The NBA trade deadline is like Christmas for fans of teams that are considered to be on the verge of championship contention. In the weeks leading up to the deadline, fans and media alike fantasize about potential blockbuster trades that will result in bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to their franchise’s city. During the final week, team executives frantically assemble a variety of trade deals with the aspiration of finding that final piece to the championship puzzle.
This year’s NBA deadline was no different leading up to the trade deadline, which concluded February 18 at 3 p.m. ET. Despite the hype entering the final week of the deadline, no Blockbuster trades were agreed upon. The Carmelo Anthony to the Cavaliers theory and the Dwight Howard to, well, whoever-would-take-him proposals didn’t exactly pan out. In fact, they never were going to from the beginning. Carmelo has a no trade clause in his contract and Howard is ultimately a toxic asset — since he left Orlando, Howard has made virtually every team he’s played on irrelevant in the NBA. Just take a look at the Lakers and the Rockets.
Although no Blockbuster deals panned out, some respectable deals were completed during the final hours of the trade deadline. Some of the winners include the Cavaliers, the Pistons, and the Clippers. While no stars are relocating, some big name role players may prove to be the final pieces for these teams’ playoff push.
Let’s start with the Cavaliers.  The Cavaliers general manager, David Griffin, made the least significant trade of the three teams, but the move still appears to be a good playoff improvement. In the three team trade, the Cavaliers acquired big man Channing Frye and a future second-round draft pick (from Portland), Portland received Anderson Varajao and a future first-round draft pick (from Cleveland), while the Magic received a second-round draft pick in the 2020 draft (from Cleveland) and Jared Cunningham.
Frye is certainly an aging talent at the age of 32, but he offers the Cavaliers some depth in their roster. His predecessor, Varajao, was not receiving any minutes following his injury earlier in the season, so the Cavaliers really only lost a couple of draft picks. In return, they received a big man who can stretch the floor on offense. While he is only averaging 5.2 points on 17.1 minutes per game, Frye is arguably the second most prolific shooter above 6’11”. The only person that height or bigger that’s made more threes in their career is future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki.  His deadeye shooting skills make him the perfect asset for a Cavaliers team filled with lane penetrators like Lebron James and Kyrie Irving. Problem is, Frye may not be enough to give them the edge over the Warriors.
The Clippers also made a splash in the trade market, offloading Lance Stephenson and a future first-round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jeff Green. Stephenson’s play has been deteriorating since his breakout in the playoffs two seasons ago — that, paired with his questionable on and off-court antics, made it easy for Doc Rivers’ decision. Jeff Green is the perfect asset for the Clippers this postseason. They have been missing a wing player for their starting lineup. Green provides offensive and defensive consistency with solid veteran experience. Green is averaging roughly 13 points, two assists, and five rebounds per game this season. His length also allows him to guard three different positions on the court: the SG, SF, and PF. He should be a good asset for small ball.
Finally, the Detroit Pistons made a bunch of moves before the deadline. In the first trade, the Pistons acquired Tobias Harris, an athletic small forward, in exchange for Brandon Jennings and Ersan Illyasova (both of whom are on expiring contracts). Harris will be a huge defensive asset, but there are still some questions regarding his shooting abilities, despite the improvements he’s shown this season from beyond the arc. The Pistons took part in a second trade as well, receiving Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton in exchange for Joel Anthony and a first-round 2016 draft pick. Thornton is a knock down shooter, while Motiejunas is a versatile big man, providing a solid low-post game paired with a decent shot from range. Head Coach and President of the Detroit Pistons Stan Van Gundy, seems to be recreating what he assembled in Orlando during his run to the NBA Finals. This featured the center piece of Dwight Howard, with shooters all around the court, and a nifty point guard. Now, the Pistons have Andre Drummond along with the same supporting cast.
All three teams are positioned to make runs during this year’s NBA postseason. Come April, each team will find out if the moves made will make or break their championship aspirations.