Playoff Contenders Make Big Moves At NBA Trade Deadline

By Ray Bennett
Thursday February 24, 2011

Once the clock struck 3:00 P.M EST, the new landscape of the NBA season began to take shape.

The NBA's non-waiver trade deadline passed at 3:00 P.M EST on Thursday. This means that after this time has passed, none of the league's 30 teams can trade players without putting them on the waivers list first. The deadline is always the time of the season in which teams that are contending for a playoff spot attempt to make roster changes that they seem fit for how far they will go. Teams trying to rebuild for next season also make moves to help free up space in their salary cap.

The Boston Celtics (in first place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 41-14)and the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder (fourth place in the Western Conference at 36-20) made the biggest deal of the day, with the Celtics sending effective yet injury prone center Kendrick Perkins to the Thunder. Perkins, who is day-to-day with a sprained MCL suffered before the All-Star break, along with 5'9" guard Nate Robinson were sent to Oklahoma City in exchange for power forward Jeff Green and center Nenad Krstic.

This move comes at a time in which the Celtics are in need of help at center and off the bench. Perkins is averaging 7.3 points per game in 12 games this season since returning in January after suffering a torn ACL in last season's NBA Finals. He's currently listed day-to-day after spraining an MCL before the All-Star break. The Celtics are already reeling from the injuries of big men Shaquille and Jermaine O'Neal. The Celtics received emerging power forward Jeff Green, who averaged 15.2 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game in 49 games with the Thunder. Green will come off the bench for starting All-Star power forward Kevin Garnett. Center Nenad Krstic, averaging 7.6 points per game in 47 with Oklahoma City, will also come off the bench for Boston.

The biggest sellers of the day were the Houston Rockets and the Charlotte Bobcats. The Bobcats agreed to deal backup center Nazr Mohammed to Oklahoma City for veteran shooting guard Morris Peterson and third year power forward D.J. White. Charlotte also delt star forward Gerald Wallace to the Portland Trail Blazers for center Joel Przybilla, power forward Dante Cunningham, and two future first-round draft picks. The Bobcats, who are currently sitting 2.5 games back of the eight and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference behind Indiana, are looking to make it back to the playoffs for the second time in the franchise's young history. Portland is currently in seventh in the Western Conference with a 32-25 record.

The Rockets traded veteran small forward and Duke alum Shane Battier to the Western Conference eighth place team Memphis Grizzlies for second-year center Hasheem Thabeet and a first round lottery protected pick in this year's NBA Draft. Battier, who started out his career with Memphis, is averaging 8.6 points per game in 59 games this season. Thabeet, a highly coveted center when he was drafted second overall in the 2009 NBA Draft, has been marred by poor play and a stint in the NBA's developmental league in his short two year NBA career. The Rockets also traded point guard Aaron Brooks to the Phoenix Suns for gurad Goran Dragic and a first round pick. Brooks, who came off a career-high 19.6 points per game last season, saw his productivity dip with the Rockets in 34 games.

One notable team looking to rebuild for the future is the league's worst team the Cleveland Caveliers. The Cavs acquired veteran point guard Baron Davis and a 2011 first round pick from the Los Angeles Clippers late Wednesday night in exchange for star point guard Mo Williams and backup small forward Jamario Moon. Davis, who signed with the Clippers after the 2008-2009 season, had a rocky relationship with team owner Donald Sterling. That may have played a role in the trade that gives the Clippers Williams and the expiring contract of Moon, who's scheduled to make $3 Million this season. Cleveland also received rookies Luke Harangody and Semih Erden from the Celtics for a future second-round draft pick. The team also tried to get disgruntled  Pistons guard Richard "Rip" Hamilton. However, the deal fell through at the last minute after Hamilton could not agree to playing off the bench and a $25 Million buyout.

The trading frenzy began on Tuesday with the New York Knicks getting small forward Carmello Anthony and point guard Chauncy Billips in a three team, 11 player deal that also involved the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Wednesday saw the Utah Jazz deal star guard Deron Williams to the New Jersey Nets. This years trade deadline comes near a looming labor dispute that could affect next season. The NBA's current collective bargaining agreement expires this July.