Since the NBA trade deadline, there have been all sorts of commentary and analysis telling us the winners and losers, who was a gambler and who was a pimp, who was turning lemons into lemonade and who was a truck stop waitress. I have my own take on the events surrounding the deadline happenings.  Let’s take a look at the landscape of the NBA as the All-Star weekend and trade deadline dust begins to settle…

Perhaps my favorite show on TV is Pardon the Interruption, but I took exception with some comments made the other day.  My boy Tony Kornheiser was ranting on about how he hates the NBA at this point of the season because there are only a handful of teams trying to make a run at the title and everyone else is preparing for next season and beyond.  He believes you are stiffing season ticket holders and your fans by not putting your best product on the floor right now.

Hey Tony, why don’t you check out baseball, where the Royals & Pirates fans have been preparing for next season for decades.  This week pitchers and catchers are arrived for spring training and their fans are already thinking about next season because they have zero chance this year.  Neither does Cleveland, Washington and Oakland.

At least the NBA encourages teams to build through the draft and gives a financial incentive for players to sign with their current team.

And speaking of building, did you see Isiah Thomas on PTI this past week?  When asking about his name surfacing in rumors to coach the Clippers, Thomas responded by saying that he enjoys coaching in college and that it is uncertain whether he is a successful NBA coach.  Ok…I’m still with you Isiah, I guess. He went on to say his real strength though lies in NBA management, building a team, drafting players and surrounding them with the right pieces.   WHAT?  What world does this guy live in?  French philosopher Voltaire wrote, “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”  Look, if another NBA organization  gets duped by this dude into hiring him, it will be a true sign of the apocalypse.

One big trade involved Cleveland getting Antawn Jamison for a pick and big Z even though he will probably be back in Ohio in about a month.  Most experts were slurping the deal hard and pointed to Jamison being able to guard Rashard Lewis.  I think that it’s a positive move long term but not a significant upgrade unless Z comes back.  Short term, it will take Mike Brown a few weeks to figure out the rotations, because ideas usually have to marinate before he knows exactly which direction to go. The bigger question is: When did Rashard Lewis turn into Larry Bird?  Trade to get someone to guard him?

The Dallas deal was really the only other trade with title implications.  Great deal for Dallas which gained a very good perimeter defender but more importantly added size. Another reason I like the deal is because Josh Howard can go ball-hoggin stat crazy in Washington looking for a contract…good news for my fantasy team—oppps, I mean, he tore his ACL and is out for the season.

Shall we look at Washington for a moment just from this perspective: what is Gilbert Arenas thinking right now after the Wizards dismantled their team midway through a season in which they felt they could contend in the East? I assume he doesn’t take much responsibility for the situation or any of his actions.  How crazy is it that a guy brings a gun to work and the business gets rid of all the other people while keeping him?  I guess Gilbert does feel excited though because there are some new players at the card table…deal’em in.

The Clippers. Do I need to say anything more? A talent-loaded roster started the season with all sorts of hope, but the result was in a team so underachieving and directionless that they are just giving away players at the deadline.   You want a talented young perimeter player…here you go…here’s Al Thornton…you can thank me later.  Oh, you need a center…he’s a little long in the tooth but can still play…you can have Marcus Camby…no, you don’t have to give me anything…no really, I don’t want anything, just take him…fine, but I want some cash in return…yep, you have to pay me if you want me to take Screech and Dave Chappelle.

Check back tomorrow for Part II

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Troy Herrod is the newest member to The Sports Union writing staff.  He brings an extensive knowledge of books, swing sets, and dinosaurs (though his extensive knowledge of dinosaurs is matched by his 3-year-old son, who is waaay smarter and has his mom’s good looks – thank God!) … oh yeah, he knows a little about the game of basketball from his days working as the original Yeti mascot for the Seattle Supersonics.

Related posts:

1. ⊚  King Herrod’s NBA Cliffs Notes
2. ⊚  NBA Trade Deadline Deals
3. ⊚  King Herrod’s NBA Cliffs Notes: Bitter February Nights
4. ⊚  Book Review: Oher and The Blindside
5. ⊚  The King Lives: A Battle Cry for Wounded Trojans