As we near the Thursday trade deadline, there was finally some movement.
While there wasn’t any blockbuster deals, there were still some noticeable names who were dealt today.
The Orlando Magic traded 23-year-old forward Tobias Harris to Detroit for Brandon Jennings and Ersan llyasova.
Then shortly after, a three-team deal went through involving Miami, Charlotte and Memphis.
Heat receive: Brian Roberts.
Hornets receive: Courtney Lee.
Grizzlies receive: Chris “Birdman” Andersen, P.J. Hairston and four second round draft picks.
So, the question begs, who are the winners and losers from today’s transactions?
Winners:
Detroit Pistons – Well, isn’t this one pretty obvious?
Detroit essentially got Harris without giving up anything.
Sure, they’ll have to find a backup point guard, but it’s not like Brandon Jennings was lighting the world on fire. He’s only played in 23 games, while averaging just 6.8 points per game.
Ersan llyasova is averaging 11.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in 27.6 minutes a night.
Meanwhile, Harris is averaging nearly 14 points per game to go along with 7 boards and keep in mind, he was playing in a very crowded pool of young talent in Orlando.
With Detroit being near the middle of the pack offensively, attaining a guy like Harris will go a long way to providing some much needed fire power.
Former Pistons legend Chauncey Billups has high praise for Harris.
“Love it!! I think Tobias is a potential All-Star in our league.”
Charlotte Hornets – In the wake of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s season ending shoulder injury, Michael Jordan’s team had to make a move to stay a float.
Landing shooting guard Courtney Lee was the perfect move.
Lee averages 10 points per game, while shooting an impressive 37 percent from distance.
Miami Heat – Yes, the only player Miami received was 30-year-old Brian Roberts.
However, you’ll be a fool to believe Pat Riley didn’t make a tactical move in some aspect.
Miami has been looking to unload Chris Andersen’s $5 million salary for quite some time now. To start the season, the Heat found themselves with the fifth-highest payroll in the association at $91.2 million, while owing tons of luxury tax money.
This move cut their debt down.
Trading Chris Andersen and absorbing Brian Roberts in a three-team deal has taken Heat from $14.3 million in owed luxury tax to $8.8 million
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 16, 2016
Smart business move.
Losers:
Orlando Magic – Um, I wish I could truly tell you what Orlando is doing.
Obviously, moving Tobias Harris freed up tons of cap space, but it’s not as if Orlando is a hotbed for star free agents.
Kevin Durant isn’t walking through that door.
General manager Rob Hennigan must have a follow up move or two after this because they already have several guards in Elfrid Payton, Shabazz Napier, Victor Oladipo, Evan Fournier and rookie Mario Hezonja.
Where does Brandon Jennings fit?
Memphis Grizzlies – For a team that needs to make the playoffs, this move confuses me a bit.
With Marc Gasol out indefinitely, the Grizzlies took a major hit on both ends of the floor.
Getting ‘Birdman’ is good from a defensive and rebounding perspective, but by trading Courtney Lee, Memphis takes a big hit on the perimeter.
Why does Memphis need to make the playoffs you ask?
Well, missing the postseason will cost them the lottery protection on a 2016 first round pick.
