Trade gains
OKC’s acquisition of Randy Foye brings roster flexibility, financial relief
Dwight Howard did not get dealt. Neither did Al Horford. Or Blake Griffin. Or Pau Gasol or Kevin Love or Jeff Teague.
The NBA trade deadline came and went Thursday, and you know it was uneventful when who stayed put is a bigger story than who was sent packing. Which for the Thunder generally is good news.
The hierarchy of this 2015-16 season did not change. Most NBA observers agree that historically-great Golden State is the overwhelming favorite to stage a June parade and that only three other
Berry Tramel
teams sniff a chance at an upset. Spurs, Thunder, Cavaliers.
The Clippers made the biggest ripple — can’t call it a splash — in the days and hours and minutes before the deadline, trading the troubled and ineffective Lance Stephenson and a future draft pick for Jeff Green. Doesn’t appear to be enough to lift the Clippers past the Thunder, much less the Warriors, in the pecking order.
Green has become a journeyman since Deadline Day five years ago, when Sam Presti shipped Uncle Jeff to Boston with Nenad Krstic for Kendrick Perkins, and the Thunder suddenly had the defensive mentality that lifted the franchise to perennial contender status.
Green is a solid citizen and a decent-enough offensive player
and a man without a country on defense. Not big enough to battle inside, not quick enough to cover on the wing.
I don’t know if Green will move into the Clipper starting lineup. Luc Mbah a Moute has been LA’s starting big wing, and he’s offensively challenged. Makes Andre Roberson look like Elgin Baylor. But Mbah a Moute can guard you, and the Clippers need defense. Griffin, J.J. Redick, Green. That would be an awfully lax starting unit. Green should come off the bench.
But either way, Green helps the Clippers’ depth, which has been a problem for years.
The Thunder, of course, did even less than LA, trading D.J. Augustin and Steve Novak to Denver for Randy Foye. Dealing two players who never play for a guy who might play is not a bad day at the office, since the Thunder saved $9.8 million in luxury tax money and opened a roster spot in the unlikely case a desired player comes free.
And the Warriors and the Spurs stood pat. You don’t draw on a straight flush. Golden State and San Antonio have combined records of 93-12. Don’t try to remaster Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
As Green doesn’t lift the Clippers a notch, neither does Foye lift the Thunder.
So the Western Conference seems totally regimented going into the playoffs. The Warriors, Spurs, Thunder, Clippers, the great unwashed following. With major gulfs between each peg. Warriors to Spurs, Spurs to Thunder, Thunder to Clippers, Clips to every other team.
At least the Thunder makes the cut on potentially pulling a playoff surprise. Only four teams seem even capable of the NBA championship. Nothing about the trade deadline changed that.
The Nets named as their new general manager, the team announced on Thursday morning.
Marks spent the past five years with the Spurs, including the last two seasons as the team’s assistant general manager. Marks was also an assistant coach on the Spurs’ 2014 NBA championship team.
Marks played 11 seasons in the NBA. He was selected with the 44th pick in the second round of the 1998 NBA draft by the Knicks. He won an NBA title as a player with the Spurs in 2005.
PORTLAND ACTIVE AT TRADE DEADLINE
The Portland Trail Blazers were active at the NBA trade deadline Thursday, acquiring guard and a future second-round pick from Miami, as well as a future first-round pick and forward in a deal with Cleveland. The Blazers also waived guard Portland obtained Roberts for cash considerations. The 30-year-old was traded to Miami from Charlotte on Tuesday and never played for the Heat.
Roberts, a four-year veteran, has played for both the Bobcats and New Orleans, averaging 7.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 252 games, including 57 starts.
Portland sent a second-round pick to Cleveland in the trade for Varejao, who averaged 2.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 10 minutes this season for the Cavaliers. In 12 seasons with Cleveland, Varejao averaged 7.6 points, 7.5 rebound and 1.2 assists.
JAZZ TRADE FOR MACK IN THREE-TEAM DEAL
The Utah Jazz have announced they acquired point guard from Atlanta in a three-team deal including the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls receive a second-round pick from the Jazz and guard from the Hawks. Atlanta receives guard from the Bulls.
Mack averaged 3.9 points, 1.6 assists and 7.5 minutes in 24 games this season. The 25-year-old is shooting 42.1 percent from the field and a career-low 14.8 percent from 3-point range in his fifth season. He’s under contract through the 2016-17 season with the final year not guaranteed.
The Jazz have been in the market for point guard depth since tore his ACL during the summer.
The move trims the Bulls’ luxury-tax bill by close to $2.9 million, leaving them just $1.6 million over the tax. It also opens a roster spot for the Bulls to peruse the buyout pool next month.
Hinrich has played in 868 career regular season games (665 starts) for Atlanta, Chicago and Washington, averaging 11.0 points, 4.9 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 31.0 minutes. He was originally selected in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Bulls.
CELTICS’ OLYNYK OUT TWO WEEKS
Kelly Olynyk
Boston Celtics forward has a right shoulder injury that will keep him out for about two weeks.
General manager said Olynyk received treatment during the All-Star break. The injury won’t require surgery, he said, but it does need more time.
Olynyk is averaging 10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.