@bodytext: The big ripple in NBA waters this past week were the trades of two all-stars and six other players that just slipped under Thursday's season trade deadline.
The Milwaukee Bucks sent shooting guard Ray Allen, point guard Kevin Ollie, and forward Ronald Murray to the Seattle Sonics for point guard Gary Payton and swingman Desmond Mason. The Sonics also parted ways with point guard Kenny Anderson for the price of big man Elden Campbell.
Taken separately, the Anderson-for-Cambell trade and the Payton trade could each be justified by the Sonics. Anderson was wasting away on the pine and the team needed more size in the West. Payton was going to leave anyway at the end of the season due to team financial limitations and a strained relationship with management.
But taken together, the bottom line is that Brent Barry and Kevin Ollie now man the point guard position for the Sonics. That's just not going to get it done. However, Seattle wasn't playoff-bound this year anyway, and now they don't have to worry about signing Payton after this year. Instead they can build around a nucleus of Allen, Rashard Lewis, and whatever lottery pick they get this off-season.
From the Bucks' point of view, the trade is also a bit confusing, and has both pros and cons for the team. Sam Cassell is not even happy when he is playing, and this trade can only mean less playing time for him. If the deal was Allen straight up for GP, then you'd have to say the Bucks lost out, because Allen is 27 and Payton is 34. But add to the mix 25 year old up-and-coming Mason (balanced against career backup Ollie and Murray, whom no one has even heard of before), and things tilt in the Bucks' favor.
Additionally, the Bucks prevented Payton from going to division rival Indiana Pacers, who were reportedly interested in the veteran guard. It will also be interesting to see how things will work out between Payton and Bucks coach George Karl, who are reunited after several years apart. Remember, it was Karl, Payton and a much skinnier Shawn Kemp who guided the Sonics to the 1996 Finals before succumbing to the Jordan-Pippen-Rodman juggernaut.
Also, money, possibly even more so than basketball, played a huge role in this trade. Payton's contract runs out at the end of this season, meaning that Milwaukee can either try to re-sign him or let him go to create room under the salary cap. Allen still has two years at $28 million dollars left, and coming on the heels of the off-season disposal of Glenn Robinson and his hefty contract, it seems like this is another move to trim payroll in Milwaukee.
Why do this? Because Milwaukee owner (Senator Herb Kohl) has announced that he is putting the team up for sale after the season, so the financial situation regarding players is now more appealing to potential buyers.
The other big deal (any deal in which Shammond Williams is the biggest name is not a big deal) was the Orlando Magic dishing Mike Miller and Ryan Humphrey to the Memphis Grizzlies for Gordon Gricek and Drew Gooden.
This trade is noteworthy because a) it means that Jerry West admits he made a mistake drafting Gooden last spring; b) it clears some space at the crowded forward spot in Memphis and gives Miller a chance to see if he can headline for a team out of Tracy McGrady's shadow; c) it gives McGrady some inside help in the form of Gooden; and d) it was risky of Orlando management to trade away McGrady's best friend in Miller. How did McGrady respond? With 52 points in a victory over the Chicago Bulls and 46 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds to defeat the New Jersey Nets.
As for the teams that didn't make any moves but should have, look no further than the Atlanta Hawks, which stood pat. Teams that did the right thing by not dealing before Thursday's trading deadline: the Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trailblazers, and Philadelphia 76ers.
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