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Sixers, Warriors
earn A’s in Trading 101

Landing Webber, Rogers key for Philly; Celtics get just a B, Hornets flunk

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Adding Chris Webber, above, and Rodney Rogers makes the 76ers a legitimate contender for the Eastern Conference title, NBCSports.com contributor Michael Ventre says.
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Michael Ventre
COMMENTARY
By Michael Ventre
NBCSports.com contributor
updated 7:19 p.m. ET Feb. 24, 2005

The NBA’s trade deadline came and went, leaving devastation in its wake. Well, maybe not devastation, but definitely a lot of curiosity.

Some teams that needed to make moves did so. Others that did not need to make moves did so. Still others that did not need to make moves did not make moves. Then there are the Knicks, who don’t know what they are and probably don’t know what they did.

Understand?

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Here is a brief report card for some of the teams involved in the flurry of activity that occurred before Thursday’s trading deadline. Keep in mind that the men who orchestrated these transactions are trained professionals with years of experience who know what they’re doing. At least that’s what they keep telling people:

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: They jolted the NBA community and might have tipped the balance in the Atlantic Division – although all of those teams were out of whack to begin with – Wednesday when they acquired Chris Webber, along with Matt Barnes and Michael Bradley, in exchange for journeymen Corliss Williamson, Brian Skinner and Kenny Thomas. Then Thursday they shipped Glenn Robinson to New Orleans for Jamal Mashburn and Rodney Rogers. Mash is injured and probably will retire. So that deal was basically scorer for scorer, and of those two, Rogers is a more reliable contributor who is less likely to poison team chemistry the way Big Dog did. With Iverson, Webber and Rogers, the Sixers revamped their team for a stretch run and went from barely noticeable in the Eastern Conference playoff picture to a prominent spot in the foreground. Webber and Rogers should fit in quickly and nicely. In terms of deals that can be consummated right before the trade deadline, what the Sixers accomplished is about as good as it gets. GRADE: A.

DALLAS MAVERICKS: Dallas is known as a haven for guys with great scoring touches but little grit defensively, so it’s no surprise the Mavericks brought in Keith Van Horn from Milwaukee. He gives the high-scoring Mavs even more offense. They would have been better off acquiring a brawny defensive specialist to help on the front line, especially now that center Erick Dampier is on the injured list with a stress fracture in his foot. Van Horn is a nice luxury to have in terms of providing depth, but he doesn’t alter the Mavs’ dynamic, and he won’t move them up a notch in the West race. On top of that, he’s been limited by injuries this year. GRADE: C PLUS.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS: They have been mired in last place in the Central Division. They’re unlikely to make up enough ground to snatch the No. 8 spot in the East bracket. So they’re wise to look toward next season. By dumping Van Horn, they freed up a lot of money, which can be used to persuade Michael Redd – a free agent after this season – to remain in Milwaukee. The players the Bucks received will not drag down their payroll; Alan Henderson will be a free agent after the season and Calvin Booth gets about $6 million next year, small potatoes these days. Milwaukee also traded away Mike James (along with center Zendon Hamilton) to the Rockets, which isn’t so good. James is a solid, if unspectacular, point guard, but again, this was about dumping his salary and not him. The Bucks helped themselves a little, only you’d have to be an accountant to understand why. GRADE: B MINUS.


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