NBA Trade Deadline Roundup – Dissecting Atlantic Division Deals
Heading into the NBA Trade Deadline the two teams everyone expected to make moves entered and exited the day with precisely the same rosters.
Boston Celtics:
On one hand, it seemed GM Danny Ainge had to make a move at the deadline or it would be considered a failure. Perched in second, surely the Celtics wanted to add another piece to help improve their chances of usurping the Cavaliers. Copious headlines indicated Ainge was keen to add another star of the ilk of Jimmy Butler, Paul George or Blake Griffin to pair with All-Star Isaiah Thomas.
On the other hand, the Celtics haven’t moved past the first round since 2011-12 when Boston still had two of their big three on staff (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce).
Perhaps he’s viewed as a Shylock who’ll steal your pound of flesh and then expect you to donate blood on top of it.
Coincidentally, those two players provided the catalyst for Ainge to rob the Brooklyn Nets of their future. And, that move may have dictated the past few seasons of inactivity in Boston. Case in point, Ainge hasn’t been very successful at getting his peers to do business. Perhaps he’s viewed as a Shylock who’ll steal your pound of flesh and then expect you to donate blood on top of it.
That said, Ainge has all the balls in his court (literally and figuratively) with the deepest draft in years on tap and a 25 percent chance of snagging the top pick. Given Boston could use a prototypical floor general it may have been his best move to stand pat.
Final Grade: C-
The grade may seem generous, but with Ainge holding two potential number one draft picks, it’s hard to question exercising caution.
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New York Knicks:
Arguably, the New York Knicks wanted to be the busiest deadline day franchise. Unfortunately, the team from the Mecca is hampered with issues. First, there is the meddling owner James Dolan who made an absolute mockery of how to treat a former player. President Phil Jackson has failed to understand the physiological warfare he used as a coach doesn’t translate in management.
President Phil Jackson has failed to understand the physiological warfare he used as a coach doesn’t translate in management.
Factor in superstar Carmelo Anthony who negotiated his no-trade clause making him all but unmovable. In truth, the manner in which Anthony’s dealt with Jackson’s off-court shenanigans has only bolstered respect from his peers.
Unfortunately, Melo doesn’t fit in the role of team option one any longer. Putting ball-dominant and regressing players like Derrick Rose beside him likely isn’t helping. There are also questions about Rose’s temperament and his negative locker room effect.
Final Grade: F
Suffice to say the Knicks entered the NBA Trade Deadline with expectations for an active day. Desires to move Anthony and Rose fell flat and New York exited the NBA Trade Deadline with their roster unchanged. Moving forward, Jackson needs to stop working the pundits and pick up the phone instead.