NBA Notebook: Trade Deadline Edition

Houston Rockets C Dwight Howard was in a lot of trade rumors during the week but did he get traded before the Thursday deadline?

Ryan Fox

Around All-Star break in most sports, things tend to go into a miniature lull in activity and news. Except for the NBA. Why you may ask? Because right after the All-Star, it’s the NBA trade deadline. With so many trade rumors and ideas out there, one can get wrapped up for days in discussion. Which team is going to go into the rebuild process? Which team is going to sacrifice the future for the present? Which superstar player is going to be on the move and which one will stay? So many questions but so little time. 

Trading Places
 If there is a time where basketball media people look forward to the most, it is the NBA trade deadline. In the past we have seen many big deals happen right before the deadline like Paul Gasol traded from Memphis to the Lakers in 2008 and Carmelo Anthony transfer from the Mile High City to the Big Apple in 2012. With names like Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Al Horford, and Dwight Howard being floated out there, you would think there would be a bigtime trade. However this time around, it was mostly teams either trying to shed some salary, adding rotational pieces, or begin the process of ‘tanking’ and trading away their best players for bench warmers. 

With less than 30 games left in the season, these trades could have an impact of whether or not one of those teams will make it into the postseason. Listed below are all the trades that happened before the 3:00 P.M. EST deadline this past Thursday.
 
Trade #1
Teams involved: Denver Nuggets & Oklahoma City Thunder
 
Denver Nuggets get:
G D.J. Augustin, F Steve Novak, Two second round picks, and Cash considerations
 
Oklahoma City get:
G Randy Foye
 
Trade #2
Teams Involved: Los Angeles Clippers & Memphis Grizzlies

Los Angeles Clippers get:
F Jeff Green
​
Memphis Grizzlies get:
F Lance Stephenson & Future protected first-round pick
 
Trade #3
Teams Involved: Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards
 
Phoenix Suns get:
C/F DeJuan Blair, F Kris Humphries, and Protected 2016 first-round pick
 
Washington Wizards get:
F Markieff Morris
 
Trade #4
Teams Involved: Detroit Pistons & Houston Rockets
 
Detroit Pistons get:
 F/C Donatas Motiejunas & G Marcus Thornton

Houston Rockets get:
C Joel Anthony & Protected 2016 first-round draft pick
 
Trade #5
Teams Involved: Philadelphia 76ers & Houston Rockets

Philadelphia 76ers get:
C Joel Anthony& 2017 second-round pick (from Rockets via Nuggets)

Houston Rockets get:
Rights to PF Chukwudiebere Maduabum
 
Trade #6
Teams involved: Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, and Chicago Bulls
 
Utah Jazz gets:
G Shelvin Mack (from Hawks)
 
Atlanta Hawks get:
G Kirk Hinrich (from Bulls)
 
Chicago Bulls get:
G Justin Holiday (from Hawks) & Future second-round pick (from Jazz)
 
Trade #7
Teams involved: Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Orlando Magic
 
Portland Trail Blazers get:
C Anderson Varejao & Future first-round pick (from Cavs)
 
Cleveland Cavaliers get:
F Channing Frye (from Magic) & Future second-round pick (from Blazers)

Orlando Magic gets:
G Jared Cunningham & Future second-round pick (from Cavs)
 
Trade #8
Teams involved: Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat
 
Portland Trail Blazers get:
G Brian Roberts & Future second round pick
 
Miami Heat gets:
Cash considerations
 
Trade #9
Teams involved: New Orleans Pelicans and Miami Heat
 
New Orleans Pelicans get:
F Jarnell Stokes
 
Miami Heat get:
Future second-round pick
 
Trade #10
Teams involved: Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Miami Heat
 
Charlotte Hornets get:
G Courtney Lee (from Grizzlies)
 
Memphis Grizzlies get:
F P.J. Hairston & two second-round picks (Charlotte 2018 & Brooklyn 2019) (from Hornets)
F/C Chris Andersen & two second-round picks (Protected  Miami 2017 & Protected  Boston 2019) (from Heat) 

Miami Heat get:
G Brian Roberts (from Hornets)
 
Trade #11
Teams Involved: Detroit Pistons & Orlando Magic

Detroit Pistons get:
F Tobias Harris
​
Orlando Magic get:
G Brandon Jennings & F Ersan Ilyasova
 
 
NBA All-Star Shines Bright
You’ve heard people in sports media criticize the NBA All-Star game. How it’s nothing more than a glorified exhibition game, that a pick-up game on a playground basketball court has more defense in it, that nobody really pays attention to it. Well the 7.6 million viewers who watched the West take down the East 196-173 would think otherwise.
 
According to the Nielsen’s ratings, the NBA All-Star game averaged 7.6 million viewers for the entire game. This also includes a peak of 8.7 million viewers during a 15-minute window from 8:45-9:00 p.m.EST, making it the most-viewed program on cable television on Sunday Night. According to the Nieslen ratings, the top local market ratings with the most viewers were as followed: San Antonio, TX (12.4); Oklahoma City, OK (9.9); Cleveland, OH (9.7); San Francisco, CA (9.4); and Memphis, TN (8.4). Ironically enough, the Nieslen ratings did not reflect viewers in the city of Toronto since it is not a US city.
 
Not bad for a game that is usually poo-pooed.
 
Rigby Steps Down
They say that all good things come to an end. After 30 years with working with the Utah Jazz organization, team president Randy Rigby announced this past Wednesday that after the season ends he will be stepping down from his current job position and seek a role as team adviser.

Rigby was promoted to team president back in 2007 after serving as the Jazz’s Senior VP/Sales & Broadcasting & CMO as well as serve as President & CEO of Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Jazz. During his time as team president, the Jazz made the playoffs four times and finished above .500 five times. During his press conference, Rigby reflected on his time with the team. Quote,

“In my career reflections, I have decided that after 30 wonderful years with the Utah Jazz and Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment to announce my retirement at the end of this season. I want to thank my family, the Miller family, the Jazz and NBA family, and this great community for the incredible memories, experiences, support and people that have been part of this choice journey. I am excited about the future of the Jazz and my continued involvement as an adviser. I look forward to remaining involved in the community and in pursuing new opportunities both personally and professionally. It has been a privilege to be part of this first-class organization.” (via Fox 13 Salt Lake City)

Team owner Gail Miller, owner of the Larry H. Miller Group, also commented on the announcement of Rigby’s retirement from his role as team president. Quote,

“Randy has had a remarkable career and contributed in so many ways,” Miller stated. “He has been an excellent representative of the Jazz at the NBA level and in the community. We have been fortunate to have had his guiding hand on the franchise. Beyond his work, our family has appreciated his loyalty and friendship through the years.” (via Fox 13 Salt Lake City)

Taking over for Rigby is Steve Starks, currently president of Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment.Starks has been overseeing the operation of the NBA team since his appointment in March 2015. Starks has also been with the Jazz since 2007, and previously held a position of executive vice president of the Larry H. Miller Management Corporation. The Jazz plan to honor Rigby's accomplishments during an upcoming home game. No date has been given yet.

---

---