Trade Tracker: Instant analysis of deals

The trade deadline passed Thursday afternoon, but not without a flurry of late activity.  Here’s how it unfolded:

• A shocking conclusion
The details are in folks. Here are the last few deals trickling in:

1) Boston sends Nate Robinson and Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City for Nenad Krstic and Jeff Green
I touched on this earlier, but I am legitimately floored. The deal makes sense for Oklahoma City, who likely was going to let both Green and Krstic – on expiring deals — walk after this season. They also have coveted a legitimate shot-blocking, rebounding monster since their deal for Tyson Chandler fell through. Perkins fills the void, though it will be fascinating to watch how well he functions without Kevin Garnett barking out orders and directing traffic. Robinson can provide some scoring pop off the bench, but with such a crowded back court in OKC, it’s unclear how much he’ll play or if he’s just here for salary-matching purposes.

In any case, for those of you waiting for Oklahoma City to cash in on their assets — here you go.

As for Boston, I need some time to digest what has happened here. Perkins was a crucial cog on one of the league’s elite defenses, and though Boston kept its defense near league-best without him over the first half of this season, it’s hard to believe they dealt him away with the rest of their big men so banged up. Krstic adds perimeter shooting, but he’s not scaring anyone on defense. I would find it shocking if Boston were really willing to go to battle with this big man rotation. Maybe some other move is coming.

There’s one other wrinkle: Perkins strained a ligament in his left knee in Boston’s first game after the All-Star break. Does Boston know something here? A few sources have told me Oklahoma City has among the best medical and research teams in the league, so I’d be shocked if any injury-related thing caught that team off-guard.

2) The Bobcats trade Gerald Wallace to the Blazers
The Bobcats will get Joel Przybilla, Dante Cunningham and two first-round picks in return, sources told SI.com’s Chris Mannix. Wow.

3) Memphis trades Hasheem Thabeet and a first-round pick to the Rockets for Shane Battier
The exact nature of the pick Memphis is sending is unclear, since they owe their 2011 pick (lottery-protected) to Minnesota and may have received another pick in an O.J. Mayo deal that is not yet official. For the Rockets, this is about that pick and the very slim chance that Thabeet turns into something. If he doesn’t, he’s an expiring deal next season, as Battier is this season.

4). Houston trades Aaron Brooks to Phoenix for Goran Dragic and lottery-protected first-round pick
Dragic took a major step back this season after breaking out in the playoffs. Whichever team ends up with him will have a $2.1 million option on him for next season. Brooks, as I’ve said before, will be a restricted free agent. On the surface, this is a statement from Phoenix that they do not believe Dragic is the guy to carry them into the post-Nash era.

Much more to come later.

• And … another shocker
In what qualifies as a stunner, the Celtics have apparently agreed to send Kendrick Perkins, their rock of a starting center, and backup point guard Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic, per Yahoo!’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

As for Green, he’s a restricted free agent after this season, and lots of folks — myself included — have written about how unlikely a fit he is in Oklahoma City’s long-term plans, given the financial commitments it is going to have to make other players.

This is doubly shocking given Boston’s identity as a defensive team. Green is a tweener, and the Thunder’s defense has been consistently awful with him on the court versus with him on the bench. Krstic is a solid post defender, but get him moving on the perimeter in pick-and-rolls, and he has trouble. There’s a reason he’s on the bench during crunch time in Oklahoma City.

I’ll have more on this later.

• Bulls, Rockets staring each other down for Lee
Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle says the Bulls offered “multiple picks” to the Rockets for Courtney Lee, but that Houston continues to insist Chicago include rookie big man Omer Asik as well. With 10 minutes to go, we’ll see if either of these teams wants to make this deal badly enough. It should be noted that “multiple” picks does not necessarily mean “multiple first-round picks.” The Bulls do own a couple of extra first-rounders–a 2011 pick they got from the Raptors yesterday in the James Johnson deal (that pick belongs to Miami, so it’ll be low) and Charlotte’s lottery-protected 2012 first-rounder, dating to the Tyrus Thomas trade. Chicago also owns a couple of extra second-rounders.

• Houston, working hard for Camby?
If there is one trade war room I’d have liked to have been in today, it’s Daryl Morey’s in Houston. The Rockets have a jumble of interesting assets, and Morey — a ground-breaking GM in many ways — has admitted publicly he feels pressure to make a deal. Ken Berger of CBS Sports has described Houston as “chomping” at the prospect of making a deal, and with 20 minutes or so to, he reports the Rockets have “redoubled” their efforts to land Marcus Camby from Portland.

Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported a bit ago that the Rockets and Blazers discussed a deal that would have sent Aaron Brooks (soon to be a restricted free agent) and Shane Battier to Portland for Camby. That’s an interesting one, and it makes some sense. The Blazers would get a point guard who averaged nearly 20 points per game this season — a possible replacement for Andre Miller, whose contract is unguaranteed for next season, and whom the Blazers have reportedly been shopping. With Kyle Lowry playing well at the point in Houston, the Rockets may not need Brooks long-term.

Battier gives Portland another solid wing and payroll relief in the form of an expiring contract. As for Houston, Camby has just one year left on his contract, and with Yao Ming’s future in doubt, the Rockets need size; you can only go so far in the NBA giving the bulk of your front court minutes to Luis Scola and Chuck Hayes. And if Camby retires – as he has reportedly threatened to do if traded — Houston would get more immediate savings.

Berger also reports this might be a potential three-team deal, with Minnesota’s Jonny Flynn going somewhere.

About 18 minutes to go.

• Anthony Parker derby!
As Yahoo!’s Kelly Dwyer noted on Twitter, it’s pretty funny that after two blockbuster deals — one preceded by nearly a year of hype–the last bit of excitement in this year’s trade deadline comes over a 35-year-old swing man who plays for the league’s worst team. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! reports Boston is among the teams making bids for Anthony Parker with 30 minutes to go, and Ken Berger of CBS Sports says a Western Conference dark horse may have swooped in in the last hour or so. But wait! Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal says the Celtics and Cavs remain “far apart” on Parker, and that the Cavs may well be “done.”

• Utah is active, everyone’s available
Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune has been doing knockout work in Utah lately, and he reports that everyone on the Jazz is available. Yowza. There are several things to note. First: The Jazz are about $5 million over the luxury tax line, so they are motivated to dump as much salary as possible, perhaps in three- or four-way deals that may have to involve teams, such as the Kings, with cap room or trade exceptions to eat contracts.

The Jazz of course have Andrei Kirilenko’s massive expiring deal. Mehmet Okur is scheduled to earn about $10.9 million next season, but that number could drop with a lockout. Teams all over the place will covet Paul Millsap, who will make an affordable $14.7 million over the next two seasons. And if C.J. Miles is available, teams should inquire; he’s a useful bench scorer on a 2011-12 team option worth just $3.7 million, per ShamSports.

As for perhaps the biggest name here: I can’t imagine any scout who has watched at least a few Utah games this season would recommend his team pay take on Al Jefferson’s massive deal.

• Yup, Pistons are stuck
Ken Berger of CBS Sports says the situation in Detroit is the same as it was this morning: Both Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton will likely be Pistons after the deadline passes this afternoon. Hamilton could still be bought out of the remaining $21 million owed to him over the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, in which case teams in need of wing depth or scoring — anyone, really — would be interested.

• The Magic stand pat.
Over All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, Dwight Howard told me – rather emphatically — that the Magic did not have to make any trades in order to win the title. Last night, after a shocking Sacramento win in Orlando, Howard called out unnamed teammates for failing to play hard.

Even in the aftermath of that criticism, Orlando has no plans to make a deadline deal, according to Joshua Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. A total non-surprise, really; the Magic are in the same boat as Boston, with few (if any) assets that are both expendable and appealing around the league. The Magic could still sign a free agent who gets bought out between now and March 1.

• Portland/Charlotte talks for Gerald Wallace dead … because of Batum?
There were reports last night that the Bobcats were close to dealing Gerald Wallace, perhaps their best player, to the Blazers — an interesting deal, because the Blazers would have been adding $21 million in future salary at a moment in which everyone has written them off as a serious future contender. But then the deal died, and it was unclear why.

Marc Stein of ESPN.com offers one possible answer: The Bobcats might have asked for Nicolas Batum, Portland’s 22-year-old hyper-athletic forward with one year remaining on his cheap rookie deal.

As Stein points out, the Blazers have been adamant all season that Batum is not available for anything short of a superstar. If the Bobcats, not exactly sitting on stable financial footing, really asked for Batum in exchange for an injury-prone 28-year-old having a down season and due $21 million over the next two seasons, it’s clear they are not ready for an honest rebuild. And that’s fine. Perhaps they want to make a playoff push this season, hoping for a couple million in extra revenue from two home games. Perhaps they think they could get more for Wallace as the expiration of his contract gets closer.

But if Stein’s account is accurate, I hope Michael Jordan’s crew wasn’t surprised when the Blazers balked.

• J.R. Smith staying put?
Dallas, always on the lookout for non-Dirk scorers, checked in with Denver about dealing for J.R. Smith and his expiring contract, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com. It’s unclear how exactly the trade would have worked, since Caron Butler’s salary is too high for a straight-up trade, but the Nuggets are uninterested in any case, Stein reports.

Smith has played as a nominal small forward in Denver’s small line-ups, and Dallas coach Rick Carlisle loves to use three-guard groups. Dallas had previously expressed interest in Devin Harris, so it’s clear Carlisle and Mark Cuban want to add scoring punch even if they can’t get it from a more traditional small forward in the Butler mold.

We all the know the book on Smith–explosive scorer, creative passer, maddeningly inconsistent on both ends of the court. I’d love to see how he’d do in a more structured system. Oh well.

• Dalembert staying in Sacramento
Sam Amick reported on Wednesday that the Kings might be interesting in re-signing Samuel Dalembert (at a much cheaper rate, obviously), and so it comes as no surprise today that ESPN.com’s Chad Ford reports Dalembert is not on the trade block despite interest from Miami, New York and others looking for size.

There’s also the fact that Sacramento’s current payroll, after yesterday’s Marcus Thornton/Carl Landry deal, sits about $1 million below the league’s salary floor. If it stays that way — unlikely, given the number of teams looking to dump salary today — the Kings would either have to spend that money on late-season free agent signings or redistribute it to their current players.

• Cross Tayshaun Prince off the Mavs’ list?
I’ve got a soft spot for this veteran-heavy Mavs team, and so I’m hoping they can do something to upgrade their roster today. But Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! reports that something won’t be nabbing Tayshaun Prince in exchange for Caron Butler (on an expiring contract) and a first-round pick. That may be infuriate Detroit fans, but the 2011 draft has been an object of ridicule among draft experts, and Wojnarowski  reports the Pistons want to hang onto Prince to see if they can use him in a sign-and-trade during the offseason. That’s smart, given that Detroit isn’t a popular destination among the best free agents (i.e. not the guys they signed two years ago) and that the team won’t have much–if any–cap room once the new CBA shakes out.

• Courtney Lee for a big?
Courtney Lee is already 25 and hasn’t grasped a major role in Houston this season, but that hasn’t stopped teams from calling about him, according to Yahoo!’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Lee’s combination of length, defense and solid spot-up shooting — and his cheap contract — hold some appeal for teams with a hole at shooting guard.

Chicago is one such team, but they and other Lee suitors have been told they need to send Houston a big if they want Lee, Wojnarowski reports. Would the Bulls part with Omer Asik? Two-and-a-half hours to go.

• The Wolves want Raja Bell?
I get why Utah would want to dump Bell, who has clearly regressed and is owed nearly $7 million over the next two seasons — money a suddenly blown-up team like the Jazz doesn’t need to spending on aging role players. And any money they cut from their payroll counts double, since the Jazz are still over the luxury tax line.

But I have no clue why the Wolves would want to pay Bell that money, since they have Wesley Johnson and Wayne Ellington already getting guaranteed rookie deal money at Bell’s position. Perhaps the Wolves, still holding some cap room, are trying to wring an extra asset from Utah in exchange for taking on Bell’s salary.

• Steve Nash is a Sun
This shouldn’t come as a surprise at this point, but Marc Stein of ESPN.com checked in with Suns over Robert Sarver about the possibility Phoenix might deal Nash at the last minute. Nope. He’s a Sun for the rest of the year, and the Suns have a much better chance of snagging a playoff spot now with Deron Williams and Carmelo Anthony in the Eastern Conference.

Nash’s current deal expires after next season, so we may be revisiting this issue a year from now.

• Jason Kapono buyout?
Jason Kapono is earning about $6.6 million this season, the last on his contract. But the Sixers apparently haven’t been able to gin up much trade interest in Kapono — probably because he has barely played this season–and so they are open to buying him out, according to Yahoo!’s Adrian Wojnarowski. If that happens, the list of interested teams would include Boston (in desperate need of wing depth), the Lakers (not exactly desperate, but between Ron Artest’s rocky play and Matt Barnes’ health, some insurance will be nice) and two teams who need shooting — the Hornets and Thunder.

Bonus: Kapono and Reggie Evans were traded for each other in June 2009, and now they’re back on the market, together.

• Troy Murphy’s status
Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com reports the Warriors plan to waive Troy Murphy but will try first to deal him for a draft pick. You’ve got about three hours, Golden State. There will be interest for Murphy, with several reports saying Miami, Orlando and Boston may all go after him to some degree. Given the news that Kendrick Perkins has strained a ligament in his left knee — and with both Shaquille O’Neal and Jermaine O’Neal already hurt — Boston would seem to have the most urgency of those clubs.

• Do the Rockets want Jonny Flynn?
Chad Ford of ESPN.com says the Rockets and T-Wolves are discussing a deal that would send Jonny Flynn to Houston. Flynn, a huge disappointment so far considering where he was picked in the 2009 draft, has one season of guaranteed left on his rookie deal. Houston has Kyle Lowry locked up long-term, so their interest here — if it’s real — may indicate they anticipate parting ways with Aaron Brooks, who will be a restricted free agent after this season.

As for Minnesota, they’ve got Luke Ridnour on the books through 2013-14, and who knows when Ricky Rubio might come to the NBA — if ever.

Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports now that the Flynn deal might involve Houston sending away Brooks or Jared Jeffries, which means we may be looking at Houston’s attempt to get under the luxury tax.

• Iguodala staying put
The Sixers, who look like a lock for a postseason spot, have reportedly taken Andre Iguodala off the market, per Berger. You can laugh at this move, since the Sixers owe Iguodala about $44 million over the next three seasons — first-option money for a second- or third-option. But I don’t mind this decision. Iguodala is playing great all-around ball lately, and he looks like to be meshing better with Philly’s young guard (Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams and Evan Turner). The Sixers may still have to move Iguodala long-term, but his value right now is low, with all that money due as the league heads toward a new CBA.

• The Pistons are quiet
Chris Iott of MLive.com reports there is little coming out of Detroit today, where the Pistons can’t find a taker for Richard Hamilton — and the minimum $21.5 million he’s due over the next two seasons — and don’t want to deal Tayshaun Prince for long-term money in the midst of a franchise sale.

That’s certainly disappointing for Detroit fans, but Iott says the Pistons may strike a buyout agreement with Hamilton today, freeing him up to sign with a contender. A buyout could still have a long-term cap hit, but might save Detroit considerable money.

• Boston going back to Anthony Parker?
I’ve mentioned before that Anthony Parker is perhaps the most likely candidate to fill out Boston’s wing rotation, and Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports the C’s, with just hours to go, are re-engaging the Cavaliers. Boston could offer Marquis Daniels for Parker, Berger reports. That’d be a good deal for Boston, who could use Parker’s combination of shooting, ball-handling and decent (but not top-shelf, anymore) defense.

• Pacers standing pat?
Larry Bird a few weeks ago said he would like the Pacers to be active on the trade market, using their expiring contracts as bait. That dream might be over now. Ken Berger of CBSSports reports Jeff Foster is off the market, and when Mike Dunleavy broke his thumb this week, he likely took himself and his big expiring deal off the trade market.

T.J. Ford, also on an expiring contract, might be open to a buyout and a backup role on a good team, according to Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star.

• Houston is active
With a bunch of expiring contracts and extra draft picks, the Rockets might be the most active team in the league. The Memphis Commercial-Appeal reports Houston and Memphis have discussed a swap of Shane Battier (on an expiring deal) for Hasheem Thabeet, who is on his way to being known as perhaps the worst draft pick in league history — talent-wise, anyway.

Thabeet is only in his second year and is relatively new to basketball, but it is impossible to exaggerate how bad he has looked in his first two seasons. Guys who put up Player Efficiency Ratings of 5.0 (as Thabeet is this season) don’t tend to last in the NBA. Nor do 7-footers who shoot 44 percent. Thabeet is owed $5.1 million next season, after which his team could be rid of him by declining his third-year option.

The Rockets will need some sweetener — likely a first-round pick — to take on that kind of money. Battier would be great in Memphis, especially with Rudy Gay out a few weeks, nursing a shoulder injury. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports Rockets GM Daryl Morey could make a Thabeet deal at any time but is working to find something better.

• Does anyone want Reggie Evans?
With only a few hours to go, the Raptors are reportedly dangling Reggie Evans, a rebounding savant on an expiring $5.1 million contract. Evans has missed most of this season due to injury. I hope the Raptors don’t expect anything of value for him — certainly not a first-round pick.

• Boston is looking for help
With news that Marquis Daniels, the only real backup small forward Boston has, may need season-ending surgery to repair his bruised spinal cord, Boston is obviously going to be aggressive on the market today. The problem, of course, is that they have precious few assets that are both expendable and desirable around the league. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! reports that Boston has peddled Nate Robinson (owed $4.5 million next season) and a first-round pick — and may have offered that package to Phoenix for Jared Dudley.

Teams don’t have much interest in Robinson or a late first-rounder in a weak draft–a pick that carries guaranteed money with it.

And with Kendrick Perkins out a few games with a sprained MCL in his left knee, Boston may also be looking for a big man. Troy Murphy remains the most likely candidate, once the Warriors buy him out.

• The Clippers ship Davis to Cavs
The deal is all about increasing financial flexibility in Los Angeles, and they’ve done well in unloading Davis. The price is their 2011 first-rounder, a valuable asset, but perhaps not as valuable as usual in this case, given the dearth of major talent in the coming draft and the high number of very young players the Clippers already have. Plus: They get to keep the first-rounder they own via the T-Wolves, which is unprotected next season.

The Cavs, meanwhile, stockpile picks — as they should.