The NBA trade deadline has passed, with much excitement and fanfare, but few teams have seemed to make major moves to make a run in this years playoffs. Instead, many teams made moves that set up a very interesting offseason gearing up for the fall of 2010. Clubs moved players this past week to save cap room in the hopes of landing the top free agents. One of which, of course, is Lebron James.
The Knicks, Bulls, Heat, Clippers, Nets, and Wizards all cleared enough cap room and are all possible destinations for the most desirable player in the league. Even with these teams making the necessary financial changes, it doesn’t mean King James will end up in any of those cities.
Failing to get James leaves clubs with less desirable, though still stellar acquisitions. Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, and Joe Johnson would be great additions to any teams. However, in the shadow of Lebron James, the face of the NBA, a player who raises ticket sales and can sell anything, these players will seem a disappointment.
The Phoenix Suns, on the other hand, failed to move Amare Stoudemire, and now risk losing him in the offseason as a free agent and getting nothing in return.
The NBA has become a league with a staggering lack of parity. The Cavs and Celtics made moves for depth that should help their push. But the teams that already have, simply have more, and those that don’t are planning simply for the offseason. The Trailblazers filled in their injury problems by getting Marcus Camby, and the Bucks picked up John Salmons. These two teams, however, sit on the cusp of the playoffs, and should they get in, and they may have only four games against the top ranked team.
It is shaping up to be an offseason with a incredibly amount of money changing hands, and some of the best players moving cities. With James likely moving, parity may be back in the league as his new team will be among the favorites to take home a title. In the meantime, there is still lots to look forward to as the NBA heads for the final stretch. Continue to monitor the games and check out the latest NBA odds to stay up to date and be successful.
