The Trademill: Winners, losers at trade deadline

For some teams, this year's trade deadline was all about dollars. For others, it was all about (basketball) sense. And for a few, it was about getting at least cents on the dollar.

Much was written about the 2009 NBA trade deadline, but no blockbusters occurred by the 3 p.m. ET marker. Instead, we saw many deals that featured players of average stature whocleared roster space, filled immediate needs or dumped salary.

And because the 2009 trade deadline was more about the bottom line and less about what happens between the baselines, you may see more winners than losers in our deadline day wrap below.

MAGIC

One of the few teams to actually make a deal based on basketball. By bringing in Rafer Alston, he'll take over in the backcourt because All-Star Jameer Nelson won't be back this season after having season-ending shoulder surgery on Thursday. Alston fills an immediate need at point guard and has worked well with Rockets center Yao Ming. Alston may even be better with Dwight Howard, who is far more mobile than Yao. Pick-and-rolls should be fun. The Magic, who have gone 3-3 since Nelson's injury, may have gotten their mojo back.

KNICKS

By getting backcourt depth in Larry Hughes and a frontcourt banger in Chris Wilcox, who not only adds depth to a thin frontline but also can run the pick-and-roll (that's what made him attractive to New Orleans), the Knicks made a significant improvement to their team. Plus, Wilcox is off the books next year and Hughes' contract expires before that magical summer of 2010.

BULLS

Nice work by the Bulls getting Brad Miller from Sacramento, who, if he's healthy, is a great passing big man. Miller's teammate, John Salmons, is averaging a career-best 18.3 points per game. Plus, sending Hughes, who didn't want to be in Chicago, to New York is a big coup because the salaries are a wash.

SUNS

They did OK by not doing anything, and because of it, they're immediate future may be bright. They have a new coach (Alvin Gentry) who has them running like Mike D'Antoni once did, a now happy two-time MVP (Steve Nash), a young and athletic power forward who is back in the groove (Amar'e Stoudemire) and an all-timer at center (Shaquille O'Neal) who gets every other day off in the playoffs -- if they make them. Sure, the Suns were reported to have shopped Amar'e and Shaq vigorously and they may need to shed some salary in the offseason, but Phoenix could be a factor down the stretch.

BLAZERS

The Blazers were the most talked about team, considering that Raef LaFrentz's expiring contract would have paid insurance money to any team that would have acquired him. Trail Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard likes what he sees at the Rose Garden.

"I can't tell you how many scenarios we went through," Pritchard said. "But at the end of the day it came down to this: We believe in this team, and I don't want to give up or give away any of our young players."

Now, they get the LaFrentz money and he comes off the books this summer. That, and they're still a good team. Sometimes, not doing anything is doing something. At least that's the line I'm trying on my wife.

HEAT (SEE ALSO: RAPTORS)

They get a big man (Jermaine O'Neal) they needed for a disgruntled wing player (Shawn Marion). Plus, O'Neal's salary is Miami's for one more season.

RAPTORS (SEE ALSO: HEAT)

They get a wing player (Marion) who can play defense and rebound for a disgruntled and redundant big man (O'Neal). Plus, Marion's contract expires after this season.

CELTICS

They had two minor deals (sending guard Sam Cassell to Sacramento and center Patrick O'Bryant to Toronto), but basically stood pat. The Kings bought out center Mikki Moore on Thursday after not finding any takers for him. The defending champs could use some Moore in their thin front court.

GRIZZLIES

They have been getting expiring deals (Chris Mihm) and stockpiling draft picks. By sending Kyle Lowry to Houston, the Grizzlies cleared thelogjam at the point. That, and they didn't send a Gasol to the Lakers this season. Not a bad week.

KINGS

They weren't going anywhere on the court, so they were trying to shed salary. They did so, but the basketball product didn't improve much.

WOLVES

In acquiring Shelden Williams, they add a frontcourt player to fill in while Al Jefferson rehabs from knee surgery. Williams is no Al Jefferson, but who is? If the Wolves had pulled off a deal to bring Williams' wife, Candace Parker ,to the Lynx, now that would have been a coup.

HORNETS

From winner to biggest loser with a bullet based on a doctor's big decision on a big toe.

While it's true that Hornets' players love Tyson Chandler, New Orleans would have augmented its frontcourt depth by adding Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith. Now, it gets back the injured Chandler, who was part of the reason for that lack of depth and was rejected by the Thunder for failing his physical. On Thursday, the Hornets saw Wilcox go to the Knicks for Malik Rose. (That's it?) Now, the Hornets are well into the luxury tax next season, which is something this franchise probably can't afford.

THUNDER

Sure, they had cap space and money to play with, but Chandler would have been a nice addition to a young athletic team. Having to reject a trade because the subject of that trade fails a physical isn't a pleasant experience. Now the question is: will they buy out Joe Smith? If they do, the Celtics and the Cavs will be waiting.

CAVALIERS

Speaking of the Cavs, it would have been cool if they had been able to nab one of the following players who had been rumored to be headed to Cleveland in exchange for Wally Szczerbiak and his expiring contract: Antawn Jamison, Shaquille O'Neal, Vince Carter or Richard Jefferson. Any of them could have put an already strong team over the top. We'll see in June whether they regret not making a deal today.

As for now, they'll just need to make do with a team that has compiled a 41-11 record.

BUCKS

This trade deadline loss would be considered one in overtime.

"Nothing came across our table that was something we thought could help our team, either short term or long term," Bucks GM John Hammond said. "Let me say this: We like our team. We like the pieces we have here."

With the pieces they have, they have a tenuous hold on the East's eighth seed. Yet, being unable to move Richard Jefferson to either Cleveland or Portland, the Bucks' biggest losses could come after the season. They may lose Charlie Villanueva or Ramon Sessions to restricted free agency this season. It would make more sense for the Bucks to keep Sessions, a point guard with potential, than Villanueva who could be in line for a potentially big contract.

ROCKETS

A slim loss. They made way for their future point guard, Aaron Brooks, by sending their starting point guard, Alston, away. So, they needed another point guard to back up Brooks. Done! Enter Kyle Lowry. That's covering the flanks pretty well. Still, it was rumored they could have sent Tracy McGrady to the Clippers for Baron Davis. That would have been the deal, not so much to acquire Davis, but to get rid of McGrady.