The Dish: Trade winds blow through as deadline passes

Finally, on NBA trade deadline day, the trade winds have blown in.

The Knicks finally blew up the rest of Isiah Thomas' roster, sending forward Tim Thomas, guard Anthony Roberson and center Jerome James to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for guard Larry Hughes, and forward Malik Rose to Oklahoma City in exchange for forward Chris Wilcox. Wilcox came available when the deal between the Thunder and New Orleans that would have sent center Tyson Chandler to Oklahoma City for Wilcox and Joe Smith fell apart when Chandler failed his physical.

Smith's future in Oklahoma City was uncertain; it's likely the veteran big man is now seeking a buyout of the remaining contract for this season from Oklahoma City. That would free him up to sign with another team, and Smith desperately would like to go to Boston and try to win a title with the Celtics. Boston cleared a roster spot earlier this week by trading Sam Cassell to Sacramento for a future second-round pick.

The Knicks' deals continue to give New York maximum cap flexibility in the summer of 2010, when the free agent class headed by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will be available. Hughes's contract ($13.6 million next season) expires in 2010; Wilcox is a free agent after this season. Chicago also maintains flexibility in 2010 by acquiring the contracts of Thomas, James and Roberson -- all of which expire in 2010.

Elsewhere, a source indicated that a potential trade of 76ers point guard Andre Miller to Portland still had a faint heartbeat before Thursday's deadline. The deal would involve the expiring contract of Blazers center Raef LaFrentz and another Portland guard in exchange for Miller and forward Reggie Evans. The problem is that Philly wants Portland rookie guard Jerryd Bayless, and the Blazers have made Bayless next to untouchable. Portland would be more amenable, the source said, to include a guard like Steve Blake or Sergio Rodriguez, but the Sixers aren't currently interested.

However, the trade still might be resurrected if a third team -- believed to be Memphis --could get involved, sending guard Kyle Lowry to Philadelphia. The 76ers have long coveted Lowry, who starred locally at Villanova.

The deadline passed at 3 p.m. ET with no word of the trade, though some trades still had not been officially announced.

Deadline day also saw an amazing trade rumor, first reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, where the Suns and Cavaliers discussed a trade that would have sent Shaquille O'Neal to the Cavaliers for Ben Wallace and guard Sasha Pavlovic. The trade would have been a salary dump for Phoenix, getting O'Neal's $21 million for next season off its books in exchange for Wallace ($14 million next year) and Pavlovic ($4.9 million, but only $1.5 million of which is guaranteed).

A source said that a smaller deal between Phoenix and Cleveland involving forward Matt Barnes was still a possibility. The Suns covet Cavaliers rookie forward J.J. Hickson, but it's unlikely the Cavs would put Hickson in a deal that didn't involve a major piece coming back to Cleveland.

The acquisition of Hughes by New York squashed a potential deal with Washington that would have sent Hughes to the Wizards for Mike James and Etan Thomas. Washington also had spoken with New York about acquiring forward Jared Jefferies from the Knicks for James and Thomas. A source indicated that Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni didn't think James and Thomas would do much for him and was much more interested in an active guard like Hughes in his system.