Passing of trade deadline brings relief for players

Ricky Rubio was trying desperately to take his own advice. Minnesota’s point guard told anyone who would listen to him not to worry about the trade deadline, or fret about what moves might be coming.

Practising what he preached was a little difficult.

“Until it doesn’t go down,” Rubio said, “you don’t believe it.”

In his case, nothing went down Thursday – and that brought a clear sense of relief. Trade deadline day came and went with only seven deals involving 14 players, the smallest number of players affected since only four got moved on the big day in 2007.

Rubio was one of many linked to various moves in the days leading up to the deadline, though nothing wound up happening in most of the high-profile cases.

“It was, like, boring,” said Miami president Pat Riley, whose team looked and listened but made no deals.

Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose all stayed with their various teams. Cleveland, Golden State, San Antonio and Boston – the top two teams in each conference – didn’t make any last-minute trades either, though the Cavaliers are likely to add Deron Williams once he clears waivers in the coming days.

The day wasn’t much ado about nothing. But it came close.

“Like we always say, a lot of times very little happens at the deadline,” Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said before New York opened the post-all-star schedule with a loss in Cleveland.

“Now that it’s over, guys can just go out and play.”

That’s what they’re hoping in Indiana, Chicago and other points around the league, as well.

George and Butler were believed to be under serious trade consideration – with Boston linked to both players, the thinking there being that either could seriously enhance the Celtics’ chances of challenging Cleveland for Eastern Conference honours.

“You know, it’s kind of a dark moment of uncertainty,” said George, who didn’t know what was really going on regarding any trade talks the Pacers were or weren’t having.

“That was the frustrating part. You want me to be your guy here, I thought I’d have been in the loop a little more on that.”