TWTWTNBA - Breaking Down the Deals - At the Buzzer

The trade deadline has always been the talk after the All-Star Game. It makes good cooler talk and write-up material. I may not be as good as some people who have done their homework, but hey, I give some effort, too. This year has been a very juicy one, thanks to the Melodrama and post-Lebron era and the possibility of the lockout.

Here are all the deals that were consummated this week, added with my own take on the trade:

• The Toronto Raptors acquire James Johnson from the Chicago Bulls for a 2011 1st round pick previously owned by the Miami Heat.

Chicago needed to clear room on their roster in any case that they were able to secure any sort of an upgrade over Keith Bogans. Unfortunately, they were not able to find a way to get one, but they already held a tryout of four D-League guys, of which, they will choose one.

• The New York Knicks acquire Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Renaldo Balkman, Corey Brewer, Anthony Carter, Shelden Williams; while the Denver Nuggets acquire Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Kosta Koufos, Timofey Mozgov, a 2014 1st round pick of the New York Knicks, second round picks in 2012 and 2013 previously owned by Golden State and $3 million cash. At the same time, the Minnesota Timberwolves secure $3 million in cash, Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph.

I believe we have covered this one already. Ewing theory alert for the Nuggets.

• The New Jersey Nets acquire Deron Williams from the Utah Jazz for cash, Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, a 2011 1st round pick and a 2012 1st round pick previously owned by Golden State.

Someone already did his take. Mine is, the Russian Mark Cuban needed to make a move to build something for Brooklyn. Although the tweetstream showed a little disappointment in Deron during the press conference. You heard it here first, AK-47 will be signing with NJ in the offseason.

• The New Orleans Hornets acquire Carl Landry from the Sacramento Kings for Marcus Thornton and cash.

I have no idea why it's only Marcus Thornton, because it originally had David Andersen. Apparently, the Maloofs' need the cash more to position for them to be called the Los Angeles Kings of Anaheim. Landry becomes their version of Big Baby, a solid off-the-bench offensive threat. With Tyreke on the mend, Marcus can be plugged in easily.

• The New Jersey Nets acquire Brandan Wright and Dan Gadzuric from the Golden State Warriors for Troy Murphy and a 2012 2nd round pick.

Golden State has already made it known that they don't need him. This was a cap clearing move, because both Wright and Gadzuric are expirings.

• The Atlanta Hawks acquire Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong from the Washington Wizards for Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, Maurice Evans and a 2011 1st round pick.

Someone already gave his two cents. Mine is, Hinrich is a better upgrade over Bibby and buys them a little more time with the development of Jeff Teague. Hilton provides size, and that's pretty much it. As for the Wiz, they're pretty much shuffling the deck. Bibby might be an interesting veteran waiver piece should the possibility present itself.

• The Cleveland Cavaliers acquire Baron Davis and a 2011 1st round pick from the Los Angeles Clippers for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.

Baron Davis reunites with Byron Scott, his former coach in Nawlins. As The Sports Guy tweeted, this clears the decks for 2012 for a FA that will not come. This will be the attempt to build something around Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin. We sorely needed a small forward and hopefully Jamario fits the bill. Clippers think they do not need an additional kid on a roster whose stars are all kids (Bledsoe, Gordon, Aminu, Griffin and Jordan are all below 23). This move also ensure that the Minny pick in 2012 will not be going anywhere. Personally, it's sad to see him go, but in order for the evolution to proceed, he has to leave.

• The Oklahoma City Thunder acquire Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson from the Boston Celtics for Jeff Green, Nenad Krstic and a 2012 first round pick previously owned by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Not surprised with this deal. The Boston vets were not pleased, but with this move, Ainge will probably be setting the table for the Big Baby extension (the frontrunner for the Sixth Man of the Year). Sam Presti must have watched the final seconds of their game against San Antonio to do this move. If you watched that endgame sequence, you'll get what I am saying. Kendrick will be providing the muscle and matching smirk for the Thunder.

• The Cleveland Cavaliers acquire Semih Erden and Luke Harangody from the Boston Celtics for a 2013 2nd round pick previously owned by Minnesota.

Celtics aim to recapture their late-season magic of 2008 again. They freed up space to sign somebody, preferably someone big. (I'm looking at you, Troy Murphy) As a consequence (because they had 16 players), Cleveland waived Leon Powe, who in any minute now will be returning to the Garden.

• The Memphis Grizzlies acquire Shane Battier and Ish Smith from the Houston Rockets for Demarre Carroll, Hashim Thabeet and future 1st round pick.

Thabeet needs a fresh start. Houston's been getting by with a 6'6" Center. They need size with Yao out. They nab a pick in the process and also get another athletic figure in Carroll. Battier is precisely what the Grizzlies need, a veteran who will do anything asked with full effort and accountability. Heisley thinks they are a playoff team, so they're making a move to ensure they get the remaining openings available. Hopefully his presence can smooth over any differences, especially since Indiana decided to hold the Mayo.

• The Oklahoma City Thunder acquire Nazr Mohammed from the Charlotte Bobcats for Morris Peterson and DJ White.

If Kendrick Perkins was not enough, Nazr Mohammed is insurance. They just became more physical, tougher and even more dangerous. And they did not really give up much. The Bobcats are shedding salary, which will be more apparent below.

• The Phoenix Suns acquire Aaron Brooks from the Houston Rockets for Goran Dragic and a future 1st round pick.

Typical Sarver move, trading away draft picks and staying cost-conscious. Brooks now becomes the latest baller to be named as the successor to Steve Nash. With his skills, he might be able to replicate the success of SSOL Leandrinho Barbosa. This probably also frees up minutes for Kyle Lowry, who has played well as of late.

• The Portland Trailblazers acquire Gerald Wallace from the Charlotte Bobcats for Dante Cunningham, Sean Marks, Joel Przybilla, a 2011 1st round pick previously owned by New Orleans, a 2013 1st round pick and cash.

Obviously, the Bobcats are in shedding salary mode by "giving away" Crash to a Portland team that is going to be one lean mean athletic defensive unit with Marcus Camby and Wes Matthews and a promising Nic Batum. To fit the current roster, Charlotte waived Derrick Brown, Sherron Collins and Dominic McGuire. Sean Marks was waived because technically, they have no use for him.

• The Sacramento Kings acquire Marquis Daniels and cash from the Boston Celtics for a 2017 second round pick.

The NBA asks teams to have a salary floor. The Kings were below it. At the same time, Boston needed to clear room for their veteran waiver targets. They needed Marquis to sign off on this deal, which they did. Considering that he might be out for the season, this is purely meh.

FYI to part, Here is the Carmelo intro in his first game as a Knickerbocker