frontcourt partner for Josh Smith that he'd been waiting for in Zach Randolph. Both moves give them an edge when matched up against their conference foes. The Spurs no longer fear Denver or Sacramento's intimidating post play, nor do the Warriors lack the firepower to go the distance with the scoring ability of Phoenix and LA. Though the playoffs are always a wild ride, the West is shaping up to be a true slugfest.
And so we close out another trade season, though this one might have seemed quieter than others. As more and more money is being spent, cap control has become as important as talent acquisition. Still, having an eye to the future is valuable, as even the relatively small deals for the Hornets (Kyle O'Quinn), Bucks (Draymond Green), and Wolves (Otto Porter Jr.) showed long-term focus. There is no easy road to greatness, yet every team searches in their own way to find their path. This has been anoth- well, the first - edition of Deadline Dateline. Good night.
