Instead of doing one big monster post on the trades, we’re going to tackle them one at a time. Here’s my take on the Chicago side of the mega-trade and the implications on the playoffs…

Real quick. A small graphical example of this trade.

Note that the grays are better than the blue, and that the most important area is that little space underneath the basket for “big men.”

So there’s that.
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Here’s what I wrote to Shoals after the first game post-trade for the Bulls.

Ben Wallace represented a gigantic combination lock. One of those huge ones you bought to put on your bike, even though it’s way too heavy to keep in your backpack. The kind they use to lock up the gates on the old football stadium. He was perfectly designed to keep everything under control. He was the personification of a sense of security. Not just in size and defensive capabilities, but in the fact that he provided the always over-lauded “veteran presence.” He was safe, understood. A known quantity. And he sucked the life out of the bulls athleticism and talent.

And now he’s gone.

In his place is a fascinating staple of players thrust into rotation. Young. Unkempt. And suddenly, without expectation, without restriction, without security, they exploded tonight. Noah and Thomas playing to potential, making plays, producing success, and playing without fear.

I am loathe to quote Fight Club, but it is far too apt at this point.

“It’s only after we’ve lost everything, that we’re free to do anything.”

The locks are off. Whatever was inside is now out.

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Now, that said, it still doesn’t solve the primary issue that remains. They need a leader and a scorer, in one package. If there was one trade I wish would have happened before the break, it would have been to trade a collection of players for T-Mac. They’re probably still missing one dynamic component, and neither Ben Gordon nor Nocioni is the answer. If they could compliment the young kids down low, and Deng’s all-around game (when healthy) with a scorer to go around with Kirk Hinrich (back from the dead), they could be back in contention.

The trade was necessary, however. After giving Wallace that behemoth of a contract, getting it off the books was the most important thing. If they’ll continue giving Thomas and Noah the minutes the deserve, they’ll keep getting better. The biggest thing to note is that the Bulls don’t need to rebuild, they need to retool. They have a lot of the pieces, they just need an engine to make them go. And while the trade didn’t give them that, it did give them the assets to acquire one.

Instead of doing one big monster post on the trades, we’re going to tackle them one at a time. Here’s my take on the Cleveland side of the mega-trade and the implications on the playoffs…

Can you become better by gaining the same amount you lose? How important is chemistry? When you recognize that you’ve become stagnant, but no available shift is ideal, does the available shift become preferable? Is change for change’s sake a valuable move?

These are the questions that center around the Cleveland deal. After missing out on Jason Kidd, missing out on Mike Bibby, and having everyone from the King himself to the media to the fans threatening to set fire if Ferry didn’t do something, the Cavs finally reached the breaking point. They couldn’t go into the playoffs with this configuration. That’s suicide. Yes, it was good enough last season, but the big 3 wasn’t in Boston, the Pistons weren’t in the revised offensive form they’re in now, and the Magic weren’t a legit force. So they were forced to do something. And this presented itself.

So what do they get? The numbers add up, that much is clear. And there are positive ways to spin this. There always are. I tend to think that overreaction to any trade is probably uncalled for. That’s why Corn and I are good balances for each other. He’s the pundit, the voice, the outrage. He tends to send me texts consisting of “(recap of development). what the f*ck? worst (insert item here) ever.” He’s like Dan Shannoff and one of the old guys in the balcony for the muppets. On the other hand, I usually think that most trades have to be weighed carefully, considering all of the goals of the franchise, and even then, there’s so much involved it’s hard to pick winners and losers in trades for me.

What I come away with for the Cavs is that they were faced with two options. The preferable goal would be to surround LeBron with a viable second option. A player that could both distribute to his inferior teammates and provide a nitro boost to LeBron’s already atmospheric game. This trade is hard to pull off, given the cap situation created by LeBron and Z. It’s especially hard for a GM like Ferry who lacks vision and a killer instinct.

Option two was to instead provide LeBron with a plethora of role players. Guys that were ridiculously good at one or two aspects, and not great all-around players. That’s what they elected to do. Instead of a combo forward with multiple skills, they brought in a big guy that can rebound and play defense, but has no offensive skills to speak of. And by speak of, I mean, “mention in passing at a cocktail party with your mom’s friends, none of whom follow the NBA.” They also added a competent combo forward in Joe Smith for “instant offense” and a pure shooter in Wally. The idea is to let LeBron do everything and build a complex machine full of individual parts that only do one thing.

The only problem with this approach is that it relies on all members of the machine doing their one thing better than the other team. All players have bad nights. But some can overcome bad shooting nights with defense and rebounding. Some rebounders have trouble at the boards, but manage to work well in the passing lanes. The players they’ve acquired can only do one or two things well. If they face a team who’s players can do all the things that the Cavs’ role support does well, do them better, and then contribute in more than one category, they’re sunk.

I like Wally with LeBron. The kick and drive makes sense. I like the Wallace/Smith/Varejao/Z combo. That’s a formidable frontcourt in tandem. But does this account for the lack of a secondary shooter? Delonte West is a fine pickup, and we like Gibson, but they still don’t have a point guard who is lights out in providing opportunities.

The biggest thing this does is help us as fans. Why? Because auxiliary support for LeBron that doesn’t provide alternative weapons means only one thing. More opportunities for LeBron to rise above himself again and again.

This won’t improve their odds to win a championship.

But it doesn’t hurt their chances, either.

Instead of doing one big monster post on the trades, we’re going to tackle them one at a time. Here’s Corn’s take on the Seattle trade and the future of the franchise…

I swear to God that I mentioned this to Matt earlier in the year, before the season ever started. I told him to watch for Seattle to dump everything they have and make a run at a big time free agent. In doing this, they would be getting a great compliment to Durant (who has been about what was expected this year) and possibly, a star quality player that could keep the team in Seattle, just by virtue of his personality. Well, of course my first suggestion was for them to get ZERO, and now I am more adamant than ever that they do this. Although the city may be losing the team (Gil in OKC, imagine the possibilities!), they still have a ton of money to spend and plenty of picks to with which to build that team. Plus, Gilbert is only 26, so he still has time to grow into his prime and earn his max money, kind of the way Kobe has done until now, when the Lakers have surrounded him with championship talent. So please, for the love of basketball, bottom out, get Derrick Rose and sign Arenas. That sounds like a championship core to me… in 2011.

Allright, kiddos. Here’s the open thread for any trades that go on.

We were going to set the over/under last night at 2.5, but the Rockets and Hornets got ahead of me.

So we’ll count that. Counting the Rockets/Hornets trade this morning, you want the over or the under?
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Hornets get: Bonzi Wells and Mike James
Rockets get: Bobby Jackson

Nice trade. I love picking up Wells for New Orleans. That should help the bench, since guards aren’t something they’re desperate for. Mike James isn’t terrible and can run the offense.

More as breaking news…you know.
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Real quick.

Amick (who is becoming one of my favorite writers for MSM), has a rundown of the standstill on the Artest trade.

We literally started giggling when we read this. Like schoolgirls. Only with facial hair.

Corn wants to up the over/under to 3.5 and take the over. We’re holding the line at 1.5 not counting the Bonzi trade, but you should get your locks in now, because it may go up. Yahoo! Sports’ Rumor section is like the candy room in Willy Wonka right now.
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9:47AM:

Skeets
Corn
Ziller
ETB

all like the over.

I’m taking the under, because things never work out how you want them to, and I desperately want all hell to break loose today.
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Ben Q. from 3QC has the under.
Grunge Dave from The Dream Shake likes the over.
TrueHoop’s got the under, nervously.

This is fun! Join in, kids! Disappointment is more insufferable when you bet on it!
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Awful Announcing likes the under.
Jeff from CelticsBlog likes the over with the hook.
The Big Lead likes the over.
100% Injury Rate likes the over.
Brett from Queen City Hoops likes the over, because it’s more interesting.

10:13AM CST- 4 hours to deadline…
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Ziller notes that Stein’s mentioned the Artest to Phoenix rumor. My head might explode if that happens.
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Seth from Posting and Toasting checks in… and last night’s 40 point loss maaaaay have sent him over the edge…

“Wheeling and dealing! YEE-HAW!!!!!

Random trade rumor I’m making up: Tyronn Lue to the L.A. Sparks. It’s
gonna happen!!!11″
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11:31AM CST: Still quiet, but some rumblings.

Raps can’t get Joe Smith.
Sonics are trying to get Brent Barry.
The Pietrus to Toronto trade is still rumbling about.

Nothing new on that Cleveland trade which at this point is that hot chick from the internet you’ve never seen and are praying she’s sexy or at least, you know, female. Not that we’ve ever done anything like that.

Ever.
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So there’s this.

Resume chaotic discussion.

Nice job, Zill.
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12:17PM CST: We’re inside two hours, and all’s quiet on the Association front. The under’s looking to take this one, unless something happens to loosen up the GMs.

Ah. NBA Trading deadline. Where Nothing Happens.
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Since there’s no trades happening, I thought I’d provide you with 4 minutes and 37 seconds of pure joy.

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And with 32 minutes to go, the Marion to Cleveland deal was dead before the ship even sank.
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And with two tiny deals, the Over takes it!

Aldridge has got two deals. Gerald Green for Kirk Snyder and Von Wafer for Taurean Green.

Woooboy.

Props to Brian for alerting me.
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Aaaaand time.

We’ll see if any of the deals trickle out in the next few hours, Chad Ford says he hasn’t heard anything.

Also, he can suck it. From the ESPN.com chat:

Rick (Cleveland) : Chad – your job is the best

Chad Ford: (2:54 PM ET ) You’re right. And may I remind you, I’m doing this from my deck, overlooking the ocean on a beautiful 80 degree day on the North Shore of Hawaii. :)
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Well, then. We have a homerun.

Love this deal for the Bulls and Cavs. Looove it. More as we discuss it.

Thanks to Brian from ETB, he’s all over this stuff.
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Ben Q.’s got one as well.

Brezec to Pistons for Juan Dixon.

We hit way over the over. Which is nice.
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Okay, switching to an analysis threads. Thanks for joining in, guys and gals. Analysis thread will be up in a jiffy.