Trade Deadline

Well, I wrote about the Wizards less than 24 hours ago. Today, they've traded two pieces and gotten a big one back.

There are all kinds of platitudes you hear about trade evaluation, but one common one is that whoever got the best player got the best of the trade. If that's true, the Wizards won this deal. They give up McGee and Young and get Nene. Nene is not "a real dude" like I mentioned the Wiz needing, but he's closer than I thought they could get. I think he'll help on both ends if he can stay on the court.

Denver gets McGee, who should benefit from playing for Karl. He seems to be a fit in that system, because he can run. I just wonder if Karl is overestimating his ability to teach McGee basketball. I also wonder why they were so quick to jettison Nene after re-signing him in the offseason. Maybe they're coming around to Cuban's point of view that assets will be valued differently in the next couple of years, and wanted some flexibility.

The Clippers, however, is the team that I think "wins" this deal, even though they were used mostly just to make it work as an afterthought. I mentioned in my post that Nick Young has the enviable skill of being able to create his own shot. He can make space. The Clips have needed that skill since including Gordon in the CP deal. Apparently, Young is going home as well. If only VDN wasn't there, I would think this move would make them a contender.

In other trades, I don't see much that matters this year. The Rockets and Lakers both make a couple moves, but I'm not sure either will be able to put enough together in the playoffs.

Let me know your thoughts.