The NBA trade deadline passed without a blockbuster deal but did have some moves of interest.
The most notable was the Indiana Pacers sending their former franchise player Danny Granger to the Philadelphia 76ers for Evan Turner, a quality player who assumes Granger’s role as a reserve.
The latter not long ago was a good scorer, but he regressed badly this season at age 30. Turner scores a bit, has the size to defend and rebound, and will provide energy off the bench for a team looking for every incremental improvement in the hopes of a title run.
The Washington Wizards made a smart pick-up in landing Andre Miller from the Denver Nuggets. At 37, Miller is not as spry as he once was, but is a needed veteran anchor off the bench behind their young John Wall-Bradley Beal back-court tandem.
Similarly, the Golden State Warriors brought in Steve Blake from the Los Angeles Lakers for a couple spare parts. Blake, 33, is nobody’s idea of an exciting addition, but he has made a career of being a competent back-up point guard, and the Warriors needed one.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia dealt Spencer Hawes, an above-average big man, to the Cleveland Cavaliers for little in return. And as if the Milwaukee Bucks were not bad enough, they shipped out two useful guards, in Gary Neal and Luke Ridnour, to the Charlotte Bobcats.
It was not earth-shattering fare, but the smattering of trades widened the gap between those who believe they can make the play-offs and those who do not.
jraymond@thenational.ae
