News

Big NBA names stay put on dull deadline day
Big NBA names stay put on dull deadline day

(Reuters) – The big names rumored to be on the move at the National Basketball Association’s trade deadline went nowhere on Thursday as teams opted for tweaks over blockbusters.

The Orlando Magic (15-39), with the second worst record in the Eastern Conference, pulled the trigger on the day’s biggest swap, shipping sharpshooting guard J.J. Redick to the Milwaukee Bucks in a multi-player deal, according to media reports.

Redick, who is among the league’s top three-point shooters, averaging a career-high 15.1 points this season, was sent to Milwaukee along with Gustavo Ayon and Ish Smith in return for Tobias Harris, Beno Udrih and Doron Lamb.

But the Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett, Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard, Toronto Raptors’ Andrea Bargnani and Atlanta Hawks’ Josh Smith remained in their current uniforms when the trade window slammed shut at 3 p.m. ET.

All were among the high-end, high-priced talent being shopped around in the media, but making a trade under the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement can be expensive with a punishing luxury tax being partially blamed for the dull deadline day.

Two title contenders, the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder tinkered with their rosters.

The Thunder grabbed small forward Ronnie Brewer from the New York Knicks for a second round pick, then sent backup point guard Eric Maynor to the Portland Trail Blazers for the rights to Greek forward Georgios Printezis.

The Heat will not have South Beach buzzing about their latest deal, sending backup center Dexter Pittman and a second round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for the draft rights to Ricky Sanchez, who currently plays for Libertad Sunchales in Argentina.

The Raptors held onto Bargnani, the number one overall pick in the 2006 draft, but general manager Bryan Colangelo still swung a deal as Toronto makes a push for a playoff spot in the East.

Having acquired Rudy Gay in a major deal with the Grizzlies last month, Colangelo added some depth at point guard by gaining Sebastian Telfair from the Phoenix Suns for a second round draft pick and the rights to center Hamed Haddadi.

Telfair, who entered the NBA to great fanfare out of high school, has never lived up to his advanced billing, moving to his eighth team in nine seasons.

The Celtics rejected all offers for Garnett and Paul Pierce but added guard Jordan Crawford from the Washington Wizards for the expiring contracts of Jason Collins and Brazilian Leandro Barbosa, who is out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

Recent Headlines

Ohio Slavery

In National

Disabled Ohio woman held in slavery

Three Ohio residents are accused of holding a cognitively disabled woman and her daughter against their will and forcing the woman to perform physical labor for them.

Taliban Political Office

In National

U.S. to meet Taliban to seek Afghan peace

The U.S. will meet the Taliban for talks aimed at achieving peace in Afghanistan.

NSA

In National

NSA head says surveillance thwarted more than 50 attacks

General Keith Alexander claims the NSA's data gathering has prevented terrorist attacks.

Contract Secrets

In National

Moves to limit contractor access meets resistance

The intelligence community is pushing back against curbing contractors' classified access.

Dave Chappelle

In Entertainment

Dave Chappelle plans comedy comeback

Dave Chappelle is returning to headline a comedy tour with the Flight of the Conchords duo.