Winners and Losers of the Trade Deadline

The Trade Deadline is up and many teams made moves to bolster their chances of winning in the playoffs or look to build for the future. But some teams did not even make a single move or made the wrong moves that can potentially risk their chances of getting wins.  Here are my winners and losers  of this seasons Trade Deadline.



Winners -

 The Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers finally pulled the trigger and upgraded the point guard position by acquiring Ramon Sessions from the Cleveland Cavaliers. He is a piece the Lakers were missing to make a deep run in the West. He can score in various ways and is able to facilitate an offense. The Lakers also added some athletic big men in Christian Eyenga from the Cavs and Jordan Hill of the Houston Rockets. The Lakers bench has gotten deeper with the addition of those two. The Lakers had to give up Luke Walton and Jason Kapono to the Cavs and 16 year veteran Derek Fisher to the Rockets. It was sad for Laker fans and players to see Fish go, but it is a great trade for the Lakers moving forward.







The Golden State Warriors: The Warriors made moves to acquire center Andrew Bogut from the Bucks along with former Warrior Stephen Jackson, which was shortly lived because of the trade to acquire Richard Jefferson from the Spurs. Although they had to move their leading scorer Monta Ellis, I believe the Warriors have gotten better for the future. Bogut is a legit low-post presence center and Richard Jefferson can contribute in many ways for the Warriors. I expect them to continue to build around Bogut and point guard Stephen Curry in the next few years.







Losers-


The Orlando Magic: The Dwight Howard to (insert team here) rumors have finally come to an end for the Magic and Howard has committed himself to stay for another season in Orlando, in the most indecisive way. With all that being said, the Magic did not make a move to get another threat to tag along with Dwight to make a title run. With all their focus on Superman, GM Otis Smith did not shop for a Monta Ellis or a Gerald Wallace type player. To keep Dwight Howard in an Orlando uniform the Magic need to make a move to get a scorer.

The New Jersey Nets: Deron Williams told the Nets that he will opt out and become a free agent this summer. So by not trading Williams or grabbing another big man to play with him the Nets are in a lose-lose situation. At least by trading Williams New Jersey could of got someone in return to potentially help them next season. It will be tough for New Jersey to once again re-build if Brook Lopez is not healthy or Deron Williams leaves.

Celtics PG Rajon Rondo

The Trade Deadline had alot of hype this season, but most of the big rumors either did not pan out or were false. Such as the Celtics trading their future franchise player in Rajon Rondo because apparently he did not fit the "system" of the Celtics. Or the long awaited Pau Gasol move was not close to happening according to Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak sending Gasol to Houston or Chicago. Both players eventually stayed with their respective teams.





Hopefully for all the teams who made a trade or kept a player, it works out for them. It is better for the game from a fans perspective to see teams succeed by acquiring or retaining their players. With all that being said lets just see how Free Agency goes in the summer time.










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