By Adam Johnson
The NBA trade deadline has come and gone. In the end it passed with little fanfare and no more than a simple shuffling of the deck among role players. Some teams got marginally better while others made head scratching moves. The four contenders at the top largely stood pat while the bottom dwellers felt no need to add any real pieces. All in all, the whole thing was slightly boring.
However, players did move teams, which is interesting to at least think about. Here are the five players who were moved near the deadline that I think will have the biggest impact on the rest of this season.
The NBA trade deadline has come and gone. In the end it passed with little fanfare and no more than a simple shuffling of the deck among role players. Some teams got marginally better while others made head scratching moves. The four contenders at the top largely stood pat while the bottom dwellers felt no need to add any real pieces. All in all, the whole thing was slightly boring.
However, players did move teams, which is interesting to at least think about. Here are the five players who were moved near the deadline that I think will have the biggest impact on the rest of this season.
1. Tobias Harris
The Detroit Pistons picked up this 23-year-old swingman for a couple of veterans (Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova) that aren’t setting the world on fire. In Harris, the Pistons are getting a good player on a good deal that can step in and score right away. Detroit probably sealed a playoff spot with this pick up.
2. Channing Frye
Frye definitely isn’t the best player moved on Thursday but he now plays for Cleveland so we are going to see him play many times over the next few months. This doesn’t make the Cavs favorites to beat Golden State or San Antonio but it gives LeBron another weapon to play with against either of those two teams in the Finals.
3. Markieff Morris
The Wizards had to give up a top-9 protected first round pick to snag Morris from Phoenix but I think this could be worth it in the long run. Morris can be a beast when he feels like trying and Washington badly needed another talented guy going forward. Also, good on Phoenix for getting that good of a pick; I think both teams “won” this trade.
4. Jeff Green
I am nowhere near as high on Green as Charles Barkley seemed to be on Inside the NBA Thursday night. He looks like he should be awesome but ultimately provides very little real value. Good guy, great story, but I don’t see this move putting the Clippers “in the conversation”.
5. Courtney Lee
Lee is a traditionally underappreciated player who has carved out a decent little career. Charlotte needed an upgrade at shooting guard and got it while not giving up very much. Good on them.
The Detroit Pistons picked up this 23-year-old swingman for a couple of veterans (Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova) that aren’t setting the world on fire. In Harris, the Pistons are getting a good player on a good deal that can step in and score right away. Detroit probably sealed a playoff spot with this pick up.
2. Channing Frye
Frye definitely isn’t the best player moved on Thursday but he now plays for Cleveland so we are going to see him play many times over the next few months. This doesn’t make the Cavs favorites to beat Golden State or San Antonio but it gives LeBron another weapon to play with against either of those two teams in the Finals.
3. Markieff Morris
The Wizards had to give up a top-9 protected first round pick to snag Morris from Phoenix but I think this could be worth it in the long run. Morris can be a beast when he feels like trying and Washington badly needed another talented guy going forward. Also, good on Phoenix for getting that good of a pick; I think both teams “won” this trade.
4. Jeff Green
I am nowhere near as high on Green as Charles Barkley seemed to be on Inside the NBA Thursday night. He looks like he should be awesome but ultimately provides very little real value. Good guy, great story, but I don’t see this move putting the Clippers “in the conversation”.
5. Courtney Lee
Lee is a traditionally underappreciated player who has carved out a decent little career. Charlotte needed an upgrade at shooting guard and got it while not giving up very much. Good on them.
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